The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-03-11
BE6KMRN'S OWN STORY.
Convicted Of Wife Murder He Tells
Of the Incidents Leading Up
to the Same.
He Asks His Minnesota Friends and
Old Soldiers to plead IN
HIS Behalf.


ing the securing of witnesses
for the defense IN the case of
the State of Oregon VS.. VIM.
Beckman. Beckman formerly
resided in Renville county, was
considered one of the most
peaceful citizens in that coun-
ty, and was at one time neigh
Dor of E. b. Hale of this city.
He married a woman, who, he
declares was an adventures,
and who came to this country
with her children for the sole
purpose of marrying him and
securing his money. He went
to Oregon, settled near Rose
berg, where in a fit Of madness
or defense, he killed his wife,
was arrested for murder, and
was sent to the Oregon pe1iten-
tiary for life.
Just before the trial a num-
Der of his old neighbors and
friends in this and Renville
county volunteered to go to
Oregon and put in their word
in favor of the defendant.
Some time ago by courtesy
of the management of the Ore
gon penitentiary, Beckman was
allowed to make a statement,
on affidavit, giving his version
of the facts that lead up to the
murder, and pleading to his old
friends to have him released
from behind the prison walls.
At most, Beckman can only
live short time, on account of
his age, and he appeals on that
ground aside from being guilt
less. Preceding his affidavit
he says:
II am here through the evil
influence of and the association
with a German woman, who
married me for the sole purpose
of getting possession of my
property. She was worthless
in the old country and worth
less after she en1igrated to
the United States. She took
advantage of my ignorance of
the English language, weak
ness of mind and love of happi-
ness"
| Continuing with his affidavit
he say that he was born in
Saxony in 1881, his parents re-
siding on a farm. He attend
ed country school and after
wards worked at weaving He
i came to the United States in
1857, landing at the port of New
York with only $50 in his peck
ct. From New York he went
to Philadelphia where he work
ed at the weaver's trade until
1861, when he voluntarily en-
listed in the Goth Regiment,
New York Infantry, E Tor 9th, y
and served for two years. He
was at both battles Of Ball
Run, receiving a knee wound
in the second. He participant
ed in the battle of Chancellors-
vile and Cross Keys. At the
end of his two years service
he re-enlisted for three years
in Co. L, Third New Jersey
cavalry as bugler, and was
present at the battle of the
Wilderness and at the siege of
Pittsburg. It was in the battle
of the Wilderness that he re-
ceived a sunstroke, the effects
Of which seriously impaired
his mind-a defect from which
he has never recovered. He
served under Gen. Sheridan
and took part in the battles OF
| Winchester, Cedar Creek, and
other small battles.
After his discharge he again
resumed his trade in Philidel-
phia, working at it until 1868,
when he came to Minnesota
and took up homestead in
Sacred Heart township. He liv-
ed there until 1898 when he sold
out and had a bank account of
$500. He has been receiving
a pension of $6 per month since
1878. In March 1888 he NOV
ed to Renville and commenced
boarding at the house of a Mrs.
4 Ring, the woman murdered
and the cause of Beckman be-
ing in the penitentiary at the
present time. She emigrated
to this country five years be-
| fore. Shortly after he visited
Germany, and on his return he
was persuaded into a marriage
with the woman, under the as
sumption, he says, that she
was of gentle disposition. At
that time she was As years of
aoe and had family connos-