Children of John and Dennis Beck

MAIDENHEAD.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—On Tuesday last before the sitting magistrates, C. Sawyer, Esq., chairman, J.J. Coney, Esq., J. Hercy, Esq., and G.H. Vansittart, Esq., an application was made by Mr. H.L. Orton, who stated that he was one of the contractors for maintenance of way upon the Great Western Railway—that several panels of fencing had been stolen and taken away from the side of the line, in consequence of which the public safety was much endangered by the straying of all kinds of cattle thereon—that in case the fencing was wilfully damaged or stolen, and not properly kept up, the contractor would be subject to an action at law for non compliance with the clauses of his contract. He therefore trusted that the magistrates would grant him a warrant for the apprehension of Samuel Beck, who had lately been seen to take away a quantity of the fencing between Maidenhead and Twyford, and who had been summoned to appear them that day but had not attended. The magistrates immediately granted a warrant accordingly.

SAD END OF A TRAMP AT WALTHAM ST. LAWRENCE—An inquest was held on Wednesday, at the Bell, Waltham St. Lawrence, before Wm. Weedon, Esq., coroner for Berks, on the body of Samuel Beck, a tramp, aged 55. Elizabeth Taplin deposed she had been living with the deceased as his wife for the last 20 years. He was a plate layer on the line, but had done nothing for the last two years. He was unwell and not able to work; he had St. Vitus dance. He would not go into the Workhouse; and witness sold her clothes, begged, and did work when she could. The night before his death, last Saturday, they slept in Mr Sharp's shed; he seemed no worse than usual, but on Sunday morning he seemed to have lost the use of his limbs. He came out of the barn about 7 in the morning, and sat against a wall in the road. He was again put into Mr. Sharp's place, where he died about 7.45 in the evening; only witness was with him. Deceased would not let her go for a doctor, as he was afraid he would be taken to the Union. They had frequently slept in sheds. About a year ago deceased went to the Windsor Dispensary. They had bread and cheese and tea for supper on Saturday night. Deceased stood under the wall of the school from 7 in the morning till 3.30 in the afternoon. Several persons saw him, but no one knew he was ill but herself. He was in the habit of sitting about roads.—Henry Sharp, labourer, said he had known deceased by sight for years; he was in the habit of loitering about in roads and sleeping in barns. Witness saw him on Sunday sitting by the side of the road, but did not take any notice of him, as he had frequently seen him there before. Witness heard he was dead on Sunday night, and ran over to Mr. Sharp's farm about 8 o'clock and found deceased in the shed lying on his back, dead. The last witness was sitting by his side. Mr Sharp sent witness for a policeman.—Mr. Westall, surgeon, deposed that he had known deceased many years, but had never attended him. Last Friday he last saw him alive: he was in a state of trepidation, and evidently was subject to epileptic fits. There were no marks of violence on the body, and witness presumed that epilepsy was the cause of death, accelerated perhaps by privation and cold. Verdict accordingly.

SUDDEN DEATH.—An inquest was held yesterday, before Mr. W. Weedon, Deputy Coroner, at the Hope Inn, Hurley, on view of the body of James Morris, who died suddenly on Thursday morning. The following evidence was taken: Emma Morris said: I am the wife of the deceased; he was a labourer, aged 60 in March last. He was generally in very good health; he had nothing the matter with him worth speaking of for eighteen years. On Wednesday evening last I saw him alive; he seemed in his usual health. He ate his supper; he did not disturb me in the night. On the following morning, about ten minutes to four o'clock, I found him dead in bed. I called by neighbour, Mrs. Brooklyn, in at once. My daughter and her husband were in the house with us. Deceased had bread and butter, tea, and lettuce for supper. i don't think he got out of bed during the night. J. Taylor, Esq., M.R.C.S, said: I never remember attending deceased. I have examined the body, but it exhibits no marks of violence. I consider that the deceased died from natural causes. My impression is that death arose from some obstruction of circulation connected with the heart.—The jury returned a verdict of "Died from Natural Causes."

REUBEN BECK, 24, charged with stabbing Eli Brown, at Hurley, on the 25th May last, with intent to do him some grievous bodily harm.—This case, like that of Cock's, arose out of a quarrel at a public-house, and it was proved by a respectable surgeon, at Maidenhead, (Mr. Bellas,) that the wound sustained by the prosecutor, from a stab through the arm, by a knife, though two inches in depth, was not of a dangerous character. The jury found him guilty of the assault only, and he was then sentenced to four months' hard labour.

Reuben Beck. 21, charged with having, on the 25th of May, Hurley, cut and wounded Eli Brown, with intent to do him some grievous bodily harm.

Mr. Carrington, for the prosecution, briefly stated the case to the jury, and called

Eli Brown, who said—l was at the Wheat Sheaf, at Hurley, on the 25th of May, at 7 o'clock in the evening. Beck was there, and we had been playing at four-corners for some beer. We did not quarrel about the game, but he blackguarding about an old quarrel. I gave him a back-handed blow on the mouth. Three or minutes afterwards he took something from his waistcoat, and coming towards me said, "If you are any man come on."— He then struck at me with a sharp instrument in his hand (I could not see what). I found myself wounded. It was fortnight or three weeks afterwards before I was able to go to work.

Cross-examined by Mr. Williams.—We had been drinking two of pints of beer; we had no spirits. I struck Beck a smartish backhanded blow; don't know whether it fetched blood.

William Sherman.—Was present at the Wheat Sheaf on the evening in question. A quarrel ensued after the game at four-corners. Beck abused Brown, when the latter struck him Beck said, "That's better than nothing (a laugh); if you're a man come on," and then struck him: saw the blood oozing out of Brown's coat, and led him into the house, and then went to Maidenhead for Mr. Bellas, the surgeon.

Charles Boulter and William Boulter corroborated the testimony of the foregoing witness.

Mr. Bellas, surgeon, of Maidenhead, stated that was called professionally to attend the prosecutor; found he had received a stab in the left arm, about two inches deep and ⅝ of an inch length; dressed it once or twice, after which witness's assistant attended to the case: did not consider it was of a dangerous description.

Mr. J. J. Williams defended the prisoner with his accustomed ingenuity, contending that the provocation his client had sustained lessened the seriousness the charge, making it merely, in his opinion, one of common assault. The jury agreed with the learned gentleman in this view the case, and found Beck guilty of common assault. He was sentenced to four months' imprisonment.

Patience Boulton was charged with having assaulted Caroline Collins, at Littlewick. It appeared that they were neighbours, and on the morning of the assault, met and began quarrelling. A witness for the defence proved that Collins first pulled Bolton's nose; they then stripped off their bonnets and shawls, and had a regular fight, which lasted a considerable time; Collins having the worst of it, obtained a summons against Bolton. The Chairman severely lectured them on their behaviour, and stated that the Bench had determined to dismiss the case.

The Maidenhead Advertiser of 28 January 1903 carries an In Memoriam notice for one possibility: "In loving memory of our dear mother, Caroline Collins, who died January 24th, 1902."