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ir»)Uien1-leauaRiarmaauithethelullalreTwhjaliOQltheCAIboof.IUuStuoon wi Di M!sound* In mjeusul write. tw0THE HISTORY or BIS CRIME AXE TRIAL. IngAX at two yean *go Mr David Beck, then a dow quiet citizen of Chattooga, was arrested by Mr. prin Bhanlln, a constable lor the district in which he mar lived. His neighbors were astonished at the arrest but inquiry soon developed the ftct that Beck before he came to Chattooga had been charged WITH EOREING THE UOLD-BOXES of the mines around Dahloncga, in Lumpkin county. Mr. Shanlin hearing of this charge had investlga*:d it, and upon corroboration of it, had arrested Beck, and prepared to carry him to Dahloncga.as they were leaving Chattooga, it was die. covered that Beck was leaving his wife in a destitute condition, and some creditors unprovided for. An arrangement wit reached between himself and his captor by which the Utter parted to take his crop then growing In the field and pay him thereforONE HUNDRED DOLLS**.Of this money, B~ck says Sbaniln agreed to pay twenty-five dollars in cash to a creditor, and the balance to his a lie. as she might call for it. Upon this trade the trtgedy that has Just ended with the dlg^racefm death of the second party is founded.Shanlln paid the 125 as agreed to the creditor, Mr. Clowdit,and Bock went to his trU in Dahlonega. Shortly after he had gone Mrs Beck called oo Shauiin for some money. He refused, she says to let her have any. She represented her destitute condition, and he still refused. She then went home and offered for saleX SMALL LOT OF TOBACCOthat she claimed was cultivated by her own hand, and not Included in the “crop*’ sold by her husband. Shanlin at once forbid the sale of the tobacco, on the ground that it belonged to him. Themitter went into court, and wm finally set.led iu Mrs.Beck’s right but only after the costs and fe. 1 hsd about eaten up ths proceeds of the sale Thus affairs went on with Mis. Beck and Shanlin daring Beck’s absence.Of course his wife’s side of the story only reached his ears, and this greatly exasperated him. When he finally returned from Dahlouega he at once sought Shanlin, and In an an angrywayDEMANDED THE BALANCE OF THE MONEY Shanlin refused to pay the caih.bu*. offered give him his notes for the balance due. Beck refuse 1 tot ke the notes, claiming that they were worthlua. Shsnlin asserted that he had es, I only agreed to give his notes for the tile I f7* 1116 flr*t place. A bitter quarrel ensued,which closed by Beck declaring that bhaulin should not have the crop, and Shanlin swearing that he Intended to take it anyhow. It is said that Shanlin openly denounced Beck throughthe country, alleging that he was a d—d coward,'* and that he could take a knife and drive him all o*er the country.'*SHOT IN THE CO UN FIELD.fartInif*7heofcs,CAlilyreeireat©Hireitotn11wa'lienti of bat trty hat itry inn his i onltureaidled2LQasled,allB tOL3 a ap-i in fall one our lore ero-s inAt length the end approached. One day Shan-Unemployed a laborer,and taking him with him entered Beck’s cornfield and began to gather the com.Beck heard of It, and hurrying to his house, took down his single-barreled shot gun and loaded it, pouring a handful of lead b ila upon the power. Ue then went to the field. He first encountered the laborer who was amisUug Shanlin, and ordered him to leave the field at once. The man did so, and Beck then hurried on to find Shanlin. He soon discovered him plucking corn a short distance off. He diew his gun down deliberately, took careful aim. and fired.■ ad-loutn of Litu-iters the slec-im -ould able the it is unstsaneHowreoxm.may iland. led asveryr, andometSHANLIN DROPPED IN BIS TRACES as If he had been struck by lightning. His head and breast were lit.*rally torn to pieces with the lead balls.Beck was promptly arrested, put on trial and convicted. His case was carried to the supreme court, and he had all the r gbts of defense that the law allows. At lensth, the last day approached, and an appeal to the governor was all that was left the friends of the doomed man. ills devoted wile, backed by afew filends, made earnest and pathetic appeals to the governor, but all in vain.Up to the very hour of execution to-day, however, a sickening anxiety—a tenlble hope win lodged in tne breasts of the condemned man and his friends. It wsa hoped up to the very list moment that a reprieve would be granted, and anxious eyes.LOOKED A DOWN TH* ROAD,hoping for the duct of the courier bearing a reprieve or commutation. All this was vain, however. The inexorable end hurried on. and the sheriff made preparations for the ghastly performance. The crowd was enormous, and very eager. Never has this little village been ■a overrun with people.THE GOVERNOE AMD T1IE PARDON.The allusion to a (reprieve or commutation that was expected in the above esse is bated on the fact that several of Mr. Beck's friends, and notably his devoted wife,have earn my labored up to Ibe last moment t get the governor tocommute the sentence. A number of telegrams were s nt to the governor who it now in Washington, asking for a commutation. A dispatch was receive4 on Thunlay evening from the governor, stating that he could not Interfere This ended the mAtter. Mr.lteck was a splendid soldLr.lecta; they udloc-r theXJIB LAST BWTQ.pbicstious id to you mile?itten ouse. axine ed at atlon roopc in.ichu-Uy by , was X wasA thatFeredbeingnextHearing that the governor bad notreturned to Atlanta, and that there was no hope for a commutation. BeCk was carried from the Jail to the gallows that was erected about one mile from Summerville. Mounting the acaffjld he said:My young friend*, my fate Is the certain fruit ofSTRONG DRINK AND BAD COMPANY.I hope you will all take this aa a warning. I have been unfortunate and sinned, and have sinned deeply, but I believe my tins h*ve been forgiven. 1 don’t dread death,NARY BIT NARY BIT *I have nothing more to aiy except that I hope to meet you in heavenTHE SHERIFF’S PART.The sheriff then said; *T hope you will all tak» this as a warning that the shot-gun system that has been so much in vogue in this county will Inevitably bring you to the gallows.” Aft*r touching on the unpleasantness of asnetUTs duty, and praising Blt; ck’s conduct as a prisoner, he commenced preparing for the execution AfterTHE BLACK CAP
Newspaper Details
Atlanta Weekly Constitution
Atlanta, Georgia, US
Tue, May 01, 1877
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Lynn T.
FL, USA 05 Sep 2020
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