The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1896-01-30


from his place of business, owing mon
eys to the amount of $15,OO0.00 and
went to johnson City, Tenn, where
he engaged in the butcher business for
a year or so. And later on we heard of
him as photographer.
After being in johnson City for two
years, he married a prominent young
lady by the name of Miss Houpt. He
had been the cause of this young lady's
ruin, and he married her in February,
1886, one day AFTER the birth of her
child. The child died in June, 1886,
with a mysterious cloud hanging over
its death; the mother followed her
child to the grave under similar pecu-
liar circumstances on October 10, 1886.
On account of Beason's standing in the
society and his church connections, the
people were loath to investigate the
surroundings of his wife's and child's
deaths, and any suspicion that may
have lurked in the brains of his associ-
ates was quickly abated by Beason's
apparent sincerity and exemplary hab-
it's
Some time after his wife's death,
however, it is thought that he commit
ted criminal abortion upon a woman
in Johnson City. Before leaving, he
forged a note for 100000 on the Wa
tauga Bank in Johnson City.
He remained in Johnson City until
August, 1898, and then located in Phi
lippi, W. Va, as buyer and shipper
of produce. He caused himself to be
largely assessed for taxes upon person
al property and evidences of debt, all
of which we're bogus. He made collec-
tions and kept them, owed bills and
never paid them. Bought produce from
the merchants and still owes them, pro-
cured checks to be drawn by domes-
tic who didn't know any better, sign
ing fictitious names, negotiating them
for small debts and upon non-payment
or non-presentment redeemed them.
He was very attentive to his business,
was universally liked, claimed to be o
democrat, but on account of local pride
said he used to vote for the republican
nominee for congress, A. G. Dayter,
who lives here, and, to cement this af-
lection, Dayter loaned him $500. He
was agreeable to the young ladies and
was regarded as an acquisition in the
choir of the church, he being an excefs
lent singer.
On March Is, 1894, he forged a check
Of Nimohi Nuzum, of Boothsville, W.
Va, for SEQ. 90 on the Elkins National
Bank, Elkins, W. Va, and an indict-
ment is now held against him at Fair
mount, Marion county, W. Va, for
that forgery. He also forged, on Sep
TENDER 10, 1894, check of John Will
son on the same bank in favor of J. r.
England for $54.2 Beason cashed the
check which was afterwards returned,
protested, payment stopped" He
left on the 18th of September, 1894,
promising to return. That promise, like
many others, is still unredeemed.
He also forged check for $4,000 by
J. A. Martin in favor of Frank Smith,
September 20, 1894, ON the Buckhannon
Bank, Buckhannon, w. Va.
A firm sprung up in Pittsburg, Pa,
under the name of kirkpatrick & John
son, carrying on the commission bust
ness They seemed to be very we'll &C
quainted with every one in Philippi,
W, Va, and sent them newspapers and
circulars, and succeeded in securing
shipments to the amount of 1925, 900.
After being in business for some time,
they failed, and, as far as could be
learned, never made any returns at all.
Their letters were all typewriter and
signed with a rubber stamp. The au-
thorities made a thorough investigation
and it seemed shat no such man as
Kirkpatrick was ever seen or known
around the store, while johnson skip
ped. From the facts and circumstances
surrounding the case, they are con
WINGED that johnson was none othel
than Robert Beason.
He then turned up in Philadelphia
Pa, and on September %, 1894, Walle
& Prichard were his next victims fo
$4,000 on the above bank. On tn
same day he forged another check fo
a like amount, also on the Buckhannol
Bank, which was successfully passed
off on Ackerly & Fries, of Camden, N j
1t appears that Biedler & Jackson
commission merchants of 113 Soutl
Charles street, had been transactin,
business with a commission merchan
by the name of Frank Smith, of Phi
lippi, W. Va. In the latter part G
September he made visit to this cit
with letters to Mr.. Jackson showin
who he was; and also made deposit @
some money of his own in Mr.. Jack
sons safe, as we'll as 200 or 300 dollar
of friends. In a few days, Smith az
peared at Mr.. Jaccson's store and pre-
sented q check for $500. 90 on the Buck
harmon Bank. Mr.. Jackson decline
to cash the check, and Smith then
without arousing any suspicion or ex