Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-04-05
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH.
We Distressing ~uieite ofa seung LADY
IN f1mira. \. y.


We Distressing ~uisise efa ,cung r.sy
IN Eimira. \. ~
Miss Della Benson, very fnc look
Jag intelligent and estimable lady, "a
years Of axe, died At the residence Of
Joseph Blllei:c, on Clinton street, FL.
mira, en- Saturday afternoon. Coro-
ner heisel investigated the cause Of
her death, and found that il was cans.
ed by strychnine, which she had
taken. From Information obtained
from her acquaintance, and letters
addressed to her which have been
found, il seems that Miss Benson and
Mr.. Ward Hodakins, Of New York.
had for some time past been engaged
10 be married
This engagement is reported to
have been cansumated a year 90 Iast
Jelly. Since that time the parties had
corresponded frequently and freely,
up to the time of Miss Benson's death
For some unexplained reason Hodg.
kins seems to have changed bis MUD
on the subject Of fulfilling bis marrl.
age engagement. In his letter TO
Miss Benson he claims to have expert.
enced religion within the past four
weeks, but whether the change in his
affections is attributed to such
change Of heart his letters do not
make plain.
Under date Of February 8, ho ao-
knoTledges the receipt of 4hcart.
rending" letter from Della. L. this
letter he addresses her as ~darlina.Y
and assures her OF his love. He says.
/ have experienced religion, and am
trying to do right | have prayed
over this all day, and shall continue
TO pray for you. As you won't re-
lease me, shall keep my word and
marry you This letter is signed
"from your Ward"
On the 18th Of February the lover
wrote DELLA-I have received your
art-ren6ing letter. and have prayed
over it, and have prayed for you many
times during the week. You wanted
10 know if i would be happier if you
We're gone. No, MOI If you love
me as you say you do you could not
think Of it. l could never think oft.
l could never be happy again should
You DO what you threaten"
Four days later he wrote to her
saying u have been deceived in my
own feelings ! do not feel towards
you as | should towards woman
that ! should marry. Under these
circumstances can you give me my
freedom"
On the ninth OF this month he wrote
to her al think it would be better
for us both if we would stop writing.
Please send me my letters and pic
ture and | will return yours. That
jewelry that you said that you would
never give up, you can keep"
Soon after receiving this letter Miss
Benson went to her room, aud when
she sgain made her appearance Mrs.
Billette noticed something unusual in
her appearance. Upon inquiring as
10 what she had been doing, she stated
that she had taken poison for the pur-
pose of causing her death She sta
ted that she had taken strychnine,
supposing that would produce uncon-
scioushess and death without pain.
DR.. Morse was sent for, but no rem
edies could save her life. She stated
TO the doctor that she did not wish to
live, bat that she wished that he coald
give her something TO alleviate her
suferings She fingered in great
agony for nearly two hours, calling
for "Ward," "Ward," with her last
breath On the table in her room,
after her death, was found letter,
saying:
Ward, l am not your first victim,
but ] ask you, yes, ] beg of you, to
let me be your last Be sure before
you ask another 10 be your wife that
you love her. Do not ruin her life as
you have mine After all you have
done, | love You as well as ever. You
and your relatives can be happy now.
You say you have doue right, so, Of
course, yon will be happy II you
want your rings YOU can come and
take them of my hands