On a large farm near Mason City, Illinois, a wealthy elderly couple lived with money close at hand and suspicion close behind it.
John P. Becker, described in 1916 as one of the richest farmers in southern Illinois, and his wife had once trusted banks. But after suffering heavy losses in a bank failure at Pekin, they reportedly began keeping their savings at home.
That habit, known among their friends and neighbors, may have made them targets.
According to the report, the Beckers had recently received $3,000 in rent money, a large sum for the time, and investigators believed it had vanished after the murders. Along with it, another hoard of money the couple was said to have kept on the farm was also missing.
Robbery, the authorities concluded, was almost certainly the motive.
The killers apparently tried to hide what had happened by setting fire to the farmhouse, hoping the deaths would be mistaken for an accident.
But the fire failed to destroy the evidence. It went out before consuming the house, and when the bodies were found, the marks of violence told a far darker story.
The crime sent shock through the surrounding countryside. Bloodhounds were brought in to follow the scent of the fleeing murderer or murderers, while hundreds of farmers and sheriff’s deputies formed posses and searched in every direction.
Rich Couple Slain
PEORIA, Illinois. — John P. Becker, one of the wealthiest farmers of southern Illinois, and his wife have been murdered on their 3,000 acre farm near Mason City.
Robbery was undoubtedly the motive. The police know that the couple had just received $3,000 rent money which has disappeared. In addition, a large sum, said to have been hoarded for years by the couple, has disappeared.
Bloodhounds are on the trail of the murderer or murderers.
The Beckers lost heavily some years ago in a bank failure at Pekin and since then it has been known to all their friends that they have distrusted banks and have been hoarding their money on the farm.
The murderers set fire to the farmhouse for the supposed purpose of making the crime appear an accident. But the trick failed, for the fire went out and the bodies were found with marks of violence.
Hundreds of farmers and many sheriffs deputies from the countryside have formed posses and are searching in all directions.
Source: The Mellette County Pioneer. Wood, Mellette County, S.D. December 29, 1916.
