The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-12-06
A TrInIa Murder.

COLUMBUS, December 4.--NlfA Benton
and Miss Hattie Alden, the two survivors
Of the dreadful tragedy Of this morning,
are still alive. The former may recover,
but the latter will die. II seems that Mr..
and Mrs. Alden, who resided on the
heights, had trouble in agreeing for some
time, and recently separated, but the hus-
band begged his wife to return to him,
which she did. Miss Hattie Alden, the
Step.dnughter Of the murderer, who
worked at n milliner store, would not live
at home, but went to board with the fam.
lily OF Geo. l.. Benton. This enraged
Alden, who made threats to compel her to
return, but no attention was paid TO him.
Yesterday Alden and his wife had trouble,
but nothing serious occurred until early
this morning, when he accused her Of
ConCealing money from him, and said that
she and her daughter were taking all hiS
money, and he would not stand II any
longer. She made some reply that so en-.
ragged him that he seized u hammer and
killed her. lie then hitchetl his horse to
his wagon, took the bloody hammer and
drove 10 Forest street, hitched his horse
near Garden street, and walked TO the
residence Of Mr.. Benton, 900 Forest street.
Mr.. Benton had Just finished his breakfast
and gone to work.
THE ASSAULT CONTINUED.
Mrs Benton and Miss Alden were ait.
ting at the breakfast table when Alden
came in without knocking, shut and lock.
ed the door and commenced hia bloody
work. 1t Ia supposed that he attacked
his step-daughter, and MIS-. Benton inter
fering he assaulted her. Neighbors Of
Mr.. Benton heard screams Of murder and
the scnnling, but as the men had all gone
to work II was some time before they
went out. One lady saw Alden walk
leiSurely away from The house, aud then
saw Mrs. Benton, covered with blood,
crawling out OF doors on her hands and
knees. She screamed for help and ran
and picked Mrs. Benton up and carried
her into the house, where she found Miss
Hattie lying insensible. Physicians were
called, who found that Hattie had three
wounds upon her mead, from two Of which
the brains we're oozihg out. She had two
or three cuts on her shoulder and bro.
ken Jaw. Mrs. Benton had two cuts on
her head which had broken the skull and
several on her shoulders. Alden, after
leaving the house, drove home, where he
was arrested. When told that he was ar.
rested for the murder Of his step daughter
and Mrs. Benton he asked II they were
dead, and said that he was glad he had
made clean Job Of II. lie said az soon
ns he put the dog chain which he held In
his hand in the house he would go with
the officer. The officer entered the house
with him, where he discovered the dead
body Of Mrs. Alden. The murderer has
been In the employ Of Cobb, Andrews 4
Co. as expressman for many years, and
has always been regarded AZ 4 harmless
good nAtnred man. lie Ia SO years Of
age. The Coroner held an inquest on The
body Of Mrs. Alden and returned a verdict
Of "came to her death ut the hands Of het
husband" The murderer at trial ap.
peared as calm ne II he did not realize Of
care what he had done.
THE MURDERER's REASON FOR THE DEED
lie gives as reason for this triple
murder that his vile, who was q widow
woman when he married her, and steT
daughter were stealing him ont OF house
and home. When questioned as to why he
was not satisfied with killing his wife, he
said he wanted TO put an end 10 all tht
damned whelps for they had drove him tc
IL. There IL great excitement over thi,
butchety as nothing 80 horrible has eyel
before happened here,
CLEVELAND, December 5.--The condi.
tiOn Of the two surviving victims Of The
murderer Alden Is about the same a. or
last evening. Mrs. Benton il slightly i'm,
proved, while Miss Alden may die At any
moment. The physicians say she car
live but few hour1 longer.