Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-11-09

not feeling well. There had been no
chickering's nor jars, and there was no
ill.feeling between the murderer and the
Stephens woman. Neither is the exact
time of the murder known. 1t is sup
posed, however, that it must have been
nearly dark. The weather wa, rainy
that afternoon, and it did not cease until
nearly dark. 1t is supposed that Beden-
baugh was at home all day, feeling badly
in BODY and brooding in mind. When
his wife started to milk the impulse
sezed him, and
Takicg an AK he Bra'ned the Little Chill
dren.
The marks on the face OF Betsy Stephens
Indicate that she had been struck with
the fist, thus showing that she made a
struggle for her life, and the probabili-
ties are that she was knocked down and
aiterward struck with the AK. d.
Maddened like tiger by the taste OF
blood, he started in pursuit OF his un-
suspecting wife, leaving the floor OF his
house strewn witE three dead bodies.
Be'oce starling"after his wife he
dropped the cumbersome weapon, the
axe, and secured a hatchet and razor.
These weapons were easily concealed,
and the demon could approach his wife
without giving her any cause for suspi-
cion. Then when the innocent wife
turned her face toward him he struck
her in the forehead with the hatchet,
and followed up the blows after she fell
until the whole head was crushed and
beaten into the yielding earth, and the
woman he had promised TO love and
cherish was bleeding corpse before
him. Then To make the work more
complete he drew his razor and cut her
throat, almost severing the head from the
body. His devilish work was done.
There was no other human being IN
sight. Acting on the insane impulse
which prompted him to commit the
wholesale murder, or stung by remorse
for an act without palliation or excuse,
he then attempted to take his own life.
Going to the tobacco house hundred
yards away, he entered and took down
the hanging tobacco TO make himself
bed. Then he tried II kill himself with
the POLE of the hatchet, and failing IN
this, he drew his razor
And Cut His Throat.
His attempt at his own life evidently
brought him to his senses, for he de
sisted, and had not the courage to com.
plete his work. There he lay ali night,
and until he was discovered the next
morning, when he still retained suifi
cient consciousness 10 tell where his
wife might be found, and to acknowl.
edve that he had murdered her.
The Victims.
Frank Bedenbaugh, the murderer, is
about Thirty Years OF age. Jasper Be-
denbaugh, mis- father, is OF German
birth, and has ten children He Is
well-to-io farmer, living about four miles
south OF Calais, where he owns farm
OF some four hundred acres. One son,
John, isa
Saloon Keeper in Wheeling
The old man purchased the farm where
Frank lives several years ago, and pre-
sented it to him. Frank was Il man
of immense physical strength, as were
the whole family. He was not a
man OF bad disposition, though the
whole family had reputation as fight
ers. He was not hard drinking man,
though, like most people in that neigh
borhood, he could take drink. He
was married only two or three years
ago, and was the father OF one child.
Sc was also raising the oldest child OF
Betsy Stephens. The family relations
OF the Bedenbaughs were pleasant. so
far as Is known, and there could have
been
No Motive for the Deed.
Before his marriage Bedenbaugh
worked one wear for Armstead Carter,
near TemperanceviIie.
EHab-th (Or Betsy Stephens was a
somewhat noted character IN that part
of the country. Her father is Wash.
STEPHENS, who lives near Bailev's Mills,
about four miles west of Barnesville.
Betsy was about fOrty.tive years OF age,
and was very large, weighing over two
hundred pounds. She was single, but
was the mother OF eight or nine illeglti-
mate children. She was considered
rather
Harmless Old Body.
handy to have around in case OF sick.
ness, and made her living by going
around and doins house work. The
child which Bedenbaugh had taken to
raise was about ten years old, and had
lived with him for two or three yeais.
Ii was to-visit this child that Betsy ard
her Youngest child went to Bcdcn-
baugh's on Friday evening.
Mrs. Bedenbaugh was a daughter o:
John Jeifers, who lives near TEMPER
anceville, and niece OF Plus Jrifers,
of Barnesvile. She was 4 lady OF ex.
cellent family, and of amiaGle disposl.
tion, AMI her short married life had
been a pleasant one so far as IS known.
Like her husband, she was OF Catholic
family.