The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-06

Dying WOUhn 3 COuuleuhnCc, no buo
closed her eyes and silently awaited
the grim messenger. With the certainty |
of dta'h stirring her in the face, she
was pressed to make statement !
of how the tragedy occurred, and not !
20 to her grave with her lips sealed.
She did 30 reluctantly, and only on
the assurance that no publication OF
her verion OF the affair would be
made. The secret leaked out, how
ever, and an APPEAL reporter cue
ceeded last night 10 hearing the dying
yopa.'s own verion OF the occur.
renee as told in the very prei euce OF
death. She said:
IDA BENEFITS STATEMENT.
SUNDAY night went to 0akey's
beer saloon, on Beale street, TO get q
pitcher OF beer. Two well known So
cisty men Of this city were in the bar
room, and they insulted me and fol-
lowed me out. Goaded by their re-
peated insults, threw the pitcher at
them, when one OF them jumped on
me and beat me numerically.
| got away from them and
ran home aud told AL. what
occurred. He snatched his pittol and
started for the saloon. Soon he re-
turned and began TO abuse me, charg-
ing me with having been untrue to
him, having heard 30 from the man
who assaulted to me. He grew more
and more angry, and finally began
beating me. We quarreled ali
that night, and Monday
night when he came home he
seemed 10 have heard fresh tales
about me and the quarrel was re-
newed Tuesday night he did not
sleep at home, but Wednesday morn
ing he came home and said he bad
clear proof that l had betrayed him,
and pressed me to admit that 1t was
30. ] finally confessed tina, | had
gone out TO meet men. Then he be-
came violent aud beat me and run me
into the yard. Then he called me
and / refused to come, being afraid Of
him. At last ! did go into the house
again, and went to my trunk to Pack
IT, As knelt before ii saw him
take the pistol from his overcoat
rocket, where il had remained since
Sunday night, and advance toward
me in threatening manner. ]
sprung mp and grabbed the pts.
toll. We had struggle, but
his strength was greater than mine
and he turned the pistol toward me
and fred while | still held 1t. / fell
and he rushed out into the next room
and l heard another sho.. ! coult
not see him from where | lay anC
rolled over to the side Of the loom
near the door, aud looked, raising my
self on my elbow, at him. After tina
remember nothing"
CoRRoBoRATINa CIRCUMSTANCES.
There are some corroboTating cir
cumstances that give color to thu
above version. twill be remembered
that the woman was found In poo
of blood on a line with the door. A
a distance OF eight feet lsterally from
where abe lay was thin pool OF fresl
blood about Elk inches in diamete I
This must have been the spot where
according TO her version, she first fell
and from where she crawled 10 III
spot where she was found. Thepowde
buns ON her hands also corToborat
the theory OF q struggle, hut her
all probability that her version OF the
story is correct ends. TIE fact that NJ
powder burns were fo1nd on Bennett
clothing, and the position where tn
pistol was found, are circumstance
irreconcilable with the theory OF tn,
dead woman's innocence. tits doubt
! ful whether the mystery that SUI
rounds the case is ever satisfactory.
cleared away,
ONE OF THE INCIDENTS
connected with this strange affair, tina
will long linger in the memory Q
those who witnessed it: About
o'clock Yesterday afternoon Zoe Car
los, the dead w0mau's bosom friend
called at Holst's and requested to b
permitted to take one last look at th
BODY. The request was granted, an
| she was conducted to the base
D ment OF the establishment, wher
. the body lay embalmed an
ready for interment. The clot
' that covered the body was remove
/ down to the neck, and the head
, Ida Bennett, white as marble an
. rigid as stone, met her friends Raz'
, For one moment she gsged upon 1t J.
! silence. and then, with q sob an
, flood OF tears, she stopped and kisse
I the pale lips and icy brow and WEI
8 as though her heart would break
2 Again and again was she urged to d
+ sist. that there might be poison /
4 every kiss, but she paid no heed
Q such warnings, and when an effort wa
r TO hide the sight, she begged and in
:. plored for zone minute more, on
p minute more" 1t was scene
touch a heart OF stone, and althouR
A those who surrounded her were inure
|. by custom TO witnessing the widest o.
bibitions OF grief, they were not III
\ moved by the sight OF this one woma
In all the world weeping ov'
the remains OF lone more unto
tunats." We turn from this seer
10 one not quite so touchln
Il appears that there lie to be di
d gtaceful fight for spoils, almost ov'
!. the dead woman's body. Its:erda
}, mos. before the body had been place
in its coffin, the furniture and cloth!
?. and ali the visible effects OF IL
y Bennett were levied upon.
3. appean tina. in the presence
|. numerous witnesses the dying woms
y made a verbal testament, disposiDg
OF such little trinkets and articles
c. wearing apparel as she might trut
g. fully call her own. This expressi6
OF her dying wishes, it seems, is to
$, disregarded, and general grab MAJ
by somebody for everything in sigL
r We trust the effort may fail. III
Or body will probably be buried here,
* the dead woman's step-fsther b
wired instructions to that effect, I!
r, mother is lying very i'll, Frustrated
ps the news OF her daughters late.