Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-06-11

the Mettman murder case this morning.
A great many women were present sew
eral OF whom have been present every
day, Notwithstanding the unsayory ma
ture of much Of the testimony.
The examination Of Benson was re
sumed. He denied the statements OF
Mrs. Rautzahn that her brother Henry
would be killed In an accident, and hen
| father would get the insurance on his
| life, and her mother would 20 10 New
! York and he would meet her on Broad
way. He said he bought the pistols
found among his elfects.in Philadelphia
last July. The knife he made himself
twenty years ago, and used IL in per-
forming tricks. The red false whiskers
were used by him in the show business.
He said he did not know who killed
Mrs. Mettman, aud did not know that
she was dead until he heard the people
talking about it and he read II in the
papers. He denied that he told Chief
lof Police Dodd that he knew who killed
Mrs. Mettman. lie had never been Ia
the part Of the reservation where the
murder took place, He left Kansas
City because he was laid OIL at the hay
press and could not find work. He
went TO st. Joseph where he remained
week, thence TO Kansas City and then
to his old home in New York, and
thence TO Philadelphia and then to
Camden.
On cross examination he became
pretty badly mixed mp over the slips
which he wrote. He denied having
written one and then admitted to hay-
ing written part OF it, and became so
much excited that he arose from his
chair and remarked that he could not
understand English very well. He GER
tainly entrapped himself.
The only other important witness
called by the defense was I.udwick
Keller Of Chicago, formerly shoe
maker OF Kansas City, by whom Benson
expected 10 prove that he was in Kan
sas City at the time Of the murder.
Keller testified that Benson had been
in his shop number of times to have
tools sharpened but his dates were so
vague and uncertain that the prosecu-
tion did not even cross-examine him.
After several other unimportant
witnesses we're called the defense
rested their case and as the prosecu-
tion had no rebutal the arguments
10 the jury were commenced.
County Attorney Atwood opened the
case for the government Judge Riner
limiting the opening and closing
speeches on each side TO an hour and a
half Whether the opposing counsel
accepted this privilege or not Judge
Riner gave notice that counsel on both
sides would be charged with IT,
In his speech Mr.. Atwood referred 10
certain reflections made during the
trial by Judge Webb, Bensous lawyer.
He didn't understand them. He had
simply done his duty. II il was wit
that Judge Webb intended, it
was clephantine and hippOpota-
mus Benson, who followed the speech
with rapt attention, was denounced
a. the guilty man. BE nsons contra
dictory testimony was recalled TO the
attention Of the jury and his repudia-
tion Of the slips OF paper identified by
his wife was made a strong point. The
laws OF evidence convicted Benson, and
the fact that in spite. OF his denial
he was criminially intimate with Mrs
Mettman was apparent. Benson had
told two witnesses himself that he was,
though on the witness stand he had
the hardihood to deny it. Mrs.
Mettman had gone to the reser-
walton 10 meet Benson rs she had often
done. The money, and life with
the daughter Mary, was motive, and
the mutilation was made necessary for
The All-seeing Eye had
seen the deed and with his own hand
Benson had built the scaifold that was
TO hang him. He had written to his
wife that they would never see him
again, but unfortunately for him the
people OF Leavenworth did see him
again. Benson was something OF a let
ter writer and his wife must have known I
his handwriting. When she, with /
tears In her eyes, took the stand. twas /
evident what her disposition to the de- /
fendant was. and when she said that she |
would tell what she knew no one ex- /
pected her to tell anything but the /
truth.
The weak points in Benson's evidence /
were reviewed. MIR. Atwood continuing, /
said that Carl Albert Benson, alias /
Richard Waldo, alias Arthur elton, (
was as great juggler, with names as
he attempted TO be with facts. In clos (
ing, he requested the jury TO give Ben /
son the benefit of fair, reasonable /
doubt to treat him fair, II there was /
Dne loophole OF escape for him to give t
him that chance. Justice, and justice 4
lnly, was desired.