Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-12
PACIFIC SLOPE.
FRIGHTFUL DOUBLE TRAGEDY IN
SAN FRANCISCO.
Napa County's Vintage-Lost Mail
Bag Recovered-Heavy In
terest = Weather.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE REcoRn-UsIoN.l
PACIFIC SLOPE. Z.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE REcoRn-usuoN.l
CALIFORNIA.
Shocking Tragedy in San Francisco.

/ y
A. Benson, the civil engineer, in the head
intlicting wound which resulted in death
soon after, and subsequently shot himself,
but not accomplishing his purpose of self
| destruction, he seized q small ink-erasing
knife, which lay on the table in Benson s
office, and deliberately cut his throat clear
from the left carotid artery across the wind
| pipe, quickly causing death. What the
| precise cause of the trouble was does not
appear, but enough can be gathered to in
cicate that Brown had or thought that he
| had { claim against Benson for money, and
| finding that Benson was disposed TO put
| him CT, fired at him, concluding that there
was no hops OF collecting and electing TO
! kill and die rather than suffer for lack OF
the money. Brown, it would appear had
business with Benson connected with the
latter's surveying contracts in Wyoming
Territory. A short time ago Brown met
ex-Chiet Justice Senor, of Wyoming, and
| asked him to take up a case growing out of
land and surveying claims, stating at the
time that he was in deep trouble over
money matters and could get no satisfac-
ton. Justice Senor declined the case, and
advised Brown to consult some San Fran
cisco lawyer. But the quarrel and its origin
are, rs yet involved in doubt.
SECOND DISPATCHI
SAN Francisco, December 1Ith.-Theo-
dore Reichart Chief Clerk in the Surveyor
Generals Office, who was in Bensons Office
short time after the shooting, subse-
qQenuy witnessed a statement written out
according to Benson's directions. This
statement was under revision this after
noon. Mr.. Reichart, however, detailed the
substance of the statement and also what
knowledge of the case he had substantially
as follows:
Benson's statement is that Brown came
into his Office at either quarter before or
quarter after 10 O'Clock this forenoon. 1t
must have been quarter before, because
we received word of the affair soon after
10 o'clock Brown said, am in trouble
Benson asked him to sit down. Brown did
so. Brown then said that he was
out of money. In January, 1883, he had
met a woman in the East whom he had
compromised under promise of mar
riage. He came West then and met
a woman whom he liked better,
and whom he married in Utah, while
under the influence of liquor This
woman was now in this city. If he
only had money he would quit the coun-
try. There was an account between them.
Benson said, after hearing Browns state
ment, that he would go down into the
Nevada Bank and see Mr. Flood and Mr.
Angus and see what he could do. Brown
said that he had spent all his money, and
that il was his own fault that matters were
in their present shape. He said that he
would wait until Benson could go down
into the bank. Benson saws that he was
gone about fifteen minutes. When he came
back Brown was walking near the door.
looking very white. Benson told him that
he had seen Messrs. Flood and Angus, and
that money had been arranged for. and if
Brown would come in the afternoon the
account between them would be settled.
He also said to Brown that he would have
to be excused for the pI Iesent, as GEORGE w.
Baker was waiting in the outer Office to see
him, and he had other business which de-
manded his attention. Benson walked
toward his desk, which was in the
inner Office, and Brown locked the
door between the. inner and outer Offices
and stepping close up behind Benson,
said, Well settle that matter now The
first ball was then fired, which grazed Ben
sons neck. Brown must have been close
to Benson when he fired, for Benson's face
is full of powder marks Brown then
snapped his pistol a second time. Benson
does not know whether it was DISCHARGED
| then or not. Brown then aimed his pistol
directly at his own head and fired. Ben
son seized the pistol with his left hand ia
prevent Brown from injuring himself. In
the struggle the pistol went off again. and
II was then that Benson was struck in the
face"
There must have been a long struggle be-
| tween the two men, for Benson's left hand
is cut up and his right hand is scratched
-Four times Brown had now fired. The no.
| lice say that five chambers of the pistol
We're found to have been emptied, but Ben
son recollects only four. Brown now seized
an ink eraser which was on Benson's desk
and with 1t cut his throat. He then st8c-
| gered and reeled away toward the sofa in
| the back part of the Office.
STATEMENT OF BROWNS ATTORNEY.
The actual cause of the shooting was
without doubt trouble over money matters.
| Brown, as it appears. was hard pressed and
| made demand upon Benson for the sum
| Of 50, 394, which he claimed was due him.
/ 1t is believed by his attorney. A. K. Nc
| Junkin, that he came here for that pur-
pose. He arrived in the city November
2Sth with his wife, and registered that dav
at the Gailhard Hotel on Pine street. 1t IS
learned that up to year ago Benson and
| Brown We're engaged upon Government
| contract in Wyoming, involving about
SllS,O00. Brown was Surveyor of the coun-
! ty in which Cheyenne is located. Their
FADlAA9 mum tAAS NDIlIdtb dilONuL 10 81 L.
| 900. Brown came to this CITY in December.
1854, and visited attorney McJunkin fort
purpose Of collecting $15,00O, which he
claimed Benson still owed him The mat
ter was submitted to three arbitrators-J
X. Carter of the Pacific Bank, c. Z. Wilson.
a lawyer, and Mr. McJunkin. They de-
cided in August last that Benson owed
Brown 1894. 1t was to collect this. it is
thought, that the visit that terminated so
trasically was made this morning.
Signal Service Indications.
SAN FRAEcIsco, December 11th-Sp. NJ
Indications for the succeeding 80 hours :;
North Pacific, generally fair weather with
variable winds. Middle Pacific fair
weather, with northerly winds. South Pa-
citc, fair weather, with light to brisk
northerly winds.
The Weather.
MARYsvILLE, December 11th.-The storm
OF yesterday was dissipated by a cool
northwest wind early this morning. and
the sun has shown brightly all dav, driving
up the surface rapidly. The farmers will
be able to resume blowing to-day. The
rainfall for the storm was 203 inches /;
total for the season, 1043 inches.
STOCKTON, December 1lth.-Rainfall to
date, 6.22 inches against 1.62 inches for
the same time last year. Tonight it is
cold and clear.
Anti-Chinese Matters in Stockton.
STOCKTON, December 11th.-ODonnell
delivered an anti-Chinese speech here to-
| night to large audience. An anti -Coolie
League was formed. with J. P. Cosgrave. of
the Ecening Nal, as President.
\ san Jose Lawyer to be Investigated -
SAN JOSH, December 11th.-J. NJ. Lucas.
the attorney whose integrity was reflected
upon by the statement Of j. C. Harris. the
bail bond pcrjurer, and whose conduct was
reflected upon by Judge Belden yesterday
IN sentencing Harris, appeared in Court to-
day and offered an explanation. Judge
Belden responded by suggesting a bar in
vestigation, TO which Lucas agreed. The
Court named as committee of INQUIRY
Judge John Reynolds, Judge Lawrence
Archer and Thomas II. Lame As Harris
will he