The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-12
The Canada Tragedy.

/ The murder Of F. c. BenweI, a young
Engl.shman, "a years of age. in a lonely
swamp near the town OF Princeton, Canada,
I fifty-five miles west Of Niagara Falls. Is at
tracing great deal of attention both in
this country and England. The supposed
murderer IS Reginald Birchall, another
young Englishman, 25 years of age, who is
now in Jail. BenwelI was the son Of a
! lieute ant colonel in the English army and
BirchI ! is the son Of a clergyman of the
Church of England, now dead. Benwell
was an educated man and was well supplied
with money by his father. BirchaIl had
considerable money of his own from
his fathers estate. but spent it soon
atOer he received it. lie has had the ad-
vantageS of the best schools of England.
His wife, who accompanied him to this
country, is the daughter of a man named
Stephenson, who is the traffic manager of
one of the largest railway corporations in
England She married Birchall against the
Will of her father, and without his knowl-
edge. 1t is believed that Birchall lured
Benwel and another young Englishman,
named Douglass Policy, from England to
Canada with the intention of numbering
them for the money they might have with
them.
Eenwell, Policy, and Birchall reached
New York on the Britannia on Feb IA.
On the following day they went to Niagara
Falls, on their way to Canada, where
BLrchall said he hal magnificent stock
farm. He had agreed to take Benwell aud
Policy into partnership with him in the
stock raising business. and they had paid
him considerable money on the agreement.
At Niagara Falls Birchan said that he
had received a letter from his agent on
the farm to the effect that the farm
house was not in very habitable condi-
ton, owing to the neglect of the tenant.
and that 1t was not advisable for him to
bring his friends there until the house was
put into good condition. Birchall, how
ever, asked Benwell to go with him on
visit to the farm, and the latter consented.
They started on Feb. II, and on the even
ing of that day Birchall returned alone,
saying that Benwell was not very we'll salts
fed with the farm and had gone to visit
friend who lived in London, Ont. This
story seemed plausible and was accepted.
On Feb. % the body of Benwell was
found in a thick swamp, three miles from
Princeton. Two bullet-holes were in the
head, aud the face was powder burnt.
Benwelrs name had been stamped on
his coat and his underclothing, but had
been cut out, so that Identification would
have been impossible by strangers had it
not been for his cigar case, which the MUIR
derer had overlooked. His name was on
that.
Inquiry for the murderer was at once
begun, and circumstance after circum-
stance came to light which pointed TO
Birchall as the murderer 1t was found
that he had no farm whatever, that he had
been in Canada the previous summer under
the name of Lord Somerset, that he had the
keys of Benwelrs trunks, and that he told
conflicting stories. Policy, when he heard
of the murder, was in New York, where he
had gone to attend to some business. He
returned at once to Niagara Falls, and gave
testimony that was strongly against
BirchalL He also stated some circum-
stances that justify the belief that Birchau
intended to murder him.
The case against Birchall is strong one.
He does not appear to be in the least de-
pressed, however On the contrary, he
seems to be quite light hearted. The case
is remarkable one in some respects, and
further startling developments are expected
at the inquest, which is to be continued
to-day.