The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-12-23
BENSON'S DEED.
Desperate Deed of the Murderer OF
Mrs. Mettman.
He First Makes a Murderous Attack on His
Guard and Then Fatally Stabs Him
seIf-The Terrible End of
Fiend.

LEAvENwoRTH, Kan, Dec. 16.-No
Whitechapel fiend ever committed a
crime more cruel or revolving than that
of Charles A. Benson, when on the
night of March % he shot Mrs Theresa
Mettman on the military reservation at
Fort Leavenworth, dismembered her
body with a saw, placed the pieces in
sacks and threw them into the Missouri
river. Anarchist Lingg displayed no
more disregard for physical suffering,
contrived no more cunningly at his own
death or showed more real nerve in the
execution.
Benson died in the Jail at Leaven-
worth at 7:2O o'clock last evening from
the effects of knife wounds inflicted by
his own hands. This, after a murder
Gus assault upon his day guard, Capt
J. ". Morgan. Benson's end of life
was as peaceful as the past few years
had been stormy. He had been placed
under the influence of chloroform that
his wounds might be examined and
treated and he never regained conscious
ness.
Since the United States Supreme
court some ten days ago affirmed the
decision of the lower court and declared
that Benson should hang he had been
confined in a room apart from other
prisoners and had been under guard
night and day. Yesterday morning at Z
o'clock Capt Morgan relieved Night
Guard W. J. Powell Benson displayed
no unusual excitement at that time. 4
few minutes later lac grew restless. He
was standing by the door when Morgan
noticed his change in manner, asked
him what the matter was and starte /
toward him. The little murderer then
turned upon his keeper with the fcrocity
of tiger, knocked him down. stamped
upon his head. infiicting serious
wounds, and finally attempted To
smother him with blanket
Morgan yelled for mercy and Benson
finally desisted. Trusty Rand. on the
floor below heard Morgan's half-smoth-
cred yell He at first thought it was
the lowing of Sheriff Flora's cow in the
yard. Then the sounds grew more dis
tinct and Rand and Deputy Howard
rushed up stairs Benson heard them
coming and cried out the wooden door
separating them: "Tll kill the first
man who comes in here
The murderer was then Overpowered
and DR.. Lane sent for. 1t was not then
known that he had stabbed himself,
but he declared that he had taken poi
Son and would soon be dead.
DR.. Lane walked up to the man and
hastily opened his vest and shirt, lay
ing bare the skin. Then were revealed
two knife wounds. Just below the lower
rib and to the left Of the center line.
They were each about three-fourths Oh
an inch broad. and both penetrated TO
the wall of the stomach. They
were made with an old butcher
knife which Benson had secured
and secreted in the lining of
his shoe They were made after the
assault upon Morgan and before Sheriff
Flora entered the room. Shortly after
II o'clock the surgeon placed Benson
under the influence of chloroform,
opened his stomach and began an ex-
animation of the wounds. They con-
cluded at II o'clock. Benson never re-
gained consciousness and died at 7:20.
His bolv viii be turned over to Mrs
benson IL she wants il.