Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-06-11
BENSON TALKS.
The Suspect Testif1es on His Own
Behalf
he CONTRADICTS MRS. RAUTzAHN,
Had No Illicit Relations With the Muir
dered Woman and Did Not Know It
Was Money Handed to Him Until
the Gold Run Out.

United States concluded its case in the
Mettman murder trial yesterday after.
noon and at six minutes to o'clock the
defendant, Benson, was placed upon
the stand to testify in his own behalf.
He took his seat stiffiy and testified with
a strong German accent: 81 was born
in Strasburg, France. 1 am nearly Sc
years of age My fathers name was
Felten, but he died and three years
after my mother married man by the
name Of Benson, whose name l took.
1 was married in Prussia. 1 came to
this country April 26, 1878, to New York.
knew Mrs. Theresa Mettman when
she lived on Pawnee street. There was
but IA foot alley between our houses,
I knew John Mettman and Mrs.
Rautzahn. We lived so close together
about six months, from April to No
vember, and then 1 moved away.
81 first met Mary Rautzahn in De-
cember, 1856. met her in her fathers
house. I came to know her well and
got on intimate terms with her. Mr..
Mettman had a birthday party and
that night we were all jolly and Mary
Rautzahn said she had heard lots of me
and wanted to meet me. l told her If
she wanted to she could-to come to
my house. She said Mrs Benson was
there and told her Mrs. Benson was
away the first of the week and for her
to come to my house. She did and then
got acquainted with her. We re-
mained intimate until March 24, 1890.
She often visited me in Kan
sas City and gave herself out
as my wife. The first time
she came, she lived with me at hotel,
but she got homesick, she said, and had
to come back. Whenever l came to
Leavenworth from my work in Kansas
City I always went to see my family. !
came up usually on the train, reaching
here at about $40, and every evening
at about or 8 o'clock l would go back.
l must say yes. Mrs. Rautzahn and
arranged to live together as Mr.. and
Mra Richard Waldo. l didn't use the
name for any other purpose except liv-
ing with her. She and l wrote to each
other maybe !, 1000 times. 1 know Mrs.
Hautzahn's handwriting"
| Here the witness was shown the four
letters exhibited to Rosa Benson earlier
| in the afternoon and said: MARY
| Rautzahn wrote those letters to Richard
| Waldo. That is me. l received them
by mail in my letter box, station A,
| Kansas City post Office. l left those
letters in my room, 511 Bluff street,
Kansas City, Mo. Mrs Rautzahn, first
| lived with me in Kansas City on Ninth
| near Mulberry, afterwards on Bluff
street. She last lived with me in Kan
sas City in March, 1890, staying with
me about four days on that occasion.
| That was about the middle of the
month. l came to Leavenworth to see
Mrs. Benson on March %, 1890,
for the first time that month. 1t is not
true that I was here Saturday, March
! Is. On March % l reached here about
the usual time and saw Mary Rautzahn
at the Mettman house. l went to the
back gate, that's my old way. She was
at the back gate and talked with me
then we went to tha basement. Pretty
soon she said: Richard, mamma wants
to see YOU 1 said: AL right, call heI
down. She called her down and Mrs.
Mettman said to me that Mary was go
ing to come down and keep house fol
me and bring her children"
Here the judge silenced the witness
and would not admit any part of his
conversation with Mrs Mettman.
Continuing the witness testified: 81
called Mrs. Mettman mamma and Mr.
Mettman papa After mamma went
up stairs Mrs. Rautzahn asked me what
her mother had said to me, and 1 told
her and said it wouldn't do. said hel
children were too old and would tel
on US and get us into trouble with Mrs
Benson. l said, too that 1 had nc
money to go to housekeeping, and she
said: That's all right. l get some
money We talked there until after
o'clock Sunday morning, wher
sent her in the house anC
went home to where my wife
and daughter were. stayed there al
Sunday until my regular time to go t.
Kansas City. l reached Kansas City ;
couple of minutes to S. l met friends
and went to Mr.. Kelly's place at Ninth
and Mulberry and stayed there a little
while. Then took the cable car anC
went home to 511 Duff street an(
stayed there all night; got up at $50 a
my usual time. But l did not go Il
work, having an awful toothache anC
went up Main street to doctor whert
1 had two teeth pulled before to ge
him to pull it out went first, though
to a saloon at Tenth and MaiI
and drank some beer and then my toOu
didn't ache any more, and l went a
noon to go to work. Going by the pos
Office found letter from Mrs. Raut
zahR asking me to come up to Leaven
worth. That letter 1 left at 511 Blut
street. got it between ~ and Mon
day, March "a, and went back Il
my house, took off my working
clothes and went down in the bot
: toms to spend the afternoon. l cam
! ND to Leavenworth that night at tn
usual time and went to Mr.. MettmaD'
back yard. 1 met Mary there. Sh
was not lively like the other day and
vas laugh and make joke, and said
! You are sick and she said: Yo1
mustn't talk so loud; you mustn't max
SO much noise; father is not asleep
''She vent in and came out and sal
, not to make so much noise, and then
vent in again and wait so long an
fall asleep. She came out and woke m
, up and put rag with something in m,
hands and told me to keep it Iput
. in my pocket. She told me: An
Richard, mamma IS gone, what 20
think? and 1 say: Your mamma is a.
right; she is off some place She sal
by and by some time she &c
me some blankets and keen hous