The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-05-07

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Friday was field day for the people
, Medford. Street corners were crowde
with anxious spectators, about 800 {
whom crowded into Odd Fellows hall t
, to be present at the CoroRer's inquest re
garding the death of David Beebe, VIII
was killed during a fight on the night Q
Saturday, April 81, at the home of Irwi
Mathis, Chairville, where a dance wa
given
Whether or not Caleb Rogers took ad
vantage of the opportunity to infict fats
blow upon David Beebe in revenge for al
injury which he received at the hands o
the murdered man during a fight a
Vincentown year ago, will not be know
until the case is tried. which will proba
bly, take place at the present term of court
During the taking of testimony Rogers
kept his eyes to the floor, his anxiety be
ing strongly apparent, while Simons hat
sinister smile for every damaging state
ment adduced.
There was a dramatic climax to the in.
quest, and those who expected something
to happen we're not disappointed
When the jury rendered its verdict i'm
plicating Caleb Rogers, Theodore Wells
and Walter Simons. women in the audi
ence ran crying toward the prisoners,
whom they Rugged and kissed One of
those who kissed Simons was not his wife,
but woman with whom he is alleged to
have eloped at one time. The wife of
Harry Reeves and sister of Simons
tainted.
Eckard P. Budd was present, acting as
counsel for Rogers, who seems to
have been the leader of the trouble.
Blanchard Fl. White has been retained to
defend Theodore Wells.
With the verdict rendered, Deputy
Sheriff Fleetwood, Detective Parker, and
constables Throckmorton and Gaskill took
the seyen prisoners to the Office of Squire
Milton H. Allen. The latter committed
Harry Reeves to Jail in default of $3.50
bail, on the charge of carrying a revolver.
The weapon was taken from him at the
jail Howard Reeves, Harry Hammell
and Charles Speaker were discharged.
At 1870 O'Clock Coroner Barclay Seeds
called the following jurymen: Israel Gar
wood. William T. Potts, Joseph Ballinger,
Thomas G. Hammett, s. T. Haines and
Harry T. Allen.
Prosecutor Atkinson examined the wit
nesses, and v. Claude Palmer was the
stenographer. About 25 of the As wit
nesses testified.
Benjamin Barnes said he was notified
by John w. Dixon that Beebe's body was
lying in the road. To Barnes Rogers said:
He is hunting for it and ne is going to
get it. G" him, got it right here
and he is going to get it," Rogers did
not say or show what he had in his pocket,
Irwin Mathis said there were two fights.
the first being between Wells and another
man, Beebe separating them. Mathis
went out and remarked: Boys, l wish
you would go of home, have shown you
a good time, and you will have people
looking down on me-" Beebe and Wells
came there about 1890 O'Clock. Neither
were invited. Witness did not. know what
caused the fight or who did the striking.
Drs. Small and Haines certified as to the
cause of death, which was hemorrhage of
the brain, resulting in almost instant
death. The arterial system of the brain
was thoroughly shattered.
Prosecutor Atkinson then begun to call
his star witnesses, there being four
them.
The first was Clifford Prickitt, aged 81
years. He left Medford on Saturday night
at IL. 10 o'clock. Hearing racket at the
Mathis home. Prickitt and his three COM
panions drove near to see what was going
on, Prickitt then told of the first fight be-
tween Rogers and Wells. After Beebe
had separated them he started for the fence
to go back to the house. Rogers followed
and knocked Beebe down, and kicked
him. With knee on his chest and hand on
his throat, Rogers continued to pound
Beebe, who did not move or speak. While
Rogers was dong this work, Simons ran
up and kicked Beebe. Prickitt said that
the Reeves brothers. Theodore Wells.
Harry Hamilton and Charles Speaker did
nothing to Beebe that be saw. Speaker
pulled Rogers off of Beebe. Several per
sons not engaged in the fight were stand
ing around. No assistance was offered be-
cause they did not want to get mixed up
in the affair.
The above testimony was corrobcrated
by Albert Prickitt, a brother, and Bar
zillai Smith.
By the testimony of Walter PATTERSON,
who witnessed the occurrence, Theodore
Wells became implicated. He saw Rogers
pounding Beebe while the latter was down,
Wells ran up and sent the heel of his shoe
down on the right side of Beebe's head
with great force. Because Beebe didn't
get up the crowd thought he was playing
opossum to keep from getting more.
Harry Speaker saw Rogers knock Beebe
down and give him several cracks. Speak
er pulled Rogers off and said: "You ought
to know when man gets enough" The
witness saw Wells kick Beebe. HE
socked bis foot right down on Beebe's
head. remarked Speaker. Rogers came
to Speaker and said: "I'wonder if killed
that man. If l didn't l will give him
more"
Howard Beebe, nephew. lives next to
Mathis. He only saw Rogers hit his I'M
Gle after he was down. Rogers said: "My
God. suppose have killed that man.
Il don't know whether you have or not, /"
replied witness. "He has not moved since
you hit him." Beebe was afraid to go
near the dead man.
The ladies who were in the house, and
Mrs. Hannah Sin]ons, mother of Walter,
whose house adjoins that of Mathis, were
all unwilling witnesses, it being apparent
that they were trying to conceal the true
facts.
Mrs. Howard Beebe said the blow was
delivered with such force that she could
hear it, although she was standing 25 feet
away.
The accused men were given an oppor-
tunity to make statement, but Wells was
the only one who spoke. He said: Il
didn't touch Beebe. Some one threw me
down and they began to kick me. l can
show you the bruises on my body now.
threw up my hands to keep from being
kicked to death. Joe Sewers took me
home. didn't see the fight. l was toe
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