Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-03-13
THE BENWELL CASE
EXCITEMENT RUNNING HIGH As THE EVIDENCE
PILES IN.
Crowds Of People Unable to Get Into the Court
Rom-New Evidence Introduced in the
Shape Of Significant Teegrams-Bur-
chell's Indifferent DemeanOr.

NIAGARA FALLS, March l2.-Excite-
ment ran high this morning as the hour
approached for reSuming the taking OF
evidence in the Benwell murder case.
The Court room was packed with people
as early as nine o'clock, and the streets
were lined with people from the sur
rounding country and from the Ameri-
can side of the river. About two dozen
newspaper correspondents were In town
representing some of the principal
cities Of America. Through some mis-
take Sheriff Atwcll did not bring the
prisoner down until the five o'clock
train. A general rush was made To
the Court room which could not hold
the crowd, and Police Magistrate Hill
fearing some one would get hurt in the
Jam. announced that court would be
held in the town hall. Within five
minutes at least l,200 persons were in
hall, cr0wding that place to the doors.
Among the spectators were many ladies.
When the prisoners "braccletS' were
removed from his wrists. he stretched
out his arms above his head and APP
pearcd to be relieved and convcrScd ina
happy mood with the officers. At $40
p. IN. the court opened in the town hall.
Mrs. Burchell's ease was taken up.
The magistrate asked Detective Muir
ray If he had any more evidence 10 Of
fer against her The detective replied,
Not at present"
The magistrate then notified the pris-
oncr that he would remand her To the
same custody that she had been in since
her arrest for eight days pending any
new evidence that may be produced
against her. Chief Young then brought
prisoner Birchcll into Court. He looked
cheerful and walked Smartly up. His
Indifferent demeanOr is "A study and
wonder TO all who see him. He smiles
around at the reporters and officials
nodding to some one. looking straight
out of his piercing black eyes without Il
particle of timidity. He quietly took
off his kid gloves. crossed his legs, tip
ped back his chair and waited for the
proceedings to begin. About a dozen
witnesses were sworn. Most Of the evil
dcncc was resume of that taken AT the
coroner'S inquest.
New evidence was introduced when
George PhcmiStcr, Manager at Niagara
Falls of the Great Northwestern Tclc-
graph Company, was sworn. He pro-
duced three kilograms One was sent
from Niagara Falls at 7:4i p. M, Feb
ruary II. 1t was addressed to "Pellcy,"
Stafford House, Buffalo. and read: Ar
rived at Buffalo at o'clock; must re-
main here tonight
Signed BASTELLE.
PhcmStcr could not describe the
sender. He could not say it was Burch-
ell. 4 train from London had just
come in. In this telegram it is sup
posed Burchcll'S name was miSSpclled
by the operator. Another theory is
that he misspcllcd it knowingly. Pei
ley told reporter that he had never
known Burchcll to call himself ''Bas-
tell"
Pcllcy was called and swOrc he did
dot recognize the handwriting as that
yf Burchcll. Another telegram dated
Buffalo. received at Niagara Falls Feb
ruary ~. directed "Burchcll Imperial
Hotel" read: Telegram and letter
sent on to you yesterday to ship heavy
baggage to Fifth Avenue Hotel, New
York.
ISigncd STAFFORD"
The third telegram was from New
York dated March /, and was evidently
from Pclley. though it had no signature.
"Benwell not here" was all it said.
That closed the testimony: MagiS-
tratc Hill asked Burchcll if he had any
thing to say. He whispered with his
lawyer moment. and then said In "A
mattcr-of-fact way, NO, have nothing
to say
The next moment he added with some
emphasis: AT this particular time.
His cOolncSS was astonishing. MagiS-
tratc Hill then held Burchcll for trial in
October at Woodstock. He slipped his
kid gloves on his dainty hands, his body
guard slipped the handouts over them
and led him out through the crowd. the
most unconccrned appearing in all the
ihrOng.
Picthall. who disappeared few
weeks ago. has written to his wife frem
Arizona. Mrs. Pickthall says the let
ter leaves no doubt that he had nothing
whatever TO do with Burchell.