The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-09-13

THE Ftsx.SroKEs MURpER-TnE NEW WIT
.rss ~ rur t,sy,-A telegram from New
Vnrt states that now that the desired wit
ncss Mrs, Benton, has been secured. inc
third trial Of Stokes for the murder OF FISK
has been set for the first Monday in October.
or this witness the New York Ir,h'tne says:
.tIIcr maiden name was Minnie White,
and She was born in Lexington, KY, In 1885,
being Mt the present time, therefore, tb'rty-
seven wears old. Soon after reaching woman
hood she went to New Orleans, and in that
CITY remained for over fifteen years. she
there lived the life of an adventures, being
especially notorious during the war. In the
wear 1863 she married General Benton, OF
the United States Army, who died very SUD
denly three months after the marriage. Mrs'
Benton III 1865 went 10 Washington, remain
cd there three years, and then came 10 tins
city, where sac has since resided. III Tue
year IS, |, il isaleged, she became acquainted
with Jane Fisk, Jr., and Edward ). stokes.
| A few DAYS after the murder OF FISK she Wis,
tied Stokes at the Tombs prison, ana toid
him that she could give most important tcS,
timony in. his favor. Stokes told her 10 tell
what she knew to his lawyers.
In relation to what passed at mat inter-
view, Mr.. John u. Townsend. one or
S:okcs's counsel on the first trial, made the
following statement Mrs. Benton pro-
fcsscd to Mr.. John Mckeon that she coutd
testify to such facts that Stokes would Ger
tainy bc acquitted. For this service she
asked $4,000. Mr.. Mcfeon replied that
she ought to be willing to give evidence
which might save mans life WITHOUT ASK
| ing pay. He would not give her penny
for her evidence, and was confident, from
her asking such prcposterouS amount as
$4,000, that she knew nothing whatever
| about the murder. Mr.. Mckeon, therefore,
did not subpoena her to appear at the trial.
declaring her profession OF knowledge OF the
murder il falsehood. The prosecution were
apparently aware OF Mrs. Benton's existence
| at the first trial also, District Attorney Aiken
asking one of the witnesses q question re-
speeding her. The prosecution at that time
were evidently,n not DESTROYS Of hearing her
az q witness.
The friends of Mrs. Benton alleged that
| the evidence which she would give would
| bc the following She had been visiting a
friend in the Grand Central Hotel half an
hour before the commission Of the murder.
| Happcniug accidentally to look out OF the
| rarl0r window She saw on the opposite SIDE
of the way Edward 5. Stokes. She had beck
| OLcd to him, and he had crossed broadway
| and entered the hotel. He had then com" up
| to the parlorand conversed with her for ever
iilten minutes. She had then lett him in the
urlor, descended the ladies' stairway, and
| was Just going ont Of the street door when
Fisk drove up in,his carriage. Fisk leapcd
out Of his carriage, met her OH the side
| walk, and talked. With her then in front OF
| the hotel for Il few moments. Fisk then Gu
tered the hotel, and she started to wall up
Broadway. She had walked only few feet
! when she heard the report of pistol and
saw boy run out OF the hotel in evident
| fright. She went back to the ladies' ell
trance, and had again entered the hetcl,
when looking up the stairway she saw two
| men carrying Fisk up stairs. As she.Was
going up the stairs she found on one of the
| low or steps 4 revolver, and from its position
| thought that it must have belonged to Bisk.
She had concealed the revolver and bad gone
I'D the stairs to her friends room. That
| friend had persuaded her not to reveal ,her
finding the pistol, and she had consented to
suppress her discovery. Since the day OF
| the murder she has not said anything to the
| authorities concerning. Fisk's revolver, fear
ing it might njure the chance of Stokes's
acquittal.