The daily gazette., 1879-07-29
A JEALOUS mUssAHD's FATE.


KILLED BY HIS SUSPECTED WIFE
WHILE THREATENING HER LIFE
HER sTATEMENT--S SEVEN MONTHS A
BRIDE AND ONLY EuaHTElN fXEAR9
OLD. az. -, ,.ffay e lai.,fsl9
HAGERsTowN, Md, July 26,---Thei
fact that young wife had deliberately
shot her husband at Sharpsburg yester-
day became known here this morning BY
the arrival Of the lady, Mrs. 1desk1le!lep
Benner, in custody Of Constable n r.
Pofienberger and her Judgement IN JAIL.
A Coroner's jury yesterday FOUND that
her husband came to his death BY Sglin-a
shot wound produced with gun in ahsca
hands. .-.,,,...i,.... .... .. ..,,,,,.,, ys,tsa4aT 4
The scene Of the tragedy was the :,
lodgekeeper's residence at the AntietAin
Cemetery, which is located on tie oele. a.
brated battle field, just outside the town =
of Sharpsburg, twelve miles from here. !:
Here Mrs. Benner and her deceased hus-
band, Thomas Fl. Benner, who was en-
ployed in assisting to keep the cemeteryk
in order, resided with the keeper, Lieu7
tenant George A. Hayerfeld, as their
boarder. Several times recently Benher,
who was of a very jealous disposition"
has quarreled with his wife about tfhe u
Lieutenant, and she in consequences
avoided his society as much as possible,
THREATENING HER LIFE. -
On Saturday night Benner came home
with the Lieutenant shortly before twelve
O'Clock and went to the room where his
wife was sleeping. He did not, however,
60 to bed, for when his wife came down,
In the morning, between half-past seven
and eight o'clock, she found HIM Tying
on the floor in the back room, with an
the doors open. He at once commenced
quarrelling with her, accusing her Of be-
ing unfathful to him with the Lieuten-
ant, saying that he would make her con-
fess and if she would not he would kill
her. He then went out into the
kitchen and returned with sharpened
case knife and piece of wood about two
and half feet long. HN.i s''s..t ~ {
DONE IN sELF-DEEENcE. ~ 5ib
With the knife uplifted he advanced
on his wife, threatening again to kill her.
She denied having anything to tell and
retreated to a corner in which there was
a carbine, loaded by Benner short time
previously for the purpose of killing .
dog. Picking this up she warned him to
go away as she would defend herself, and
as he continued to advance she discharg-
ed the gun. The load entered his left
breast above the heart, making a large
hole, tie skin being burnt by the powder
and one of the ar.eries leading to the
b art being severed. Benner turned at
once, with the blood streaming from him,
aud stumbled through the doorways until
near tie front door, where he fell dead.
YOUNG COUPLE. i.si 10 Cyst
After the Coroner's inquest Mrs. Benz
ner was taken into custody, but on &C
| nf m la IN noif of Inn NurA
brought to Hagerstown until this morn
| ing. She and her late husband were
, married on the 1st of December last, hav
, ing run away from home on account of
the opposition of her parents to her
; union with him. He was about twenty
four years of age and she is about el0h
teen. An effort was made this morning
after her arrival here, to have her re
leased on bail. Her counsel, Colonel ii.
Kyd Douglas, obtained writ of habeas
corpus and she was brought before Judge
Motter, but the States Attorney, Mr..
Edward Stake, not having learned any
thing of the matter until this morning,
the examination was deferred until two
o'clock on Wednesday, to enable him
to ascertain the facts in regard to the
shooting and summon witnesses.
| STATEMENT OF THE HOMICIDE. 'ti.''
Mrs. Benner in the meantime has been
given by the Sheriff a room in his dwell
ling at the Jail, and is very calm. She
has put on mourning for her husband,
who was buried this afternoon at Sharps
burg, and says she loved him devotediy,
but. could not sacrifice her life to his
dark hair and eyes, dark complexion a
prominent forehead, well shaped nose.
full lips and protruding chin. The contour
OF the face of her husband indicates
strength of will and -esoluteness of pur
pose.