The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-09-16
The atokss Case--A HeJv and Inportsnt
~ Witness Secured, .St!l7. ia.tt

The ssok.s C.se--A Hesv aad Importsnt
Witness Secured. 81
Since the murder OF James Fisk, In
the Grand Oentralf Hotel, on The even.
ing OF January 6,i1872, the police and
detectives have been earnestly working
10 dis5ovaf the wssTea55ass % = Woman
who was then boarding in the hotel, and
who, it was said, saw Stokes throw away
the revolver aud picked it up. As this
woman is very important witness in
the case, no expense was spared in the
search, and it is said that not less than
S5, 900 has been paid to different per-
sons, vino either pretended to know
something about her, or really thought
they could put the police on her track.
Many tiresome days and nights were
spent by the detectives in hunting for
her; and although they several times
thought they had discovered her retreat
in houses, both in this and other cities,
she managed to elude their vigilance.
At one time, word was received by the
officers engaged in the case, that the
woman they were looking for was in
Chicago. with General in the army.
The officers lost no time in going to that
city, and to the place where they had
received information that she was con-
oealed. They were again doomed to
disappointment, however, as they could
not learn anything about her being
there, and they were again forced to re-
turn to New York. It was then thought
by several of the police authorities that
some person in the interest of Stokes
was keeping this woman out of the way,
and was also sending the officers on the
wrong track, while the woman wns in
hiding, either in this city or some city
adjoining.
About six months ago, two detectives
received special instructions to hunt I'D
this woman, and few dnys after re-
ceived Information that she was in Phi
ladelphia. On arriving in the city, the
detectives fnand the place where she
had been living, but only to learn that
she had left there that morning, and
they could not ascertain in which direc-
ton she had gone. After a short time,
they again got upon her track and fol-
lowed her from place to place until they
nearly tired out with the search, and
asked to be relieved from the task, Civ
ing as their reasons that they had fol-
lowed her go steadily for some months
that they were known by all her friends,
who no doubt give information of all
their movements. The officers were then
allowed to give up the chase, aud very
little more was done in the matter until
last week. when Captain Irving, of the
detective force, learned that the woman
was in this city. The captain gave the
case into tie hands of Detectives Tully
and Dilks, Of Central Office, who have
already made some very good arrests.
These officers took charge of the case,
and went to work on Friday last, and
learned thnt night that the 'mysterious
woman" was in house up town. They
immediately proceeded to the place, and
for eighteen consecutive hours watched
the honse, and then learned that she
had left the place. The officers then re-.
solved to WORK more cautiously, but did
not hear anything more of her until
Monday last, when they tracked her to
house in the Twenty-ninth precinct.
This time they were tolerably sure Of
their success, and determined not to be
again beaten. They, therefore, secured
the assistance of several other officers,
whom they placed about tho house in
such manner that it was impossible
for any person to leave or enter it with
out being seen. After their prepara-
tions had all been completed, they ma
Ho6Go w 6Os IL w LILO AOuo6 ny 6lIaLu-
gem, and on going to room on the se-
cond floor, found the woman, about
whom SO much had been said and writ
ten. in company with General of the
nrmy. The woman. on learning their
business, admitted that she was beaten
ut last, and yielded with good grace,
saying that she was tired of trying TO
elude the police. The officers then con ;
cluded to watch the woman during the
night. that she might not slip through
their fingers, ald Detective DiIks lny
down on the mat in front Of the door,
while Tully took up bis station Oh a
chair beside the General. The woman,
who was now Il prisoner, and whose
name is Minnie J. Benton, and the
widow OF General Benton, of tho Con
federate army, Was allowed to sleep on
a lounge i'll the room, aud in this way
the night was passed. Yesterday morn
ing, II carriage was sent for, and the
officers, in company with tho General
and Mrs. Benton, entered it and were
driven to police headquarters, where
they were cioseted with thu SupcriE-
tendent for some time, after which they
again entered tho carriage and were
driven to the District Attorneys off SO.
where Mrs. Benton was held in default
OF So. 900 bail. She was then taken to
the House of Detention. where she now