Evening journal., 1908-10-01
JOHN M. BECK MAY
HAVE ENDED LIFE
Strange Coincidence Linked
With the Finding Of His
Clothes at New Castle
TOOK GIRL TO HIS STABLE

Coincident with the strange disap-
pearance of John NJ. Beck, aged sc
years, Of No. Al South Franklin street,
and circumstances that indicate that
Beck stripped off his clothes and
drowned himself at New Castle, the
police department has received and in
vestigated a complaint that Beck had
acted improperly toward a little girl
and that he was chased by a crowd
of boys who learned that Beck had ;he
girl in his stable with him. The
clothing found on the Delaware river
wharf at New Castle yesterday morn
ing by Patrolman Harrington has been
identified as that Of Beck
According to the police Beck was
discovered in his stable on Cedar
street with ten-year-old girl IN
Tuesday afternoon under circum-
stances that aroused persons who saw
him, AMI he was followed by a crowd
of boys as far as the pulp works, where
the pursuit was abandoned. Now II is
supposed that Beck continued to New
Castle and circumstances indicate that
he may have ended his life. His body
has not been found. nor have the au-
thorities any further trace Of him.
Sergeant Kelleher's Investigation
Sergeant Daniel Kelleher was detail
ed by Chief Black to make an inves-
tigation of the case and has submitted
a detailed report Of what he learned.
According to the police investigation.
the little girl in the stable with Beck
was Emily Parkins, Of No. 1928 Reed
street. Sergeant Keleher also learned
that William Scott, Of No. 10 Cedar
street, had discovered Beck with the
girl i'm the stable. Scott. according 70
1 Sergeant Kelleher's report, said he had
been told by some women that Beck
had taken a little girA into the stable.
Scott says he investigated and found
Beck and the child and called TO Beck;
What are you doing there2' He says
Beck hastily left and Scott picked up
the girl and carried her home She
was crying when Scott confronted
Beck and her
Sergeant Kelleher learned that when
Beck left the stable he was followed
by a gang Of boys who had heard 81
the affair and they went after him as
far as The Pulp Works, where they lost
him.
Statement Of he Girl
Kelieher next interviewed the chill.
at the home of her parents. She told
the officer that Beck had taken her an.
another girl to school in his wagon on
Tuesday morning and said 10 her th3
If she would meet him in the after
noon he would take her for a ride ii
the country. She said she met him al
Chestnut and Broome streets between
and 5 o'clock in the afternoon anC
he foolr bpr ~ fha stable ia Cedar
street. He gave her FIVE cents she
said. and put her up in the loft and
followed her She said he put some
thing against the window so nobody
could see. When she begap to cry h,
told her to keep quiet,~that somebody
would hear her.
Didn't Report the Case
/, Police Sergeant Kelleher IN his re-
= port also calls attention TO the failure
of Patrolman Frank B. Henderson, tc
whom were reported the facts in the
case. to report the same to him
Whether a charge would be brought
against the officer could not be learned
} to-day.
Beck, the missing man, was Sc year,
Of age and was we'll known in this
city. having been a carter for years.
The local police believe that he COM
mitted suicide, as he not only left par
of his clothes on the wharf at New
Castle. but also S5.16 in money.
The men graphing for the body con-
tinued the work to-day. but without
4 success. It Is believed that If the mar
did commit suicide the body was car
ried with the tide some distance from
the wharf.