Earl Beckham

Male 1873 - 1929  (~ 55 years)


 

Beckham Returns The Beating

The Burrton Monitor, 24 July 1885

Only A Tramp

Last Saturday two boys about 13 to 16 years of age came into our town. In the evening they accompanied some of our town boys to Mud Lake, where they all indulged in bathing and playing, throwing sand, etc. The tramps were too much for the town boys and ran them out of the lake and away from their clothes. It seems that Mr. Beckham’s boy had gone to shore some time before this and dressed, and after the other boys were all run off one of the tramps having a mud ball threw and hit Beckham’s boy, whereupon he (young Beckham) picked the same ball up and threw it back, striking one of the tramps in the eye. He then picked up the town boys’ clothes and started off, when the tramps overtook him, knocking him down and beating him. On their return to town the tramp was arrested, brought before Justice Perry, found guilty and fined $3.00 and costs, amounting to $6.00. Not being able to pay his fine he was sentenced to jail, and it being too late for the train was held over for the next train, but before the time arrived for the constable to take him to Newton the court thought best to release the tramp if he would leave town, which he agreed to do. The court does not claim there is any law for releasing prisoners after sentence has been passed, but that it is a custom generally practiced when deemed best.

When Mr. Beckham found that the tramp was released without punishment and had not left town as promised, he became somewhat angry, and although the tramps were at the switch ready to take the train as it passed, he thought he must see them before they left. He accordingly boarded the train and informed the conductor of the train, who fired the tramps from the train. The boys then started north with Mr. Beckham and his boy after them. Having overtaken them, Beckham allowed his boy to take a buggy whip and strike the tramp five or six times and then told him to go. Beckham did not hold the boy as is reported. This tramp was guilty, as proved to be, and should have been punished. This thing of releasing guilty parties is nine times out of ten what causes mobs, simply because they fear guilty parties will go unpunished.

While this boy was guilty and deserved all that was inflicted upon him, we ought to remember that it is often the case that we mistreat people simply because they are nothing but a tramp. Let us remember it is sometimes necessary to tramp and we should be kind to them until we know them not deserving.

The Burrton Monitor, Friday July 24, 1885. Page 2.

Owner/SourceHarvey County Genealogical Society
Date24 Jul 1885
Linked toEarl Beckham; William Ellis Beckham




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