The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-02-03


in fact, by most people who came in
contact with him. But his talents were
OF high order and he early showed
such facility with the pen as enabled him
in 1868 to secure q place on the staff of The
Paris Gaulois, his signature being lie
Domino Noir His articles were Of such
brilliancy that his youthful indiscretions
were soon forgotten and he became i'm
mensly popular with the French public.
His father, delight ed with his sons cmi-
nence as u writer fostered his progress
greatly by giving him some Of the most
brilliant receptions in Paris, and these
were attended by many of the foremost
people not only Of France, but of the visit
ors ut the French capital.
The breaking out of the Franco-Prus-
sian war seemed tp call out all that was
evil i'll the bright young journalist. The
Prussians had destF tFoyed Chateaudun and
$40, 900 had been II hised in London for the
towns relief. Benson had succeeded in
leaving Paris, through the Instrumental
ity of the American minister, E. T. Wash
burne, and with other journalists was
staying at Tours. He decided to attempt
to get possession Of this money, then on
deposit with the Rothschilds. Going to
Lcndon-arncd with forged credentials,
US the mayor of the despoilcd town-he
succeeded in getting letter from the lord
mayor to the rich bankers and the money
was delivered into his keeping Before
this he had been CO dst off by his family be-
cause Of gambling hnd other excesses, and
he was now we'll started in his career Of
crime. But instead of going out of Eng
land with his i'll gotten gains lie remained,
and was presented to the Prince of Wales.
His exposure followed soon after.
Benson was now arrested without delay,
tried, convicted and sentenced to Il long
imprisonment. This was not to his lik-
ing, of course, and in the hope of Sc
curing reduction of sentence, he satura.
ted his clothing with kerosene and then
set fire to it. The burns that followed
were so serious as to cripple him for life,
but the plan failed and he was obliged to
serve out the entir sentence. His lame
ness is still perceptible, but does not seem
to interfere greatly with his operations.
While in prison Benson directed q sue
cessful railroad r pbbery. When he got
out he was employed by ono Kerr, the
publisher of sporting periodical that
professed to give s ure tips to those desir-
ing to bet on coming events. Benson saw
that this was q s|windle, threatened ex-
posure and was made an equal partner
with Kerr. Among those swindled by
the operations of the concern was the
Baroness de Goncpurt, who lost $55, 600.
Despite the efforts of the police to prevent
it, both Kerr and Benson were arrested.
This was followed by the exposure, on the
part of the swindlers, of the cooperation
Of the police, and a very lively scandal
followed. This " as in 1877. Three de-
tectives were sente enced to imprisonment
for four years each, and Kerr and Benson
each received sentences of fifteen years
each.
Benson served half his term and then
left England on a ticket of leave.
Shortly afterwar ard he was arrested in
Brussels for false pretenses, but escaped
and came to america in 1856. His opera
tions in the new world appear to have
been confined to the Patti swindle, for
which he first made preparations by
scraping an acqua uaintance in New York
with the singers manager. How much
he made out Of this scheme does not ap-
pear, but it must have been large sum.
When his money ran low he went to
Switzerland, where he entered into vari-
GUS swindles, and finally returned to
New York, to be captured by Inspector
Byrnes.
Benson will be extradited and sent to
Mexico, as the swindled persons all reside
there