The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-10-21
Testimony rs TO Death OF Capt. r. p.
Benson.

Coroner S. B. Ezell held an Inquest on
SUNDAY morning, 10 inst, over the body
of the late Capt. t. z. Benson, at which
the following testimony was taken:
>: Il. Theckam, sworn, says: am
clerk in this hotel At five minutes
before 4 o'clork on yesterday, the 9Th of
October, 1880, lett the Office Of the
hotel to go to the depot. left Captain
Benson in the Office. He was alone and
Mt the safe. returned about 400
o'clock. Did not see Captain Benson
when | returned. At about 5.45 Mrs.
Benson asked me to wake Captain Ben
son, as it was about time for him to get
up. l told her would 90 in O few
minutes. She said she would 90. and
asked me where he usually slept. told
her No. 4. She returned, and said it
was locked. Asked ME to examine the
other rooms and see where he was.
examined and found all the rooms
locked. She then seid, "By the way, he
told me he was going to No. 2l." I
came, knocked at 81, and received no
answer. l went to the Office and got
some keys to try the door. She came
with me. We found key in the door
on the inside. She asked if could get
in. told her by breaking the door. |
broke it open. We came in together
and found Captain Benson lying on the
bed, rs you see him, except that his head
was little off the pillow and his face
slightly turned towards the wall; was
neither on his back or side exactly, but
slightly turned towards the left side !;
had his clothing and shoes on. He was
in the habit of taking nap in the after
noon; usually went to No. 4, but some.
times to others. He always told some of
us where he was going He had not
been complaining Of i'll health to me.
Was temperate in his habits.
JAS. R. THAcKAM.
DR.. is II. Clawaon, sworn, says 1
saw the body of Capt. 7. P. Benson soon
sitter it was found. He was lying on his
= back, the body Timber, mouth and eyes
closed, hands by the side. examined
his pockets and took the things out, Civ
ing them to Mr.. Parrot. i found pa
pers, keys, cigars, match box, knife, &c.
Did not examine the articles. Found
nothing like medicine or poison. 1 saw
nothing whatever to indicate the cause
of death. One shoe was lying between
his legs. l took watch from his pocket
and u little silver coin. I 5aw him baye
large, red pocket.book on yesterday
morning. That %as ;;o: III tho puckets
when examined them. I saw Captain
Benson every day. Never heard him
complain but once, then / was speakiug
ofsome one who bad heart disease, and
he remarked that '.s had some trouble
here (putting his hand over the region of
the hearty
J. II. CLAwsON.
Dr. IL. A. Ligon sworn says: am a
druggist. 1 think 1 sold Captain Ben
son about all of his drugs. / sold him
little bromide of potash few days ago.
Have not sold him anything like NOR
phine, opium, or anything that would
destroy life. Mrs. Benson, wife of de-
ceased, has told me thet Captain Benson
thought of going to Greenville on the
4oclock train yesterday afternoon, and
dressed for that purpose. Just before
train time he stood for short time with
his hand OIL his forehead, and said to her
that he felt o little badly and believed he
would not go, but would go up to No. 81
and lie down. Mrs Benson also told me
that when Captain Benson changed his
clothing that he laid his large. red
pocket book and memorandum. book on
the bureau and went up stairs, leaving
them there. She put them away.
These articles, together with the others
found ON his person, are now in my SAFE
The deceased was subject to headache
and used bromide of potash for it. L
never heard him complain of i'll health,
except headache.
ii. A. LIGoN.
Prof. A. T. Pecte, sworn says: have
been boarding in this house about two
years. | was in room yesterday after
noon, about 4.45. My room is about
four doors from the room in
which Captain Benson was found.
l was sitting in the corridor
reading, when the clerk came up, look.
ing for Captain Benson. He asked if
had seen him. told him, "No," He
went to No. 81 and knocked some fifteen
minutes. He then went down stairs and
returned with Mrs. Benson. Both tried
the door. Mrs. Benson directed tho
clerk to break the lock, and he kicked
the door open. He ran out to me and
said, "Mr Peete, the Captain is dead /"
ran into the room. Mrs Benson
screamed, and said, He is dead I" put
my. hand on his pulse and on his heart,
and was satisfied that he was dead. He
was getting cold. I sent the clerk for
physician and remained with Mrs.
Benson. DR.. Clawson came in with the
clerk within five minutes. Drs. Russell
and Means also came in and examined
the body, pronouncing it dead. His
business interfered with his sleep e!
night and he was in the habit of sleep.
ing in the daytime. l often saw him
come to the rooms on this floor the
third in the hotel-to sleep. I have
seen the walters frequently have to
knock for soG.o time to wake the Cap
tain, which would indicate that he was
IN the habit of locking the door inside.
The body was found about 5.45 p. nj. on
yesterday, October 8. The body was
found in q very easy, natural position,
on the back; eyes and mouth closed; no
change in the countenance; arms easily
down by the side; one shoe of. lying or
the.bed Between his feet the other shoe
was taken off by Mr.. Pointer later in the
evening.
ALFRED 4. PEErE.
Edward Richey, sworn, says: am
porter in this hotel. / saw Captain
Benson in,the Office about o'clock yes.
terday evening. He was there when the
omnibus started to the train. I have
seen him take drink of liqu ,r occa.
sionally, bat not often. Never saw him
intoxicated or heard. Of it. Have not
seen him take drink lately. He usual.
~ takes nap about or 81 p. m. met
him yesterday afternoon coming out Of No.
2l ut 81. have not known him to come
on this floor to sIe5f, iateiv