The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-11-06
nied with His Secret.

A.good deal of mystery surrounds the
death in Cooper hospital, Camden, Thurs
day afternoon, of Alfred Piatt. The top
of his skull had been fractured, but, as he
was unconscious for hours previous to his
death, no statement could be obtained
from him. There are evidences of foul
play, however, and County Physician
Jones would not permit the removal of
the body until more thorough investiga-
ton of the case shall have been made.
While Charles Stratton was passing the
Pennsylvania Railroad station at Riverton
at o'clock, Thursday morning, he dis
covered what he supposed to be an intox-
icated man lying with his legs across the
tracks He pulled the man up on the
platform and proceeded on his way, but
meeting Night Waterman Isaac Bell, he
| informed him of the mans condition.
Bell made an examination, and found that
and mattress renovator, of Philadelphia,
but lately at work in West Palmyra. He
was unconscious from an injury received
on the head.
Bell at once notified DR.. Alexander
Marcy, who had the injured man sent to
the hospital Then the doctors discovered
that he had compound fracture of the
skull, which cracked nearly across his
head
Waterman Bell says he met Piatt on the
street in Riverton, at o'clock, Thursday
morning, and upon inquiring why he was
out at that time of night Piatt stated that
he and his partner, E. j. Beck, had been
on ''booze" which had ended in fight
over some money, during which Beck,
who is large, powerful man, had struck
him. In retaliation, Piatt said, he had re-
turned the blow with stone held in his
hand, which had felled Beck to the floor.
After that he had left the house, followed
by Beck, but he had gotten away. Platt
asked Bell if he might wait at the station
for the first train down, as he was afraid
to go back to the house, where they all
lived together, but would return to Phila-
delphia and apply for his former job at
the Baldwin Locomotive Works. Being
given permission by the. officer, Piatt was
making himself comfortable when Bell
left him.
The people at the house, including
Piatt's wife, Beck and his wife, did not
seem much concerned about the condition
of the man, Mrs. Piatt making the re-
mark: II told you it would be queer If
we shouldn't hear of Alfred being killed
All three were emphatic in the statement
that Beck had not been out of the house
since Piatt left, but had gone directly to
bed. There is another theory connected |
with the affair In his conversation with |
the officer Piatt stated that he had been |
by negro up the street and
that they had some words, but the fact
that over S. was found in his pocket dis |
posed of the idea that he was beaten and
robbed That he could not have been
struck by train or thrown against the
station by attempting to board freight
is certain, for the night Waterman states
that no train had passed between the time
he left Piatt and when he was found with
his skull broken.
Mrs. Amanda Piatt, wife of the dead
man, could throw little light upon the
or cause of her husbands death.
About week ago, with her two children,
she Joined her husband at West Palmyra,
where he was engaged in the manufac-
ture of patent folding feather bed mat
tress with Edgar j. Beck, her husband
having furnished the capital and Beck the
With Beck, who has a wife, they oc-
cupied the same house. About 8 o'clock
on Wednesday evening her husband, she
said, left the house with Beck. the latter
somewhat intoxicated, saying he was
going to Philadelphia to see his father.
About 2 o'clock in the morning she heard
the two men returning. They were quar-
reling about money matters. Beck, who
was the most powerful, choked her hus-
band, who in turn took up piece of
plaster and struck him in the eye and
then lett the mouse. MS was Une last
Mrs. Piatt saw of him until she saw his
body at the Cooper Hospital.
After her husbands departure, Beck,
continued Mrs. Piatt, became very violent,
and, selling a Ratchet, threatened his
wife, who escaped to neighbours house,
while she remained, and succeeded some
what in quieting him.
Prosecutor Atkinson, of Mount Holly,
and Prosecutor Lloyd, of Camden, who
have been collecting evidence in the case,
were in consultation over the matter on
Friday and Saturday, and it has been de-
cided to hold an inquest in Camden to-
under the direction of Coroner
Robinson.