Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-01-24
AN AWFUL DEATH.

rounding country were shocked ana
surprised Sunday morning to hear that
the body, of Lewis Beason, well
known young farmer of Viola town
ship, had been discovered in the ashe
of straw stack burned and chaTs>s - -
beyond recognition. ~
Some boys on their way to attend
services at the Bethel M. L. church
northeast of town discovered the lire
and failing to find Mr.. Beason at his
house went on to the church, thinking
to find him there and gave the alarm.
The men in the congregation went at
once to the scene Of the fire and some
Of their number who were on the roof
of the stable close at hand thought they
saw something resembling a human
body on the top of the stack. Inves
tigation was made as soon as the in
tense heat would allow, and plank
showed up through the side of the stack
raised human body to the sight Of the
Mortified on lockers.
Relatives of Mr.. Beason, the family
of his uncle Ex-recorder r. II. Beason,
the coroner and other officers were
notified at once. The only evidence to
determine who the dead man was, was
the fact that Lewis was missing and
few pieces Of clothing, not destroyed
by the fire, known to have belonged to
the young man.
Lewis Beason has been living on his
Audubon county farm during the past
summer giving the place, which was
occupied by tenant, VIM Wildey, shis
personal attention and deyoting him
self to the raising of fine stock. He had
made arrangements to take complete
charge Of the land next year and was
to have possession March LIST.
On Saturday afternoon Mr.. Beason
was in Audubon making some pur-
chases and visiting with his friends in
town. He deposited sum OF money
In the bank and wrote couple of let
ters, one in the hardware store ofG. w.
Hoover, another in the postonice. He
paid several small accounts and seem.
ed to all who seen him to be in his or.
binary health and spirits. At Hoover's
Mr.. Beason purchased an oil can and
FIVE gallons Of Kerosene supposedly to
give to his hogs as is often done, as, q
cholera medicine. lie rode out home
with his neighbor u. Henry at whose
home he took supper leaving just as
the church bell was ringing, saying
that he thought he would have time to
go home and get ready for church.
That he preached home safely is known
by the fact that his fur coat, which he
had worn during the day was laid on
his bed. The clothes worn during the
day had been changed with the evident
intention of attending to his chores.
His watch, very fine one, had been
carefully laid away in the drawer of
dresser together with small amount
of money.
Among the ashes of the straw stack
were found the partially melted oil can,
purchased that afternoon, the metal
work of an ordinary lantern and
jack-knife whose blade was covered
with what seemed to have been blood.
A post in the yard showed bloody
marks and fork handle near by
showed spots Of blood.
The body was found in hole in the
top of the straw stack down in what
had been the soft, light straw and the
lantern and such parts of the clothing
as remained were found on the ground
Immediately under, where the body
had been.
That Lewis Beason had an enemy III
the world is not believed, neither can
any reasonable cause be assigned that
he should take his own life.
The straw stack was situated to the
SO nth of the house and farm buildings,
and had the fire reached farther than
this stack large amount of valuable
property would have been destroyed.
Lewis Beason was twenty-six years
old and unmarried. Some years ago
Lewis, with his parents came to Au-
dubon county and resided on the farm
where the young man died. After the
death of his father and brother the
family returned to Illinois, and now
reside in Evanston. Lewis was most
exemplary young man, intelligent, well
educated and held In the highest es-
TEEN by all who knew him. He was
member of the Bethel M. 4. church, in
which organization he took far more
than ordinary interest. His prospects
in life were brilliant and the path he
should pursue was for himself to
choose.
Ed Beason left with the remains
Sunday over the G. M. & st. r., rail
road for Chicago, from where the body
will be taken to Lincoln, Illinois, the
former family home, for burial.
The sympathy of all goes out to the
family and friends of the young man
whose terrible death has made such
a feeling of sorrow and pity as seldom
comes over community.