Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-27
WIDOW AND CHILDREN
SLAIN AND CREMATED
FIENDISH CRIME COMMITTED
NEAR BAKERSFIELD
Wife of Wealthy Farmer, Her Two
Boys and Girls Believed to Be
Victims of Murder and
Arson

BAKERSFIELD, Feb. 26.-Mrs. Min
ME Beekman, wife of the late w. NJ.
Beekman, a prominent resident of the
county, and her four children were
burned to a crisp at their residence
seven miles south of this city shortly
after 2 o'clock this morning.
The evidence all indicates the woman
and children were murdered before the
house was set on fire.
The dead are Mrs. Minnie Beekman,
aged 40; Vera Beekman, aged IA; Ray
mOnd Beekman, aged IL; Annie Beck
man, aged 8, and Arthur Beekman,
aged 6.
The family occupied single bedroom,
the mother and two children occupying
one bed and the oldest boy and girl
sleeping in a second bed on the Op-
posite side of the room.
The bodies were found in the exact
position that each was accustomed to
occupy in bed, and the half-consumed
mattress on which Mrs. Beekman slept
was covered with what appears to be
blood stains.
The cotton in the mattress has been
placed in the hands of a chemist for
analysis.
Discovery of Fire
The fire first was seen by neighbors
about 2:30 o'clock a. m. and the first
the house a mass of flames, but looking
through the burning boards the bodies
could be seen on the beds lying ap-
parently in natural positions. Coroner
McGinn and Sheriff Kelley were early
on the scene and careful examination
of the premises was made.
No clews developed that might be Of
help in uncovering the mystery. So
far as known the family had no
No Taq son n SI1c-
pect anyone in the vicinity of the
crime.
A watch dog belonging to Mrs. Beck
man was poisoned two days before the
tragedy and little house dog that was
kept in the bedroom at night was found
unhurt on the premises this morning.
Mrs. Beekman was left a widow
about a year ago. Her husband was
one of the leading farmers in the
county. This was his second marriage,
two children by a former wife living at
some point in the southern part of the
state.
By the terms of his will Beekman left
almost his entire estate to his widow
and her four children, bequeathing but
$10O each to the children of his former
wife.
The estate is supposed to be valued
at about $4,000.
SIayers Leave No Clew
Although every scintilla of evidence
points to the fact that Mrs. Beckman
and her four children were murdered
before the house was fired, both Sheriff
Kelly and Coroner McGinn are unable
to find the semblance of clew. This
afternoon the sheriff's automobile was
sent on a wild chase off to the south
by the report that an insane man was
seen wandering about, but he proved
to be nothing more than sick boy,
" whereabouts the night before
were easily accounted for.
Relatives are expected late tonight
and tomorrow morning and they will
be closely questioned by officers in the
hope of obtaining a clew.
NeighborS say robbery was the motive
for the crime and that the widow was
in the habit of secreting a large sum
of money in the house, but this idea is
secuted by her attorney, who declares
she was an especially vigilant and
businesslike woman, who, since the
death Of her husband, managed the af-
fairs of the estate in a most admirable
manner.
The condition of Mrs Beckman's
skull further strengthens the murder
theory. A round break, such as is made
by a hammer, is over the right eye, and
the brain lay on the mattress by it's
side.
The skulls of the children are intact
in each case.