Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-05-21

CHICAGO, May 21.-The latest story of tn
horrors of the Wisconsin dives has for il
unfortunate heroine girl lately from Ger
many, who is now a prisoner in one o
them. Her name is Minnie Wallis and sh,
was married few months ago to youn,
boiler maker on the West Side, but he die
not treat her well and they lived unhap
pilv. In this situation she was met by
woman who is the paid agent of div,
near Eau Claire. She told Mrs. Wallis tha
she was hiring help for the bonanza Poul
try Farm" near Eau Claire, place WHERE
big wages were paid TO servants for very lit
tie and easy work. She painted the place
in such pleasant colors that Mrs. Wallis wa.
induced TO leave her husband and went
away with her new friend. About ten
days later her husband got a hastily writ
ten note. in which she told of the horrible
placeshe had found herself in and her ef
f6ts to escape, and begged him in the most
pathetic way to come and rescue her, q
she was prisoner and helpless.
Her husband sent to Eaus Claire and
found a man who promised to rescue Mrs.
Wallis for SIS. Wallis telegraphed the
money, but Mrs. Wallis did not come A
week later she wrote to a friend asking
why her husband did not come for her
She was dying of cruelty and dreadful
treatment and the horrors of the place
were beyond words to describe. Her
friends took this to her husband, and to-
gether they raised money enough to buy a
ticket from Eau Claire here and bad it tel
egraphed to the railroad agent there for
the woman. Then they wrote and tele
graphed to her to make her escape and
come home. She telegraphed she would
start at once, but she has not come, though
that was q week ago. Investigation has
made il clear that the dive keepers and
their allies intercepted the SIS, the railroad
ticket and the kilograms, and forged the
telegram purporting to be a reply from
Mrs. Wallis, and that the woman is still 8
prisoner in the den.
Frederick Marsden, the Playwright, Kills
Himself.
NEW YORK, MAY 2I.-Frederick Marsden,
the playwright, was found dead in his bed
room at 3lS West One Hundred and Twen-
ty-sixth street, his home, ard appearances
lead to the belief that he committed suicide
The key-hole had been stuffed from the in
side. The odor of gas was very apparent
near the door. The family became alarmed
and the door was forced, The room was
filed with gas. and Fred Marsden lay dead
on the bed. That his death was intentional
NJ dppdICDl lut ldCt ltldl Tile utIIlDSI
care had been taken to stop up all aper-
lures through which any fresh air might
gain access to the room. Marsden has been
suffering from i'll health for long time,
and it is suspected that his suicide is the
result Of il. He was forty-ive years old,
and very successful playwright He was
said to have been in receipt of an income
amounting to more than ten thousand dol
lars year. He wrote q number of PLAYS
for Lotta, and one for Maggie Mitchell He
y the author Of THE Irish Minstrel" now
being played by W. J. Scanlan. Joe Muir
ply also has two of Mr.. Marsden's plays.
They are THE Donaugh," and Shaun
Rhu." For the past three months he was
engaged on play for Annie Pixley, for
Annie Pxley, for which he was to have re-
ceiyed $4,5O0. He was also to have written
q piece for Corrinne. Mr.. Marsden had
some trouble with his daughter Blanche
about q month ago, and some of his ac-
quaintances are inclined to think that this
may have added to his dependency.
Romantic Career of Benson, the Msxican
Swindler.
New YORK, May GA musical writer of
this city said: ''The suicide of Henry
Benson, the Patti ticket swindler. recalls
to my mind some interesting anecdotes.
Benson was a pupil of Chopin and Prudent
in Paris. When q child at the Grand Ho-
tel in Paris he sat down at the piano and
played so exquisitely that the Director
General of the Grand Opera being present,
offered to pay for his musical education.
But that was not necessary, as Bepson's
father, a stationer of the highest respecta-
bility in Paris, amply provided for him.
Benson never needed money for the neces-
sites or luIuries of life, for during his
fathers lifetime and after a very generous
allowance yearly was received by Benson
like IL, 500 francs annually-and
Benson was not married. Henry Benson,
for that was his right name, could not
keep straight to save his life, but hugely
enjoyed the excitement of a criminal life.
He wrote and spoke huently English.
French, German, italian. Spanish and
Russian, and with exact grammatical pre-
cision. HIS was friend before he devel-
oped his criminal propensities) of such mu-
sical celebrities as List. Patti, Schalchi,
and Others equally famous. Benson was
also an excellent vocalist and q theatrical
musician. At one time he did the musical
work of the Figaro, of Paris
10 n Kelly, Benson's former valet, who
is held at the Tombs OF. the charge of eon-
spiracy to aid Benson to escape from Lud-
low Street Jail, said that all the property
left by Benton belongs to him. 1t
to about 5000 in money and
b, 900 worth of jewelry. 1t is now in pos
session of Lawyer Peter Mitchell, whom
Benson had made his receiver just before
committed suicide. "Mr. Benson left it to
me-" said Kelly, because he said l was
the only friend he had left in the world.
Mr.. Mitchell has papers to show that this
ID true, and Inspector Byrne has a letter
in his possession to that effect" Another
claimant for the comfortable sum Benson
left turned up yesterday in the person of a
Mr.. Holland. He called at Lawyer Mitch
ellis Office and said that he was Benson's
cousin, and the only living relative the
suicide had in this country.