The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-05-27
interrupted he would have realized the
enormous sum of $i25, 600 as the result
of his effrontery.

OF his eHrontery.
AWAY ON A SPECIAL ENGINE.
After leaving the Governor, who had
sent for him and ordered the m)Ley &c.
posted, Benson made preparations to
have a special engine take him at g. 80
O'Clock that night from the City of
Mexico up the line to point where he
would meet a regular passenger train.
The superintendent of the railway at
first declined to allow Benson 10 engage
an engine, it being contrary to law to
allow any person to engage q special
engine or train for the purpose OF leav.
ing the city without the permission of
the governor. Benson, however, of
fered a large sum of money for the
privilege, and subsequently gained his
point by telling the superintendent that
he had got into some difficulty over a
young lady Of good family, and it would
cost him his life to remain over night in
the City of N xico.
at o'clock special officers of the
Governor were on hand ct the theatre
to see that the proceeds of the sale we're
properly deposited in the safe of the
hotel as directed by the Governor.
Benson here resorted to a trick similar
to the 'sawdust" swindle by wrapping
up the good money in one package and
then substituting a bogus package
which contained lot of old programmes
and sundry papers.
LEFT THE SILVER BEHIND.
There was quantity of silver-about
1900 worth-Which was placed in bags,
and these being too heavy for him to
carry Benson allowed the officers TO
deposite the bags of silver and the
bogus package in the safe of the hotel,
upon which the officers heaved a sigh
of relief. This.brought the hour to about
9:15 p. m aud Benson, after bidding
the officers good night, Jumped into
cab in careless manner and ordered
the driver to take him to a circus which
was then performing in the city. Ar
irving at the circus, Benson entered in
at one door and Immediately departed
through an opposite door of the build
ing, and again jumping into a cab was
driven to within a few hundred yards
of the railroad depot, where an eneine
was IN readiness for him, and that
night at or about II 80 o'clock tie
special engine reached the regular
train and Benson was transferred to
it.
He repeated the story to the con-
ductor that he had gotinto some trouble
with woman in Mexico, and that he
wanted to get on to American soil to
save his life. He gave the conductor
so Benson alleged before his death
81 600 and the porter OF the train $500,
and they took care 10 have him slowed
away IN the conductor berth whenever
a station WAS reached, for at eVerg sta
ton the train was searched by officers,
Instructions having been telegraphed
from Mexico to that effect. By these
means Benson managed to reach
El Paso, Texas, AMI from thence he
travelled east and went to Europe. -'
ADVENTURES IN SWITZERLAND.
Benson's next advent was in Switzar-
land, where, in the city of Geneva, he
swindled gentleman belonging to the
Indian army out of S35 600 by means of
worthless bonds. He then came to
America and endeavored to collect a
draft i'll which he had invested the pro-
ceeds of his Geneva operations, but
found that payment had been stopped
by his victims.
A suit was instituted by him against
the Mercantile National Bank, and he
then returned to England, but thinking
h. could fight the bank better at close
quarters he again visited New York.
Meanwhile Inspector Byrnes had been
looking for Benson at the instance of
the Mexican government, and on Janu-
airy l4,h he arrested him coming out Of
tAe bank.
briefly as follows:
On the 29th of June, 1887, Surgeon
General James Kees, late OF the British
Indian Medical Service. arrived with his
family, consisting of his wife and two
daughters, at the Hotel National,
Geneva, Switzerland, and casually met
Benson, who had registered as George
M. ChurchWood. at breakfast, on July
4th following, Churchwood protested to
have received much kindness from the
Anglo indians and desired to reciprO-
cate in some way. In the course of a
few weeks he had succeeded in making
himself so agreeable and useful in a
number of ways to the surgeon-general
and his family that he was taken en-
tirely into their confidence.
HIS MINES IN INDIA.
He represented himself as the owner
of g ruby mine in India, of a gold and
silver mine and one-quarter interest in
Louisiana National Bank in America,
and led all who heard him, by his con :
versation, to believe thai he was very
keen and successful man of business
and man of independent means.
Having thus placed himself in conf
Dental relations with General Keess b @
soon discovered that the Generals
property in India amounted to some
thing less than GO 900 sterling. He rep
resented to General Keess that such a
sum in the hands of an American
banker would soon be doubled in
amount, and suggested that if he had
it for investment be would make is pro-
duce at least II per cent per aunum.
General Keess was at first disinclined
to risk his money in speculation, but
Benson treasured MIN by offer ng him
personal security in Turkish bonds,
guaranteed by the British government
and in per cent French rates. At
length the General was convinced by
Churchwood that it would be to his
children's interest to intrust him with
q sum of money for investment, and on