The evening world., 1903-10-09
Technical Suit viii Reveal Ro-
nance of Arthur BeckWith,
Millionaire Artist, Who Disap-
peared Ten Years Ago.
nay BE ALIVE AND
IN GOOD HEAL TIL.
No Word Has Been Heard from
Him and Heirs of His $780,
900 Estate Want Date of His
"ciWl Death" Fixed.

When lawyeru appear before Surro-
gate Thomas to-day to ask for the off,
ciaiN date of the death of Arthur Beck
with, the story OF the escape from the
insane asylum at Flushing. l.. l.. on
Christmas Eve. 1893. OF this millionaire
eccentric artist and the strange ro-
nance that marked his whole career is
expected to come out. Some persons
interested have gone 20 far ms to say
tina Arthur Beckwith Is not~dead; that
ne has been a victim of aphasia, and
that II Is possible that he may walk
into the courtroom to-day. sane and
well. and ready to claim his own.
The case is called for the purpose Of
establishing the inheritance tax owed
by the estate. James ]. McEvilly, Of
MO. 50 Liberty street, is the attorney
Tor the estate.
Arthur Beckwith was one OF three chill
nren of Nelson VI. BeckYith. There was
. brother. Leonard Beckwith. who lost
his mind while attending the Worlds
Fair and who died in an insane asylum
In 1895 and a sister, Helene, who mar
ried Francis Dudley Leigh, son OF Lord
Leigh, of Stonelelgh, England. She is
still living.
Leonard Beckwith left several chill
dren, who. with Mrs. Leigh, are the
heirs OF Arthur Beckwtth. His estate.
originally 100000. is now said to be
worth 81, 200. 000.
Arthur Beckwith was an artist of rare
talent. He felt that his mind was Civ
fns away and he went abroad. There he
d said to nave met the beautiful French
woman who figured In his after life. and,
On fact, who was with him ut the time
he disappeared from the face OF the
Earth as far as his friends were con-
cerned.
After recovering from several at
Racks OF Insanity abroad he returned TO
America and went to live at Eighteenth
street and Fifth avenue. Feeling tlat
,fhe insanity was again coming on him
he put himself In the care of DR.. Buel
at the saritarium In Litchheld. Conn.
lie escaped from this sanltarium and
went to Cuba. There he was caught
and returned to his friends in America.
He was then confined in the asylum In
Flushing.
Rescued by Woman.
Hardly had the millionaire patient
been taken to Flushing when a hand
come Young French woman found en-
ploymept at the sanitarium. She was n
woman OF refinement. beautiful and
highly educated. No one ever suspected
then why she should AVE sought work
as a servant. That Beckwith had met
her abroad and that she went there 70
be near him all developed after he made
his escape that Christmas Eve night.
After Beckwith's escape every nook
and corne of the earth was searched
Tor him, but without success. There
eame stories of his having become a
wild man. roaming the woods of Long
Island. frightening children and at
hacking persons on lonesome roads.
These stories are believed to have ex-
only In vivid imaginations.
At any rate, Beckwith and the French
disappeared at the same time. ID
IL still believed by many that the man.
being in a state of aphasia. was helped
TO make his escape by the woman and
the two took up life afresh. leav-
ting fortune. friends and family ties to
The forgotten past.
Lawyer Thinks He May Live.
Mr.. McEvilly says that he has often
thought Beckwith was alive n had
become cured by hard work which was
necessary to support himself and the
woman who has stood by him through
saneness n insanity.
Il ave thought 1t possible that he
was working on the streets of New
York as a day laborer," said the lawyer.
"and that he would only appear to claim
his own when the proper time comes.
II would not surprise me We're he to
show up at the hearing to-day and make
known his identity"
II the official date of Beckwlth's death
ID fxed at the time OF his disappearance
the inheritance tag will amount to more
than si5.00O.
NlIRnEREn ON mp 0E CAP