Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-15
Robbery Supposed to Have Been the
Object of the Assassin-No Clue
to the Murderer.

District ATTORNEY Frank p. Kelly re-
ceived a letter from o. l.. Livesey, JUS
tice of the peace in and for the township
of Fairmont, yesterday, notifying him of
the finding of the body of an old Ger
man named G.. T. Beckett, and relating
circumstances attending the same, which
tend to show that murder had been
committed. On Thursday morning last,
at 8 80 O'Clock, Richard Mayne, a resi-
dent of Fairmont, went to old Becket's
house, small shanty erected by him
self on his homestead in the SW4 of
Sec. 4, 7. N, r. Is w., some twenty
two miles northwest of Lancaster in the
Antelope valley. On opening the door
of the house, he discovered the body of
the old man on the floor in pool of
blood. Without waiting to make an in
vestigation, Mayne turned and fled from
the place, and on his return to Fair
mont told one of his neighbors
OF the horrible discovery he had made.
After talking the matter over both
agreed that the justice ought to know
of it, and they called upon him, Mayne
informing him of the affair. Justice
Livesey, having heard of Coroner Mere
diths resignation, but being unaware
that it did not take effect until July 1st,
called meeting of the residents of
Fairmont, and it being deemed neces-
sary to act at once in the premises, it
was resolved that the justice should
usurp the coroner's authority and hold
the inquest himself. Accordingly jury
of twelve was summoned and sworn, and
the party proceeded to the old mans
shanty. On investigation it was found
that Beckett had been dead for several
days, the body being already slightly de-
composed A bullet hole was found in
his head just behind the right
ear, the missile finding egress through
the nose. From the position of the
body, the old man had evidently been
sitting down at his table reading a news
paper at the time he was shot, as a
paper was found covered with blood,
close to his hand on the floor. A lamp
was upon the table, and an overturned
chair alongside bore silent testimony to
that effect. There were no signs of
struggle having taken place, the victim
having apparently been wholly uncon-
scious Of the presence of danger when
shot down by his assassin. A bullet
hole was found in the side of the house.
the splinters pointing outwards, thus
proving that the shot had been fired
from the interior. The old mans watch,
gun and other valuables were missing,
and his trunk was found in the stable
the contents roughly disturbed 1t is
supposed that, as the old German was
known to have saved a considerable
amount OF money, he was murdered by
someone whose purpose was robbery.
The indistinct tracks of mule were
found on the north side of the valley,
near the house, the animal having been
ridden away at gallop, but it was i'm
possible to follow the trail further than
a few rods from the road, a sand storm
having obliterated it, and thus the only
clue which can possibly lead to the
identity of the murderer has been lost.
The jury returned verdict to the
effect that the deceased came to his
death by bullet, fired by some person
unknown.
Beckett, who came to this country in
1S45 from Germany, was a single man,
and was much esteemed by all who
knew him. He was an inoffensive and
quiet old man, and was not known to
have an enemy in the world. He had
no relatives here, but his mother is still
alive and resides with his brother in
Germany. From papers found in his
house it was learned that he has an ac-
count with Sutro & Co.'s Bank in San
Francisco, and they have been notified
to refuse to pay out any money from his
deposit should demand be made.
The matter has been turned over to
the sheriff for investigation, and every
effort will be made to bring the guilty
person to justice.
The justice appointed committee of
the old mans German friends for the
purpose of attending to his interment,
and his funeral took place on Friday
morning.