Connecticut western news., 1890-01-29
A MISER'S DEATH.
New Hampshire Man Found Frozen in
 His Own Home.
End of Wretched Lifeline Deceased sus- | pected of the Murder of His Brother.

At West Hopkinton, N. H., Jan. 9, Frank Hoyt observed that no smoke came from the chimney of a neighbor, Perley Beck. On searching the house MT. Hoyt found the outer door unlocked, and soon after entering dis covered the frozen body of Beck in his bedroom. He was on his back on the bed with his clothing on excepting one boot. His feet hung over the edge of the bed, and his arms were uplifted as if he had died in great suffering. The only indication of possible foul play was a bad bruise over one eye.
 The authorities were promptly notified and thorough search of the premises were made. It is supposed that Beck, who was both 8 hermit and miser, had considerable money concealed in his house, which could have furnished motive for robbery. He had been a resident of the town for many years. He lived on a good farm, but had let it run down.
 On entering the barn large stock of cattle were found in a suffering condition. One COW was dead in her stall. and others were so poor ill flesh that they could hardly stand. In herd of sheep several of the animals were found frozen to death. Beck's cruelty was shown in the fact that in his barn was nearly one hundred tons of hay and several hundred bushels of corn. For some years back Beck had been in the habit of keeping his cattle very short of food and accumulat- ing from season to season his surplus hay as we'll as grain. He was visited some years ago by the State agent for the prevention of cruelty to animals, but somehow or other escaped punishment.
 Many years ago he employed young wo- man as housekeeper, and after she had served him faithfully long time he turned her away without cent of wages. Subsequently,, hearing that she would bring civil suit against him, he transferred the title of all his property to a brother, Calvin Beck, school teacher of New York city. Afterward he wished to take back the property, but his brother refused to give it. Calvin came to this town with his wife some nine years ago, Aa hnr oyx-ifh ha three quarrelled and one day Mrs. Beck was found burned to death in the house. The position in which she was discovered and other circumstances tended to prove that she was murdered, but the authorities were un- able to obtain evidence sufficient to warrant an arrest. The brothers continued the quarrel over the titles to the property, and about a year after the death of the woman Calvin Beck suddenly disappeared, and from that day to this the public here have had no tid- ings of any kind concerning him.
 Perley told the neighbors that Calvin went 1 to North Weare and took the cars there for l New York city, but the station agent at North | Weare said that there was no truth in the story. Calvin owned considerable property in New York city. including valuable stall | in one of the markets. He rented the stall, | but from the time he mysteriOusly disappear ed until now no demand has been made by 1 him or any one else for the rent of the stall | Immediately after Calvin's absence Perley be | gun tO HCup IuC 'Au aiSO Cat LII III OuS of his barn yards. From then until now he
 has every year added to that accumulated in the yard, and the public believe that Perley
 killed his brother and buried him under the
 offal.
 l The post mortem examination of the body
 made by Dr. George Cook and Dr. H. M. French of Hopkinton proved concusiyely | that the immediate cause was pneumonia
 and there was no foul play. The prime
 cause of death was the starving process to
 which the miser had subjected himself and l insufficient warmth in his home. In his
 stomach was found whole corn, showing that | in his delirum he attempted to appease his l hunger with the uncooked grain which was | scattered about in the bedroom where the ! body was found. The brain weighed 5e
 ounces, indicating high order of intellect | A small amount of cash, bank books and | other securities amounting to nearly $6OO( | has been found in his wretched abode. The
 heirs are understood to be two nieces, one 6 patient in the asylum for the insane in Con. | cord and the other married and residing in | Manchester.
 The authorities are going to make a thor Ough examination of the house and barn
 and yard in the hope of obtaining some clue
 to the unexplained disappearance of Calvin l Perley never married. He was a man o1 l good education, took much interest in the | High School question in this town, and on
 the latter subject he contributed numerous articles to the press, If Calvin is also dead 1 the estate of the two brothers will amount to | quite large property, which it is suppose | that nieces living somewhere will claim.