Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-03
rnrder OF miss serena Bep,ou.

Miss Serena J. Benton, a most worthy and
respectable maiden lady, some sixty years of
age. was brutally and foully murdered last
Thursday morning in the broad light of day,
some twenty-five steps from the public road,
between the Mcneil place and the Walton
place, five miles west of Bonneville. Miss
Benton has been living in this part Of the
State for over forty years. She formerly
taught school, supported herself and with
the proceeds of her labor, bought her a farm
upon which she was living, with her tenants,
at the time of her death. Tuesday night OF
last week she staid at Mr.. Bud Keistler's;
Wednesday night, at Blake Davis's, all her
neighbors. Thursday morning, after an early
breakfast, she started to see Mr.. George
Michael, who had agreed to lend her some
money. Mr.. Michael not being at home,
she left with the intention of going next
to Mr.. Bud Keistler's TO get a book.
She never reached Mr.. Keistler's.
On her way she passed the Walton
place and was seen by Mrs. Daniel Michael
as she passed. When last seen she was in
the road about a hundred yards from the
scene of the murder. Her not appearing at
home created nc uneasiness, as she was in
the habit of staying several days at a time
with her n~eighbors, SO no search was made
for the body. Last Monday the body was
discovered by a negro, l.. Simmons, who was
attracted to the spot by a large number OF
buzzards. The n%eighbors soon assembled
sent for the coroner and guarded the remains
all night, which were in a very thick cluster
of bushes some twenty-five steps from the
road. Tuesday morning We got in a buggy
with Nh. George Collins and visited the
place. A most horrible sight met the gaze.
Language is inadequate to describe it, and
we will draw the veil of silence over it.
She had evidently been seized by the de-
mons in the road and forced TO the place
where the murder was committed. \ large
stick found on the spot and broken into three
pieces was one of the weapons used. The
skull was examined by DIR. w. A. Taylor
and found to be fractured, one fracture ex-
tending nearly from one ear to the other,
with a double fracture on each side of the
median line. This is one of the most revolt
ing and horrid murders ever recorded in the
annals of Grim The evidence is circum-
s~tantial. There is a mystery oy~erhanging it
which we hope will be cleared up and
the perpetrators brought to justice. An
Inquest was held on Tuesday and the
evidence not being finished adjourned
over till Wednesday. From the inquest
outsiders were excluded; and though we
have heard that the evidence points to GER
tain parties, we have no reliable information
to Justify us in mentioning names. No ar
rests have been made and we know not as yet
the verdict of the jury. Miss Benton had no
relatives in this county, butt ia stated that
Mrs. Benton, the widow of a deceased broth
er, is living in Meridian, and we are request
ed to ask the Meridian papers to notice this
fact.
Ldter.-Thursday a.m.-The jury o~finquest
is still in session. Morgan Hamilton, a ne
gro, is in Jail as being implicated in the muir
der. The evidence is not vet made public.