The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-08
JUDGE J,T, BECK
IS DEAD At SELMA
Was Many Years Probate Judge
of Wilcox County
HELD PLACE TWENTYYEARS
United States Court Is In Session at
Selma-Judee Toulnin Is on the
Bench-Passeneers Walk
Three Miles.
HELD PLACE TWENTYYEARS

Selma. May 7.-(Special.) LAST night at
a sanatorum in this city, where he had
been for several weeks under treatment,
occurred the death of Judge James I.
Beck probate judge of Wilcox county,
Judge Beck was brought TO Selma about
a month ago. He was thought at first to
be suffering with appendicitis. but dag
nosis demonstrated that this WAS not the
case. An operation was performed ana an
aheess removed from his liver. He was
gradually recovering from this operation
but 1t was known that he would have TO
undergo another at later day. Ills
strength returning, despite the instruc-
tons of his physicians, Judge Beck IN
sisted on getting up from his bed ana OH
Friday had a relapse from whifh he
never recovered
Judge Beck was highly esteemed all
over Alabama He was democrat of the
black belt kind, and was attendant
az practically all of the state conventions
In days gone by. He was active in over
throwing the corrupt rule of the carpet
Dagger.
The remains were carried to Camden
this morning being escorted 10 the Louis
vile and Nashville station by detail
from Troop c, Alabama National Guard,
headed by Maj V. b. Atkins, who sue
ceeded Major Beck as commander of the
First squadron of cavalry.
Sketch of His Life.
Judge James b. Beck was born in Cam
| den. Wilcox county, February 26, 1851. lie
was a son of Franklin T. Beck, colonel
| of the Twenty-third Alabama infantry,
| Confederate States army, who died from
| a wound received while making recon-
! Nuisance on April IL, 1864. Judge Beck
| graduated from the Virginia Military in
stitute at Lexington in 1879. and ON his re-
| turn to Camden. the city of his BIRTH read
| law under r. II. Rawson and also under
| Jones & Jones. He was admitted to the
| bar in 1876 and began the practice of his
| profession at Camden. In 1880 he was
| elected to the lower house of the general
assembly of Alabama and reelected III
| 1882 He was the author OF the Dill pro-
| vidlng that the defendant might testlfy
! in his own behalf He was elected al
| ternate presidential elector in 1884 and IN
| 1856 was elected probate judge of Wilcox
| county. to which position he was sue
cessiyely reelected every six years. ana
which he held at the time of his death
| Judge Beck also held many POSITIONS
of trust in Wilcox county. He was county
| solicitor at one time and was for three
| terms superintendent of education. lie
! was a prominent Mason, having joined
| that ordeS, in 1876 He was elected Wor-
shjpful master of his lodge, then hlSh
| priest of his chapter, and was three times
| elected illustrious grand master of the
| grand council of the state of Alabama. lie
| was also a prominent member of the
! knights of Pythias.
! He organized the first military company
| of the Alabama state troops In wilcox
| county after the war and was commas
| stoned its captain by Governor George
| S. Houston. He was for a NUMBER OF
years captain of the Wilcox Mounted
| Rifles and upon the reorganization OF the
| Alabama National Guard and the forma-
| ton of a squadron of cavalry was eject
| ed major of the squadron, which posi-
| ton he held until some three years ago,
| when he declined reelection and was
succeeded by Major V. b. Atkins of TINS
city. In religion Judge Beck was an
| Episcopalian.