Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-05-03
MORE OF METTMAN.

Tho Lost Limb OF Mrs. Mettman Found Near
Lcavenw0rth Benson, m Fortune Tell
OF, Had Complete Control Over the Two
Women.
LEAvENwoRTH, Kan, April 2S.-The
right leg OF the murdered Mrs. Mcttman
was found at noon yesterday on the
bank of the Missouri river, near the
Planters House, by q number OF boys
who were walking along the shore. The
spot IL about three-quarters OF mile
from the point where the remains were
probably thrown into the river, and the
limb had evidently not reached the cur
rent OF the stream, but was carried along
the bank where the water is sluggish,
and on it's passage downward the limb
must have caught against drift and
snags, rs 1t was month ago last night
since the butchery took place and the
body was thrown into the river.
Mrs. Rautzahn was visited at The jail
last night. She had sufficiently recov-
cred from her nervous prostration to
permit her removal to the room in the
female department assigned her upon
her admission to the Jail. She was in o
talkative mood. While she referred to
her relations with Benson quite freely,
she stoutly continued to assert her inno-
cence Of any knowledge Of the crime
before or after its committal. To her
father she had much to say about her
mother, herself and Benson, and the
father afterwards told correspondent
that he had reason to believe the wom-
an about what she told him
and would stand by her. 1t ap-
pears that Benson, who was o
sleight of hand performer and fortune
teller, had complete control over both
the dead woman and her daughter. Mrs.
Rautzahn was introduced to Benson by
her mother after her return from Illinois
where her husband was killed. The
mother told the daughter that Benson
had prophesied that Rautzahn would be
killed. This made a great impression
upon them both. Their acquaintance
soon became very intimate. Mrs. Raut-
zahn said that her first trip to Kansas City
was made upon Benson's request OF her
mother and that she only consented to
20 after the mother promised to care
for the children. She was absent about
a week. 1t was during this very abb
sence that the father asked where Mary
was, when Mrs. Mettman told him that
she had gone out to work few days so
she might earn some money.
Mettman said he knew his daughter
was telling the truth about that, be-
cause whenever she was away his wife
would always tell him Mary was work
ing out.
It will be remembered that q state
ment has been made that Mettman's
house was robbed about year ago Of q
trunk, with some clothing and few
dollars in money. 1t now turns out that
Benson was the thief. AS soon as he
heard of the theft he told the women
that he knew all about 1t while he was
in Kansas City. He described every
article the trunk contained and the
women of course believed that he
could tell, never suspecting him OF
the theft. At this time he also warned
them that their horse would be stolen.
he told them not to 60 to the stable II
they heard any noise as the man steal
ing the horse would certainly kill them.
The horse was never stolen, and it is
supposed that Benson laid his plans for
the theft Of the horse in case an occa-
sion presented itself making it necessary
for him to have q horse on short notice
and without purchase.
These points were obtained from Mrs.
Rautzahn's talk, and while they are far
from satisfactory as to any connection
she may have had in the murder they
tell story in themselves and indicate
how completely the wretched woman
and the dead mother were in the control
Of the designing villain.