The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-06
Thu BENKART MYSTERY.
Suspicious Death Of a Young
Girl and Her Child.
THE CORONER'S INVESTIGATION.
Important Evidence Taken in Re-
lation to the Case.


Park station, Long Island, on the morning OF June
ld, mas caused considerable sxcitement through
out the surrounding country. Miss Benkart was
quite an accomplished Young lady, the daughter
OF Mr.. AlDrecht Benkart, The proprietor OF gen.
erAl store and post once at Central Park station
on the Long Island Railroad she became ia on
Monday June IA, and died at one A. M. on the
morning or Wednesday, June 18. AS there were
some mysterious circumstances in connection
with her death Coroner Baylis was called In ana
an extended examination commenced, which IL
still gong on. II appears that o young man
named James weaver has been counting the
deceased Tor the past two years, and In his own
testimony he acknowledges to having applied 10
DR.. Preston for his advice with view TO procur-
ing an abortion. The most peculiar portion OF
the evidence win be found In the testimony OF
jeremiah weaver. the father OF James, where he
explains how he came to take the child out OF
Dorais room and bury 1t IN his back garden. Tine
son states that he heard the child cry when he
was IN Dora's room, and shortly afterward tells
DR.. Preston that Dora has had baby ana that
it Is dead The Doctor then asked him how
he knew IL was dead, and he answered be-
cause his father had told him. The theory
that the girl died from an abortion appears to be
upset by the postmortem examination OF Drs.
BIZ and Preston, In which they state that the
child appears TO have passed In the ordinary
course Of nature ana that death was caused by
hemorrhage In other portions OF the evidence it
Is proved that the deceased visited certain DR..
Arcularius on two or three occasions ana re-
celved medicine from hun. He states that he only
gave her tinctpre OF iron; bat her mother testt
nes to certain powders that her daughter took
and which she said she got from DR.. Aroularius.
The case was adjourned last Monday until Tues
day, July 8, and then the doctors wfll send In the
result OF their postmortem OF the child that was
buried in weayer's garden. The afndavits OF the
chemist where DR.. Arcularius' prescriptions were
made up will also be put in evidence and several
other witnesses will be examined. The main
point at issue at present 10 In reference to the
death OF the child and the verdict OF the doctors
will probably throw considerable light upon that
The following is an abstract OF the most Important
portions or the testimony taken:-
THE EVIDENCE.
Albrecht Benkart stated - am the father Of the de-
away week 81 time; she was down Q the city last
four zines: the last time she wenl-about two weeks
ID the ds Sr s to ssf
Monasy sd ded
nc? & she o Co tor TOR pI
my we %. e o 0u toSS by ohe err was
ana as% soa the
Ssf o2s s' in
the last time saw her alive was on Tuesday evening,
up 10 her room MIRA Robinson nen tod me to 20 down
not want her up there and whispe something in
ear NO: s had Pee SedGe
made it and saw some spots Of blood on the sheets
NJ. returned at one A: and Dora was dead; = put
blankets the bed under the shees was told to do
by grandmother; did not know that Dora had
James Weaver s.ted-I am nineteen years old and re-
side Central Park; have been acquainted with Dora
Fon
twelve O'Clock P NJ; had no eonyersaton with Dora;
wsn n
PsIs 3.a @
% as the % speeaeS 10 Be- IN
one anas sS? ;5s5s sSs
s my ss I, .S into
ss knew nc Whes in the family ws
a. aPsT from hs . sth in Of the he %
know that her mother knew that she was in the family
sd to be to SOrs she would
5 @s nH m Il I get I'd the bsD DE- DE-
Preston he could not and advised me to home
her
S sea IN New
advanced any money to procure S an asOrton
operation requested medicine that would procure
said she would kin herself she asrward told me she
taking medicine Then wet for DR. Preston
Dora told my father the child born; in Doras
sGaSSs Ike q P
know whether the child was IN proper place or not;
the house that night; think my father tell better
cry Of he child until ave n she was them
yefemi.h T Weaver being duly sworn, stated re-
by occupation and ny seven years of age have lived
nave Wife ana family. ave children iying-fodr sons
daughter; sons names are Alexander, Jers
Cath1rne; her husbands name is Alexander Roblnsoni
day night June IS as caa tell between eleven
and Two Nj Was ya1. a the funeral Of Dora S
wife, who tolc me that Katie was looking for James
and Z see e. where James vas; did
toward the station stna met my daughter Katie
isSce and 1H' alter little found MIN A0! eomInS
Preston P2St G as soon as he could rssurDsd with my
io%sa up behind her; we vent into Doras room the
yry put my On a ise wHs IN 5
TSr Is the mater With yGg ~ she sS ia b h aaxs ad
ai1 tSea went out and met James ana him
that had hal child and that 3 dead then
Msn: 9s sSysas 70 yisS SAD ::
name ana wanted me to make promise, said,
You gGA to s ss Ia. oh and 9' 'sS TS aG
after am buried place 4 in my grave " said. ION,
rather thousand deaths than they should know il;
the the g SS % on e noO a Under the
head Of my BED - said Dora who put i there :" she
PROMISE me to DO as asked you for am dying and
Po@ down with
6ssids IL. the breath lie LEFT her body her ats;
the child and took it down aud laid Il in my and
home ! got my spade and went ana dug a
| hole; / then got a small box and put the
child In II and then the box in the hole while
ing this my James returned ana saw IL; covered
/ the box up with earth during the conversation had
with Dora alone; think she lived about half
after made the promise; two or three hours
might nave elapsed from the time da lighter my
sefweniin went out and left her alone In the bed
room that not the time my daughter was sent tors
think there before never had any converse
/ tion with my daughter about Dora when i met my
daughter said Dora very sick. and she wanted
1 James 90 Tor doctor; she said nothing about
a baby; buried the child shout the break OF day;
she would have lived she had proper treatments
Mr. told he had emit for the Coroner; told
him he could do he thought best, and asked him why
he wanted inquest he SAID he wanted certificate to
get her money he askei n would 70 the
squire and swear that his daughter was aead and ssn
that affect; said 70 him your daughter
was in the famiyway dou't think you would like to
know It, ana 1 would not want to know II, bat
YOU please about sending for the Coroner
Louis Arcuarius being duly sworn stated II reside in
No 100 second avenue New York ctyi am physician,
aud nave practising since 1855 have lived In sec
ond about eighteen months, three years IN ST.
Marks and years in No 26 East First street,
Dora Benkart first the 26h Of Aprili she was