Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-09-23

ne hau decided TO enter into the scheme, at
the same time telling him how to re-
NIT money. Yet in the face of this Birch
all told the officers that he last saw Ben
we'll on Feb IL. The letter, which was not
dated but postmarked Feo 20, three days
after the murder. was as follows;
Lieut.. Col Boawell Cheltenham, Eng.
NY DEAR SiR-We arrived safely here after a
very pleasant journey, The sea being rough rather
than Otherwise We came up by sleeping car
from New York aud had a very pleasant trip In
deed. Your son has inspected ali my books and
az my business arrangements aud / Introduce
MN To people who know me we'll. He suggested
taking other advice so |, Of course was perfectly
willing and he consulted a barrster IN London
Ont concerning the business with satisfactory
results. He has decided to join me- as he has
found all that he wished to be satisfactory.
think that we shall make a vesv good business
together, The books show o very good profit for
the last year
/ think the best way is to place the money IN
our Joint names IN the bank to the credit uf our
reserve fund We shall take the addii ional piece
OF land that mentioned 10 you. as we shall now
require Il for produce. The best way 10 send
money out Is by bankers draft. Drafts for us
should be drawn on the Bank Of Montreal, New
York. They have branch in London / think
tho London and Westminster also do business FOR
uhem. Letters OF this klnd should be insured and
registaSed. We are holding a large safe IN
March Your son WAS somewhat anxious 70
share In the profits OF the sale, which am quite
willing he should do, and so we have signed our
deed OF partnership, and am sure he will never
regret doing so. Your son Is, think, writing
yon BY this post. Kindly excuse bad writing on
my part, but am rather in a hurry to catch the
mall My letters are generally written by type.
writer. as they are so much more legible and
clear, with no doubt as to the words We are
having papers printed properly and will be ready
IN few days. think you will be pleased 70
hear that your son has found things satisfactory,
and quite agree that he did much the best
thing In coming out 70 see the business first
shall send you weekly particulars OF all the
business done 80 that you can see Tor yourself
bow things 90 on. This viii be satisfactory to
you, think. OF coarse with regards 20 money.
any bank OF New York would do for the drafts
We have business account in our joint names
at the American bank here, Your son will doubt
less explain his views in his letter. With kind
regards believe me, dear sir, sincerely yours,
j. r. BmcnALL
A Motive for the Murder.
Mr. Osler said this plainly showed a
motive for the murder, as Col. Benwell
was to pay G500 II his son Became satisfied
with the farm. Mr.. Osler also claimed
that II was Birchall's scheme to send type
written letters to Col Benwell rs coming
from his son, and TO bleed the father.
The First witness Called.
William Mcdonald was the first witness.
Mcdonald said that he became acquainted
with Birohall when the latter came to him
as farm pupil from England. Birchall
was then known as 4. A. Somerset He
stopped az McDonald's farm one day, then
went to Woodstock, saying that be was
not brought up 20 such work. Mcdonald
admitted that he was agent at Woodstock
for Ford, Rathbun & Co., England, who
sent pupils to place on farms, the farmer
getting Sl25 bonus and the agent $35; the
farmer receiving half that amount at the
end Of the first month that a pupil was
satisfied and the balance at the end of six
months. Mcdonald contradicted himself
good deal. He admitted that Ford.
Rathbun q Co. wrote that Birchall com.
planned that Mcdonald was swindling En-
glish farm pupils. He said that Birchall
borrowed from him considerable money
and repaid all but $50.
Young PelIoy TestIaes.
Douglass Raymond Pelley, young En-
glishman, who accompanied the Birchall-
Benwell party TO this country, followed.
He told of his arrangements with Birchall
to enter into farming partnership In Can
ada and said that Birchall told him he had
farm near Niagara Falls Of 200 acres:
lived in good English style; kept English
servants; had good brick house and one
of the stables lighted by electricity. also
speaking Of his overseer as man named
Mcdonald, and two brothers named Pea
coax, who worked on the farm Birchan
claimed TO be farm pupil. Succeeding
so welL he bought out the farm.
Benweu yaa "A Nufannra
The witness first met Benwell at Liver.
pool. Birchall said Benwell was nui-
sance; that he was taking him out as
favor 20 Benwelrs father, and that he
would put him on some farm and yet rid
OF him. Benwell changed twenty or
twentysfve sovereigns in New York
The trip Of BirchRll and Benwell from
Buffalo on the day Of the murder, and
Birchalps temperance alone that night,
were described. Birchall said Benwell did
not understand farming. and he sent him
20 two or three other addresses because he
had received so much money Birchall
avoided taking Pelley TO the farm, giving
veEous excuses. Pelley finally taxed him
wkh false pretenses, and got the answer
that Birchall expected draft from Eng
land and would start farming In a week.
Pelley's wild goose chase to New York
after Benwell while Mr.. and Mrs Birchall
identified Benwells body was then de-
scribcd. Pelley saw Birchalls pistol,
small one He identified clothes OF Birchall
and Benwell produced in evidence. Pei