The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-12-06
Co.dI,ion ofthe victims.

Mrs. Benton and Miss Hattie Alden,
the two survivors of the dreadful tragedy
of tbs morning, are still alive. The
former may recover; the latter Will die.
1t seems that Mr.. and Mrs. Alden, who
resided on the Heights, had trouble in
agreeing for some time and recently sep
arated, but the husband begged his wife
TO return to him, which she dad, and Miss
Hattie Alden, the stepdaughter, OF the
murderer who worked NJ milliner store,
would not live at home but went to board
with the family of Geo. l.. Benton.
This enraged Alden, who made threats
to compel her TO return, but nc attcn-
tIon was paid to him. Yesterday
Alden and his wife had some trouble,
but nothing serious occurred until early
this morning, when he accused her Of con-
cealing money from him and said that
she and her daughter were taking all his
money, and he would not stand 1t any
longer. She made some reply which 50
eurared him that he seized hammer
and killed her. He then hl.ched his
horse to his wagon, and took the bloody
hammer and drove to Forest street.
lie hitched his horse near Garden street
and walked tp the retidence Of Mr.. Ben
ton, 800 Forest street Mr.. Benton had
finished his breakfast and gone to work,
and Mrs. Benton and Miss Alden were
sitting at the breakfast table, when Alden
came in without knocking, shut and
locked the door and commenced his
bloody work. 1t is supposed he attacked
his step daughter and Mrs. Benton for
interfering. Mrs Benton's neighbOrs
heard the screams OF murder and the
scuifling, but the men had all gone to
work. 1t was sometime before they went
out. One lady saw Alden leisurly going
from the house and then saw Mrs. Ben
ton covered with blood crawling out OF
the door on her hands and knees. She
screamed for help and the lady ran and
picked Mrs. Benton up and carried her
in the house, where she found
Miss Hattie lying insensible.
Physicians were called, who
found Hattie had three wounds upon her
head, from two of which the brains were
oozing out, two or three cuts upon the
shoulder. and broken jaw. Mrs. Ben
ton had two cuts on the mead
and several on the shoulders
Alden, after leaving Mrs. Benton's
house. drove home, where he WAS arrest
ed. When told he was arrested for the
murder If his stepdaughtcr and Mrs.
Benton, he cooly asked il they were
dead, and said he was glad he had made II
clean lob of 1t. He said that as
soon as he put dog chain,
which he held in his hand in the house,
ne would 90 with the officer. The otii-
Ger entered the house with him, where
he discovered the dead body OF Mrs.
Alden. The murderer has been in the
employ of Cobb, Andrews & Co, as eX-
prcssman. for many years, and has al
ways been regarded as a harmless, good
natured man. He is iity-six years of
age
The coroner held an inquest on the
body of Mrs Alden, and the jury return
ed the following verdict: Game to her
death at the hands of her husband %
The prisoner. at the trial, appeared calm
AS if he did not realize or care what he
had done.
CLEVELAND, December 5-Thc condi-
ton of the two surviving victims OF
murderer Alden, tonight, is about the
same AS last evening. Mrs. Benton has
slightly improved, while Miss Alden
may die at any moment Physicians say
she can live but few hours longer.