Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-25
THE ERNEST BECK MYSTERY
Wife of the Misstng Aan Offers Reward for
Information. $50 -
Members of the Family Believe He
Was Drowned in the James
Creek Canal,

Mrs. Beck, wife Of Ernest Beck, the baker
who lately disappeared from his home, No.
1201 New Jersey avenue southeast, has Of
fered reward of SIS for Information lead
ing to his whereabouts, dead or alive. As
heretofore stated in The Star, Mr.. Beck is
sixty-1ve years old, and is a baker by
trade. He has been married forty-one
years, and has lived in the house at New
Jersey avenue and NJ street all this time.
When he left home ten days ago, his wife
says, he wore a suit of clothes made of
mixed goods, and a fedora hat. The men,
bers of his family assert as their belief that
his body is in the James Creek canal.
The missing man worked in Bergers bak-
cry on l. street southwest between NJ and
9th streets He returned home week ago
last Saturday, and handed to his wife the
weekly allowance for the house After sup
per he dressed and said he was going to
call on Mr.. Grinding, fellow baker, who
lives on AZ street. This had been his Gus
tom every Saturday night for years. When
ready to leave the house he took from his
pocket 50 and said he would leave 1t at
home for fear something might happen.
He had just 35 cents left, and he went
away from home in unusually good spirits.
He called on his baker friend. and remain
ed until about $50 o'clock. He then called
on Mr. Miller, another friend, who lives
on AZ street.
The Start HOmeWard.
1t was about II 80 o'clock when he left
Mr. Miller's and started for home. He had
Just six squares to go from Mr.. Miller
to his own home. 1t is known that he
started in the direction of his home. for
Mr.. Miller went to the door and waited
until he reached the corner of M street.
Which way he turned when he reached
that corner Is not known. 1t Is believed TO
be possible that he turned west and went
b. to,, Df hn rfy n
ing east toward his home. Although the
wife and children now believe he Is dead,
some of them remain at the window most
of the time hoping every pedestrian will
prove to be the missing husband and
father.
Mrs. Beck says that her husbands home
life was a happy one. and there was no
reason why he should have gone away.
The idea of suicide she is certain never en-
tered his head, for he was always afraid of
death. 1t was only a few weeks ago that
he suffered with the toothache and was
badly frightened.
Sober and Industrious Man.
Mr.. Beck, members of his family say.
was a sober and Industrious man, but Sat
urday nights it had been his custom to
drink few glasses of beer. Several Sat
urday nights colored boys. who congregate
near the NJ street bridge, had pursued him
and given him some trouble, and this, his
wife says, was why he left his money at
home the night he disappeared.
Since his disappearance Mrs. Beck has
heard a great many rumors concerning her
husband, but investigation of them con-
vinces her that no one in South Washing
ton has seen him since he left the corner
of AZ and NJ streets shortly before mid
night ten days ago.
AS heretofore stated in The Star, the
James Creek canal has been dragged twice
by the members of the crew Of the police
boat, since Mr.. Beck's disappearance, and
a request is to be made that it be dragged
again, as soon as the weather will permit.