The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-26
Death OF a Desperate Charncser-Careero OF n
Canadian Patriot.

few days since, SAYS the Madison (ws) Srgss 81 tho
18th inst and hrs wite Milwaukee, arrested
On charge Of stealing money from a sick stranger who
Afterwards diei as vas supposed from the effects 81
sou The charge Of murder was then also brought against
them u was subsequently asrerta ned, however that he
not roisoucd, but had died from Inflammation and
paralysis II the lungs.
The person VINO thus died was BENJAMIN Lett, noted
twenty ago, during The canada rebson a. one Of
the travcst nost reckless and daring e the band en-
gseod IN y.
We remember him we'll having. as hoy, seen him
mary tunes public gatherings in New York, which
the frontier % Canada, and be had particular
iscbmcn, TO either side o. Nagara river lie
man ~ apparently great power, but have him
general trainings aud town meetings take b. The collar,
one n each band, two mcn e ordinary weight, aud ~
them, n arms length from the ground. tie was FRO
dFious jumper and beat all specimens o. waiting that
We saw.
The Milwaukee SertiH,t gives this account Of him
lie was born IN Canada Of Scotch parents, and spent
the rariy rcr,on of his life We not mistaken IN the
city Of Toronto those Of the Canada patriots 81
1878 will emenbcr him ~ Tie bravest ant most
desperate ~ the rebel army. u true that he the
author n many barbarous deeds but they were not Who'll
In the year isa7 when the rebellion nrs, broke out
Crnafa sisicr " ttts whom he loved With bro'hers
affection c into the bands y number ~ british officers
who submitted her u tho grossest md ntes which, we
believe. Infinitely resulted In her death Hcnccforth
lev hsrhcrcd the bttercs enmiy towards ihe govern
sut and iis officers. and from this occurrence b.
dated the beginning Of bis desperate career We fought
with great valor in every engagement With the 60.
vctum,n troops, and not unireauonty sgnaIizod him
scf with deeds 81 bravery. He took prominent
part the burning Of the British steamer Sr Robert Peel
IL 1887 and nj Mill Point, where many of the rebels
captured he escaped by jumping from the second
story Of house AMI cutting bis way through arg
rarity Of troops who had surrounded a. Lett then
" the American side, but shortly Afterwards won't
back IN disguise and shot Captain tsher the leader of the
Canadian party Who burned the American steamer Caro-
hne THIS seems TO be one OF the most c0wardiy acts
tver committed BY lett lie employed man 10 90 to
Captain Usbers headquarters night, who, under
pretence, got him the door, when lett shot
him dead the spot, and AGAIN made his escape TO the
American side shortly afterwards he blew up the
Canadian steamer Great Western, Mt Osweeo ~ Y. for
which he arrested, tried and convicted at Buff
fslo. lie sentenced 10 seven years mpri-
sonment, but while being conveyed TO the State
Prison, hsndcufled and shackcled, he jumped from
n railroad train, while u was gong at the rate
" thirty miles an hour, and made his escape.
His hands were smaller than his wrists, and he
found little dculty getting OF the handouts AMI then,
with his feet sim chained he Jumped along about mile,
when he took par o rocks and hammered at his ances
until he got them broken Oh.
II would not DO for him 10 remain on the American side,
he went into Canada and commenced operations there
again and amongst bis exploits were the blowing up ~
Brock Monument and also one of the locks IN the Wei
land canal which took place in 1888 lie eluded
the vigilance Of both the United States and Canadian on
GERS for upwards IL year, when he finally recap
ured and sent 10 the New York state prison. the in.
dctment for blowing up the Grea, Western but par
doned ont after two years confinement After this he
to Illinois, where he has since resided, and
informed that he the q considerable property
in the vicinity Of Ottawa In that state.