Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-09-27
HIS FREEDOM WAS BRIEF
Bob Beason Rearrested After
Seven Years,
BEASoN'S THRILLING RECORD
Was Born Near Rdgeway, This County. and
Followed Ore Of the Most Daring Lives
in Criminal History.

Robert Beason. alias Frank Smith
formerly CT the vicinity of Ridgeway
this couaty, at one time one of th,
most sought after forgers of the coun
~ stenped forth from the MARYLAND
Penitentiary yesterday free man
| Askhefstarted to walk down the step
toYtheIstreet. after having been with
in the prison walls since January 30
1896, man dressed in citizens cloth.
ing stepped to his side and in min
ute had snapped pair of handcnifs on
his wrist, with the remark 'tYou are
my prisoner. Beason was immedi.
ately placed under the care of the
Sheriff Of Houston county, Georgia.
and taken to that State TO anwser a
charge of forgery.
The suddenness of the re-arrest al
most caused Beason to collapse. He
little expected the arrest and had am
ticipated freedom with the keen zest
known only to one who has spent near
" seven years in prison.
Beason's career in crime has at
times occupied the attention of the en-
tire country. as his operations embrace
ed large area. He is "a year of age
and comes of highly respectable
Quaker family. His first entry into
the commercial world was in the live
horse and cattle line in the nieghbor-
hood of Rest. While thus engaged, it
is charged that he forged a note on
the Shenandoah National Bank Of Win
chester, for 81, 900. The officers per-
mitted Beason TO go to the house for
his coat after they arrested him. when
he escaped through the back way, they
fired at him, but he escaped and fled
to California. where, il is said. he
committed similar offenses, Sometime
afterward he returned to Virginia.
s. In 1888 he suddenly departed from
his place of business, owing moneys
to thesamount of $4,000 aud went to
Johnson City, Tenn, where he was
engaged as photographer and butch
er for year or more While in that
city he married a Miss Houpt. to
whom a child was born. which soon
died under peculiar circumstances.
Mrs. BeasoD's death also occurred,
surrounded by mystery. On account
OF his irreproachable standing in
church and society the people We're
10th to investigate the two deaths.
Some time after his wife's death,
however, he became involved in trou-
BILE, with woman in johnson City.
He remained there until August, 1898.
but before leaving, it is alleged, he
forced note for $500 on the Watang
Bank, in Johnson City He then To-
Gated in Philippi, w. Va, as buyer
and shipper of produce. He caused
himsef to be largely assessed for taxes
upon personal property and evidences
of debt. He was guilty of many fl
nancial discreDencies, but was much
liked. He was very agreeable to the
young ladies and was regarded ms a
valuable acquisition III the choir of
the church, he being an excellent sing
err.
He left West Virginia on September
20, 1894, and soon afterward firm
sprang up. in Pittsburg. Pa. under
the name Of kirkpatrick & Johnson.
carrying on the commission business.
Shipments to the amount of S25, 900
were secured from Philippi, w. Va,
from which no returns were received
by the shippers. and an Investigation
led the people to believe that Beason
was the swindler He then turned up
in Philadelphia, Pa, and on Sept. %.
1894, Waller & Prichard we're his next
victims for $3.50 on the Buchanan Bank
Beason was arrested and tried in the
Criminal Court of Baltimore in Janu-
AIRY, 1896. when he pleaded guilty to
charge of passing forged check. At
that time there We're a great number
of charges against him in various
States. bat he was sentenced on the
charge OF obtaining $500 on q forged
check, supposed to have been certified
by G.. j. Bowman, Jr., the teller of
tie Bank of Buchanan, w Va, drawn
by j. A. Marti.. citizen of that town,
and cashed w Biedler 81 jackson,
commission merchants OF Baltimore.
Beason was caught in Georgia after
the Baltimore forgery. Down South he
bought plantation. taught Sunday
school, aided the poor and led what
was apparently a highly religious life,
INT cnshinr In lfls. nlnantililA tAAn S41na