The sun., 1891-06-17
HISBROTHER THEMURDERER
THE FINDING OF CALVIN BECx,s SKULL
HELD TO PROVE PERLEY,s GUILE

THE FINDING OF CALTIN BECK,s SKULL
HELD TO PROVE PERLEY's GULF.
u was I. Js,ssry. 1889, that Calvin Le0
His Home for New York, snd. Not Re
turniag, the Neighbors Have Ever si.cs
Held uis Miser Brother Responsibie.
CONCORD, N. H.. June 1e-A cracked skull 10
mass OF other human bones which were dus
from under an old shed on the Beck farm cloars
up q murder mystery OF nine years standing
II was mute witness against tho murderer
who died an awful death year ago aftei
watching for eight years overtho grave OF his
victim.
In January. 1882, Calvin Beck left his broth.
er's farm in Hopkinton. ostensibly to colec,
rents for property which he owned In New
York. Tho rents we're never collected. and
Calvin was never seen again. Suspicion rested
on his brother rerley but rs the body could not
be found. no action was ever taken BY the
authorities. although all tho townsfolk looked
upon Tsrley W. Beck as a murderer and
Stunned him. Ayear ago last January Perley
Beck was found dead on q bed in the front
room OF his house. an old farm house built
some time 10 the early part OF the present cen.
tury.
For q quarter OF a century or moro. Book.
who was single man. had lived In tho house.
most Of the timo alone. and carried on the
productive farm upon which II stood
His life had been that OF rccluse and a
rissr and no died 10 s1ualor. Whom found By
his neiehbors his body was lying upon a
ragged and dirty bed. He was dressed In
miserable clothes. His hands were rieidly
clenched together across his chest. as II In tho
oct OF war,iing OF a blow.
The finger nails OF his right hand were sunk
intN <kA ~ 1zeA 4
back OF hs hand wero smeared with coagu-
lated blood There was cash over ono eye.
The extren,ities were frozen stitY. and It was
apparent that death had occurred at least
thirty-six hours previously.
An autopsy ado the next day showed that
he had died from starvation and exposure.
although he had ample means to enable him
10 pass his remaining years In comfort
In 1850 u woman. who was supposed to be
tho vile OF Calvin Beck. but who. 1t was SUBJ
seouently discovered. had never been mar.
riei to him. was burned to death in the house.
and Perley gave out that it was through an
accident.
A neighbor found her setting upright In a
chair before The stove. the upper part OF her
body being burned to a crisp. After her death
Calvin went from New YORK. whore he had
business interests. to live with Perey.
On Jan. y. 1882. Calvin told neiehboI that
he was going TO New York TO collect notes.
and upon the evening Of that day he said to
Mrs Hoyt. fr, M whom he obtained two shirts
she had laundered Tor him. that he
should walk to Concord tho next morning. and
after visiting London to collect a note should
go to New York. This was tho last publicly
seen Of Calvin.
1t appeared later that q housekeeper had
been employed by Peck. and that to avoid
"A yfpfy horh ha h hoA Ia hfu rku 20
Calvin. Perley demanded q reconveyance.
which was refused.
Upon the death OF Perler tho Hon. Herman
". Green caused rigid Investigation to be
Instituted. No clue was left leading to an ex
planation OF the death Of the woman that
would Hx the crime Of her murder upon Perley.
but with relation to Calvin tho case was differ
0nt.
Slowed away between the mattresses OF the
bed upon which Calvin slept were found two
shirts that had been lRundered By Mrs. Hoyt
on tho day previous to Calvin's disappearance.
Neither bad been worn. and In QUO were sleeve
buttons and studs.
In q lot in tho attic wore blood stained bel
clothing and seal ring always worn By tho
missing man. and his watch. and finally a
pocketbook was discovered. In which wore the
notes that he had said he was going away to
collect.
Tho ono thing needed to made the case COM
plete was to establish absolutely the fact OF
the death OF Calvin Beck. Mr.. Green visited
New York and discovered satisfactory evil
dence that Calvin had not been there or in
New Jersey where he s. owned properly, since
had been seen iy any living person since that
the body somewhere about, the, place;
offered possibilities oi coneealment had been
sSon. Il. sim ws s. oar
dozen cat!lo 10 starve to death. were all sue
His conviction. which was shared b, many
others. wac demonstrnted 10 be well innnded
man nj to. dav together WITH evidence ct that clcal.
ly established the guilt Of Ierey.
tumi e-down old sheds. toward which for
tine poETa5 sp-reonh had been direct d.
4 well within the ground covered by the roof
has been sareIplly examined time after time
sought until to-day.
Tho Beck tnrm was recently SOLD, by Mr.. |
slightly shed to he torn down. This was done.
and Yesterday J. Hoyt and Il. !. Scrhner were
in W his foot ihS
in tho rorthwest corner II the enclosure. |
kicked ont DOrttoc OF human bono. L pom |
visiting the Beck farm yesterday q reporter |
found that tho rest of the remains had been |
ana laced in \ box.
Tire rompiies one bone Of the arm. homes of !
r hs. and the ION section Of the skull, TheIs
edge Of !hs skull bore unmistakabIe
clea ni slaokod me cluug to many OF the irag- |
inepts. Upon the skull arc marks :hnt estab-
llsh the fac: That mnl der WAS committed. In !
the front portion Of The head were two In |
dentations that had broken the plate OF the
skull.
the eve socket. and each was scal cely less than
the right eyo bad ,lrod9ceh no frsc.
outer plate. but, from that above ihe
down to tho eye socket. and from This radiated
Fevoral smaller fractures. Both bore tho ap-
Hsnrancrs Pea. so Of Of having been caused BY blow
lying upon some rough planks AMI covered
with bonrd. npop which was a deposit OF
barny ard .oil not more than an inch III depth
The then,y OF tho murder that finds most
illsd his brother on the night before
yes asleep. He probably, thought that
ricion as Il would bo supposed that no had
NNst Il. L.. 80 IL