The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-03-16
ANTON. N.sTARK COUNTY OHIO. THURSDAY, MARCH 16 1871


first at the c6urt-house when the trias
came off.
The courthouse was crowded. Pur-
cell looked dogged and sullen, and Col.
Benson looked pale and haggard, but he
was not believed to be guilty.
A stone-mason testified that on the
morning of the assault upon Arthur Ben
son, he was IN the unfinished house that
he saw Arthur and Purcell ride up near a
stone-pile; that he saw Purcell dismount,
| and STOPPING as if to examine a shoe of
Arthurs horse, he picked up heavy
! stone-hammer, and with it dealt Arthur
murderous blow on the side of his head,
who fell from his horse; that he (the
stone-mason, intended to raise an alarm,
when he discovered Colonel Benson,
standing near, under tree, in plain view
of the whole transaction, and that he call
ed to Purcell in low voice, "Take him
home, before we are discovered" !" The
man further said that he was SO horror
struck that he had not dared to tell any
one; but that his conscience had troubled
him so much that he had at last felt HIM
| self compelled to disclose the horrible
deed. This evidence created the greatest
sensation in court.
Then Arthur Benson, pale and tremb-
| a glance of piteous dread and anxiety
upon his father, who, gloomy and pale, re-
turned his sons gaze with menacIng
frown. arthur trembled as the oath was
administered to him, and to all questions
he stated that when near the stone-pile
he became dizzy, and fell from his horse,
striking his head against the stones, and
no amount of cross-questioning whatever
could get anything further out of him.
he was committing perjury to save his
father.
The next witness was Col. Benson's old
house-keeper, and when she commenced
giving her evidence, the Colonels face as
sumed look of deadly pallor and appre-
hensioa.
''Your Honorl 1 can't stand it any
longer must reveal what know. Ar
thur has committed perjury to shield his
father and hope it viii not go hard with
him.
Arthur tainted away, and was carried
from the court, while the old woman fn-
lshed her testimony.
"a little more than three months since
l overheard Master and Bill Purcell IN
the library. Colonel Benson told Bill
that he must have a certain amount of
money if he had to move heaven and
Sd1t4 " BCb ~ anu ll&L the only Way ne
saw to get it was by the death Of Arthur,
for the provisions of the will were so that
he could not touch a penny Of it while
Arthur was alive; and then he added
confidently
you know that hold evidence, Bill
Purcell, with which can hang you any
moment choose P'
'And Bill with an cath exclaimed
"I'll do It by G-P
"And then 1 came shuddering away.
You all know" abe continued, chow poor
Arthur was struck with the stone-ham-
mer by Purcell. They thought he was
dead, and trumped up the story of the
fall on the stone-pile to ward off suspi-
cion i''
As the old woman ceased speaking, the
ominous silence which had followed her
story was suddenly broken by the sharp
report Of pistol, and Colonel Benson fen
backward with a bullet through his
brain q 80
The wretched man had committed sui
aidel
Purcell was sentenced to the State
Prison for life - q.
Poor Arthur awoke out of his death
like swoon raving maniac but he ulti-
matelyi recovered, and married worthy.
young lady, and is now happy husband
and father of several handsome children.
And now, kind reader, an 4eVoir.