Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-08-09

THE sHARPSBURG MD
TRAGEDY.

HAGERsrowN, MD., July S0.-Hear-
ing in the Antietam Cemetery tragedy
of Mrs. Ida Estella Benner, charged
with killing her husband, Thos. ii. Ben
ner, at Sharpsburg, with carbine load
ed with large shot, on Sunday morning
last, took place here this afternoon be-
fore Hon. Judge Motter, Mrs. Ben
ner's counsel, II. Kyd Douglas, having
on Monday applied tor writ of habeas
corpus. Long before the hour appoint
ed for the hearing the courtroom was
crowded with spectators, many of them
sturdy farmers who had come from
Sharpsburg and the surrounding coun'
try. A number of ladies were also
| present.
A WOMAN OF NERVE.
AS the prisoner entered in custody OF
the sheriff, and took her seat beside her
counsel, every eye was turned towards
her. She bore the ordeal calmly, and
as she sat down and, throwing back her
long Grape veil, began leisurely to fan
herself, stranger might have supposed
that she was only spectator instead OF
being one of the actors in bloody trag-
edy. She is of medium height and
1.-the form. Her features are pale and
regular, and dark and expressive eyes,
small mouth, red lips, and wavy hair
pressed down in the fashion OF the day
over her forehead, would entitle her TO
be called good-looking. No one would
suppose that she was not yet Is years
OF age, as the firm character of the
mouth, the few lines around the eyes,
and the determination which shows IT.
self in the lower jaw, makes her look at
least seven years older. In the course
Of the examination, as 1t. Haverfeld
told of seeing her husband lying dead
and Of what she said, not a muscle of
her face moved, and the only indication
OF nervousness was seen i'll occasionally
moistening her lips with her tongue, as
if they were dry and parched. When
she was called upon as witness, seated
in chair to the left of the judge, she
told the story as quietly as if it had
been an ordinary occurrence which she
was relating. When the judge occa-
sionally put a question to her she an
swered 1t with her eyes fixed fearlessly
upon him, and when her counsel asked
her to explain the position in which her
husband stood as he threatened her life,
she rose TO her feet, and, picking up the
knife, illustrated it by throwing her
right arm back, grasping the handle
with nervous grip. All this time,t too,
the gun with which she killed her hus-
band was lying on the floor at her feet.
She was, as women usually are when
under examination, almost painfully ex-
act in trifing details, and omitted moth
ing of the history leading up TO the
tragedy.
TESTIMONY OF LIEUT.. HAvERFIEID.
Lieut.. George A. Haver6eld was the
first witness. lie testified that he lived
with Mr. and Mrs. Benner at the lodge
room, National Cemetery, Sharpsburg.
! About eight o'clock on Sunday morn
ing he was awakened while in bed by
the noise of gun being fired down
stairs, and then a groan. He went down
stairs and in little room found Benner
lying in pool of blood. AT first he
thought Benner had accidentally shot
himself. Just at this time Mrs. Benner
came in and said, "Mr. Haverfeld, | did
it; l had to do it in selfdefense. No
one knows what l have bad TO suffer
through him. He has treated me like
dog, and came in this morning with a
knife and threatened to kill me if
would not confess. Witness said,
"CoEfess what ?" and she replied, "That
| was intimate with you" Witness said,
"My God, Mrs. Benner, why did you
not tell me this before?' and she replied,
because she was afraid. She added
that her husband had ordered her TO
bring down the gun from their room on
the Friday previous, as he wanted TO
kill dog. Witness said during the
time he boarded at the house he saw
Mrs Benner very seldom, and Mr.. Ben
ner aud he often took their meals alone
Three weeks ago he missed Mrs. Ben
ner for two days entirely. Witness had
often heard the husband and wife quar-
reling, but on such occasions he always
went out Of hearing distance. On Sat
urday night Mr.. Benner and he were
ogether in town. When they returned
d nome he (witness) sat on the porch
smoking, and Benner went into the
house and closed the door.
Peter Nose testified that on Thurs
day last Mr.. and Mrs. Benner had lit
tie quarrel, and in the evening Benne-
said TO witness that he would give his
wife good whipping and make bet
ter woman out OF her.
TESTIMONY OF MRS. BENNER.
Mrs. Ida Z. Benner, after being
sworn, said; 81 arm IS years next Sep
tember. / was married On the lst Of
December last. On Saturday night my
husband and had quarreled slightly,
aud after striking me on the face with
his hand, he then vent out and / sat up
until midnight, when heard some peo-
pie come in, whom / supposed to be my
husband and Mr. Haverfeld. did not
see him that night, and when l went
down stairs in the morning my husband
was lying OH the floor of the sitting
room. AS soon as / entered he jumped
up and said, "1da, if you do not confess
will kill you" / said, "Confess yhat,'
He said THAT Lieut. Hayerfeld has got
the advantage of me-" / Ireplicd, "My
God, Tom, am as innocent as the
angels in Heaven" He kept repeat
ing that be would kill me, and step
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