The Wild Man of Calverton: Beckwith on the Loose in 1894

 

The Wild Man of Calverton: Beckwith on the Loose in 1894

In the spring of 1894, Eastern Long Island was gripped by a strange and unsettling story: a “wild man” was loose in the woods around Riverhead and Calverton. Known to authorities as Arthur Beckwith, a lunatic who had escaped from a private asylum in Flushing, NY called Sanford Hall. Beckwith was described as a 50-year-old man with a dark complexion and a full gray beard — a look not uncommon among rural farmers of the day, which complicated efforts to locate him.

Two New York detectives had been stationed in Riverhead for several weeks, making daily forays into the countryside after scattered reports from frightened locals. Residents were on edge. Children were kept indoors. Strangers were scrutinized.

Farmer Barney Smith of Calverton claimed he spotted the man on Fort Pond Hill. As Smith approached, the wild man dashed into the woods. Smith followed the trail to the long-abandoned Gillett homestead, where signs indicated someone had recently taken shelter.

The next day, Butcher Clark of Calverton had an unexpected visit from a ragged stranger who asked for food. Clark handed over a meal, which the man snatched before sprinting across a field and disappearing into the woods. Clark later suspected he had encountered Beckwith himself.

Fear spread across the community. Rumors swirled that the wild man had stopped several women and children on the road, attempting to kiss them. Although the detectives raised the reward for Beckwith’s capture to $900, few locals were willing to take up the chase, wary of confronting a possibly violent madman.

The old Gillett house was placed under watch. If Beckwith was not apprehended soon, the detectives warned, a formal posse would be organized to scour the woods and bring the wild man to justice.

By 1891, both Arthur and his brother, Leonard Forbes Beckwith, had been committed to asylums. Their once-substantial family estates—Arthur's alone, in 1895 was valued at nearly $500,000 (equivalent to over $18 million today)—were placed under the guardianship of attorney Allen Evarts. Troublingly, there were accusations that Evarts may have misappropriated their funds. Even before this, Leonard had faced allegations of mismanaging their sister Helen’s estate. However, Arthur was also accused of misappropriating his brother's estate! What a mess and I'm sure it was a difficult task to understand the truth behind all of the allegations.

1894 wasn't the first time Arthur was hospitalized for mental illness. A year before, he was a patient of Buell's Sanitarium in Litchfield, CT which he also escaped. He was found in Cuba and brought back to New York City, placed into the asylum in Flushing and then escaped again and sparking this manhunt. 

What really happened behind the closed doors of the Beckwith family's legal and financial affairs? Who were the Beckwiths, and where did their significant fortune originate? There are more questions than answers about a once-prominent family, considered Aristocrats of the time, whose legacy slipped into obscurity—and scandal. 

Leonard and Arthur were the sons of Nelson Marvin Beckwith (pictured), an import merchant of New York City and avid abolitionist. His wife was Frances Forbes. He died at. his residence of 75 5th Ave in NYC, an Avenue with strong ties to the Gilded Age. Sadly his home was demolished by 1926. 

Leonard Forbes Beckwith (1844-1895) became the Chief Engineer of the New York Telephone Company. Leonard and Arthur, together, received a patent for a "Coke Oven" in 1870. At his father's death, Arthur was labeled an Artist, however he may have been confused with another Arthur Beckwith of the time who was, in fact, an artist. 

Arthur was never found again and was presumed officially dead c.1906.

I have to wonder if the Beckwith brothers suffered from mental illness or if all that transpired were a form of control by their family and associates to perhaps gain hold of their fortunes. Did Arthur survive and assume a new identity on Long Island, leaving his fortune behind him? What do you think?