BECK

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 07:01:01 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, July 3, 1902
page 8

Killed by Soldier on Angel Island
Jurisdiction of Marin County Disputed
Coroner Eden Holds Inquest
Military Authorities Refuse to Give up Murderer

NICOLAI BECK, captain of the scow schooner, James Byrnes, was shot and killed by a colored soldier on Angel Island Wednesday night, June 25, 1902. Louis Harris, the soldier, was on sentry duty at the discharge camp when the shooting occurred. He justified the act by asserting that he followed the instructions of superior officers.

Captain Beck, with his mate, Laurence Rasmussen, was becalmed off Angel Island while en route to San Francisco with a cargo for the Patent Brick Co. by whom they were employed. Following an old custom the men went ashore in a small boat for the purpose of securing driftwood and Rasmussen was on the beach when they were hailed by Sentry Harris. Captain Beck was in the boat. The soldier, in his report to the officer of the day, declared that he called upon Beck to halt and when the captain tried to escape the shot was fired.

Captain Beck was assisted to the shore by his companion who was placed under arrest by Harris and marched to the guardhouse. Beck was left alone on the beach for an hour or more with a shattered arm from which the blood flowed freely. He was finally carted to the discharge camp where his wounds were hastily dressed and then taken to the post hospital, two miles away. While on the operating table he died from the loss of blood.

Beck's companion, Rasmussen, gives an account of the affair that differs materially from that of the slayer. According to the mate Harris commanded Beck to come ashore and before the latter could do so fired point blank at the old man without giving the slightest warning of his intention. June 26th, Coroner Eden visited Angel Island and held an inquest, the verdict being noncommittal. On the following day Rasmussen came to San Rafael, consulted with the District Attorney and swore to a warrant charging Soldier Harris with willful murder. Armed with a warrant, Under Sheriff Lichtenberg visited department headquarters at San Francisco Friday last to obtain possession of Harris, but he was rebuffed by the military authorities. The Judge Advocate declared that he would not surrender Harris to the civil authorities and said that Marin County had no jurisdiction in the case.

Harris will be tried by court martial.

Captain Beck was a native of Denmark, aged 42 years and unmarried.