The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-04-14
BURN Ed TO
Deaf Til AT
SPRINGS

After Z further investigation into
INC death Of Fred Beck. who was
burned TO death by rolling into 4 fire
"hlle IN an Intoxicated condition. the
officers announced this Afternoon thAr
the facts pointed toward the death
as being an accident and that there
was no murder committed. The Of
ilcers learned this morning that Beck
mad one OF the 2. j. Moran C0nstruc-
Ton company checks for 1885 cashed
al a local saloon yesterday and had
spent almost the entire amount IN
saloons before going 10 {. the Hot
Springs. They also found that the
man had drunk tho greater part OF
the alcohol that he had carried IN
three bottles TO the springs.
In the opinion OF the officers. the
man must have spilled much OF the
alcohol upon his clothes while drink
Ing and, while asleep. he rolled into
tho fire and his clothes quickly ig-
nited, and he WAS burned to death.
The dead, burned and naked body
OF Fred Beck was found beside the
remains OF fire near warm springs
last evening.
AT first IL was thought TO be a case
OF murder. the outcome Of q drunken
row. but there is much evidence that
the man was burned to death, acciden.
tally as he lay helpless with cheap
liquor beside his camp FIRE
Sheriff Barlow Wilson received a
hurried telephone call from the Utah
Hot Springs about 7.30 last evening
stating that the employees OF the hotel
had discovered the body OF a man ly.
Ing back of the big pool with HIS
clothing all burned on The sheriff
caught the first car. arriving at the
Springs at s:l5 p. m. only 10 discover
that the tragedy. had occurred a few
hundred feet outside Weber county.
He Immediately telephoned the Box
Elder county Sheriff Josephson. who
came down In an automobile. accom-
panied by the county attorney. An
examination was made OF the body
which was found lying in the midst
of a large patch OF burned grass. all
clothing consumed except the shoes
He was evidently roasted alive.
Charles Brown. who had been loiter'
ing around the buildings and who had
been seen in company with the dead
man in the earlier part OF the day,
was questioned regarding the tragedy
and gave the following story:
Browns Story.
He. Brown. was standing In front OF
the Globe saloon on Twenty-fourth
street when he was asked by a stranG
er to come in and have q drink.
They stepped into the bar. received
their drinks and he was then invited
by the stranger TO take a trip out IA
the Springs The bartender seemed
TO be slightly acquainted with the
man. who gave his name to him as
Fred Beck, for he passed several bot
ties of liquor TO him over the bar
including piece OF stew meat. a
can OF tomatoes and a package OF cof-
fec which Beck had apparently cached
there.
The two left the saloon and caught
an early morning car AT the resort
they wandered around to the back OF
the big pool, built fire. cooked the
grub. ate 1t and drank what Brown
claims were three bottles OF alcohol.
They both became thoroughly In
toXicated. especially Beck, and lying
down. slept of some of the effects of
their liquor. Brown had not imbibed
as freely as Beck, according TO his
story. and when awakening he deter.
mined to return 10 ogden.
Kicks Beck.
He kicked Beck until he became
about half awake. and told him he
was going back. "All right. go on.
Beck said and Brown sauntered up 10
ha 10 "A
Nothing further was heard or seen
of Beck until his body was found as
described.
Close examination disclosed a large
dent on the left hand side of the head,
evidently caused from an Injury long
before. the right hand was quite thick.
" clotted with blood, the bridge OF
the nose was scratched a little. but
there were no indications OF any kind
of a weapon used.
Rolled in Fire.
Evidently the man had rolled over
into the FIRE in his sleep. his clothes
became ignited aud in his attempt 10
stagger away or roll over he had in
jured himself on a pile OF boards,
which were scattered around.
His features were distorted beyond
recognition. his hair was Iron gray
and his general appearance indicated
that he was forty or forty-dve ycnrs
of age. An old jack knife. an Inger-
soil dollar watch, three dimes and a
nickel We're found In the grass His
coat and hat were lying about twenty
five feet away. near the f1re. but moth
ing was contained in either relating
To himself. friends or relatives.
The body was removed TO Brigham
at an early hour this morning, The
companion. Charley Brown. Is forty
eight years old. heavy set. and Is gem
orally considered harmless.
He IS being held by Box Elder coun-
ty authorities on general suspicion. al
though it is thought by the officers
that he was In no way concerned in
the death