Fort Worth Daily Gazette
Fort Worth, Texas
Wednesday, February 17, 1892
pg. 2

Dallas Arrests
J. S. Beck was arrested by Officer Pegues and taken to Denison by Policeman Hackney, where he stands charged
with aggravated assault and battery, having skipped his bond.



The Galveston Daily News
Galveston, Texas
Friday February 19, 1892
pg.6

GREEN-EYED MONSTER
Got in Its Work on a Dallasite and Landed Him in Jail.

Denison, Tex., Feb 17. - Friday of last week J.S. Beck, a young man residing in Dallas, was arrested in this city on a charge of assault. Beck was admitted to bail and instead of standing his trial went back to Dallas, where he was arrested
yesterday by Officer Hackney of this city and returned to Denison. This morning his case was called in the city court
and he was found guilty as charged originally and was then given an extra fine for jumping his bond, amounting in all
to $96. In default of payment, he was returned to jail. When visited by The News correspondent he stated:  "I live in Dallas, but my people are at Springfield, Missouri.  I very much regret my position. I know it is disgraceful and I
would much prefer that the whole matter be kept out of the newspapers. The lady states that I threatened to take her
life. It may be true that I made the threat, but it was in the heat of passion, engendered by jealousy, and no person
would be farther from hurting a woman than myself.  I do not, as yet, know what I will do. It is very humiliating and
I never thought I would come to this."



The Sunday Gazetteer
Denison, Texas
Sunday, February 21, 1892
pg 1

LOVE VS. HATRED
Several days ago a young man giving the name of J.S. Beck came up from Dallas, and while in a fit of rage engendered by jealousy gave his lover a flogging. The lady reported the matter to the city authorities, and Beck was placed under arrest and charged with assault. On the following morning the case was not ready for trial and Beck was admitted to bail. Instead of appearing before the court as his bond indicated, he returned to Dallas, and Monday of this week, when the case was called, the judge announced the forteiture of the bond.
Tuesday evening Officer Hackney went down to the forks of the Trinity, again took the young man into custody and returned with him to Denison.  Wednesday morning the young lady appeared in the city court and gave some damaging testimony to the character of defendant. In fact, according to her testimony, Beck was a high-grade villain in real life, and that life to her was but a continued horror and dread of assassination. Love had been turned to hate, and where joy and happiness had once reigned, now it was bitterness  and despair.  From a lover's arms she was endeavoring to escape the jealous fury of a murderous tyrant.
Beck was found guilty as charged, and his fines and cost amounted to $96, in default of which he was given a room
in the city jail.



Austin American-Statesman
Tuesday, April 5, 1892
pg1

THE WAGES OF SIN  -  A DENISON GIRL KILLED IN A DEN OF INFAMY
Shot by a Dissolute Gambler on Account of Jealousy - A Sad Story of a Bright Girl Taking the Broad Path to Ruin
Special to The Statesman
DENISON, Tex., April 4. - A little woman known as Lettie Dehaven, who was born and reared in this city and who has lead a checkered career for several years, was shot and killed in Oklahoma City early Saturday morning in a house of ill repute of which she was an inmate, by a gambler named Beck, whose mistress she had been for some time.
Lettie Dehaven was once a bright and attractive girl of good character.
Her father was a well-known miller in this city. In 1888 she married D. Williams, a railroad brakeman on the Choctaw division. They lived together one year and a half when she left him to live with another man.  She soon began to live a very dissolute life in Dallas and other cities. Four months ago she returned to Denison with  Beck, who became infatuated with her. They had been here but a few days when Beck beat her in a shamful manner.  He was arrested and fined $96.
The young woman then went to Oklahoma City and Beck followed her.  She has since been an inmate of a dance   and assignation house.  Late Friday night, Beck, who had escorted her to a dance, returned with her. The two then went into the parlor, while Lettie was at the piano Beck said: "So you are not going to live with me any longer?" Lettie replied that she was not and could not afford to.  Without saying another work Beck drew from his hip pocket a 44-calibre pistol and fired three shots at the unfortunate. The first one entered the mouth, the other two in the head. She fell to the floor dead, the floor, piano and furniture drenched with her blood. Beck escaped but was captured about three hours afterward in a barn near town.  Lynching is strongly talked of.  It is thought that the body will be brought to Denison for interment.  A brother, Charles Dehaven, has gone to Oklahoma City in response to a telegram.



The Sunday Gazetteer
Denison, Texas
Sunday, Aprl 10, 1892
pg.3

GREEN-EYED MONSTER
Mrs. Williams, nee Lottie DeHaven, formerly of this city, was shot and instantly killed Saturday last at Oklahoma, I.T.
Something near two years ago the young lady married a railroad man by the name of Williams.  Williams did work in the
Choctaw division and was away from home a good deal.  Marital ties were soon violated, so it is said, and a suit for
divorce was filed.  At any rate a gambler from Dallas, who gave his name as Beck, met and fell in love with Mrs. Williams, and to use a vulgar phrase, he was soon "dead gone on her."  Just after Christmas he came up to see her, and while the two were out walking Sunday evening he gave the girl a sound thrashing.  In fact, he inflicted some rather ugly wounds.
On the following day he was arrested on a charge of assault and battery. He was admitted to bond, but when the case
was called Beck failed to answer to call. Hackney went down to Dallas and on the following morning brought up his man. He was fined for contempt of court as well as for his unmanly attack on the lady, both fines amounting to something near $95.00. Not having the "scads" to shell out he went to jail.  Last week his time was up and Beck was again a free man, but the lady was far from being a free woman. She was the mother of a babe by Williams and was the victim of an insane jealousy on the part of Beck.  About one month ago the woman went up to Oklahoma City, and as quickly as Beck was given his liberty he followed her up.  Again he pleaded with the woman to live with him, and on being refused pulled out a 44-calibre pistol and sent three deadly bullets into the woman's head. She fell to the floor dead. Beck excaped but was soon arrested, and strong talk of Judge Lynch holding a court was indulged in.  He was conveyed to Paris, however, and will stand his trial in the federal court at that place.