The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-15

Eta left my home my life was not worth living.
have tried all in my power. and begged {her)
70 come home and make my life happy for me,
ana she refused all my prayers. I could not
i've without her. Ii she was married would
De happy and contented. / rather he dead and
In my grave than see her living life rs she is
now she has had all the chance of loving
chiId, good mother and a true father. can
not live life which is worse than death
TO me. and which destroys my happi-
ness. so l made up my mind to kill
us Doth, that you, dear Lena, shall have no
trouble 1t is very hard to leave this world SO
full OF pleasure, but it is better than to live
living death. The secret will be buried with
me ana will not say anything about it; there
lore, dear Lena don't worry about it, it ia the
will OF Goo. God knows that you are an angel
OF woman, and you deserve a better path. You
Will get an insurance of 5000 from the Work
men. If you like to live in Spokane. you can DO
II; II not, you can take your loving son, Sig
mund, and 60 to your friends and relations in
San Francisco and live in peace Be careful of
the money and interest and don't lose it. II
you leave Spokane sell everything except the
piano, which belongs to dear Sigmund. My
watch. chain, locket, tokens and ring you can
do what you like with. Should Eta die with
mo give her diamond ring and watch to her
brother, Sigmund Henry Harris, and the charm
clasp to yourself That's all, my dear Lena.
may God bless you aud keep you in good
health. Think OF me in your prayers man
who loves you from the bottom OF his heart.
have nothing more to say. Don't come down
here when am gone; only let me be buried
nothing more. remain, your brOken-hearted
husband, HENRY HARRIS
tStamped envelope. unsealed, addressed:l
MRS HENRY HARRIS,
1,4l4 West Third Street,
Spokane,
Washington.
Double crimes of this nature are rare
in this city, and today's tragedy created a
veritable sensation. The News came out
with an extra this evening, and through
out this evening people have discussed the
sad affair. The bodies lie side by side at
Hoska's undertaking rooms, and tomor-
row an inquest will be held.
1t is now known that Benton, the cracker
drummer. was attacked by Miss Harris at
Seattle last winter. Benton in the struggle
to wrest the revolver from her broke her
wrist. She had bought the revolver at
Seattle to kill him. Later she was
treated for miscarriage at the Fanni e
Paddock hospital here, but the
matter was hushed up. Her statemen
that she did not know Harris until she
was years old is explained by the fact
that Harris left his family at San Fran
cisco when she was baby and made a
mining prospect through Idaho. Montana
and Arizona. returning when Eta was
years old. That was II years ago, and
then he went to Seattle.
The theory that Harris bore Miss Harris
unnatural love is gaining ground. The
reasons for the belief are that Harris, while
telling his friends he wanted her to
60 to her mother at Spokane, refused
to let Mrs. Harris see Eta
on her return from San Francisco
and sent her mother, via the Union Pa
cific to Spokane from Portland; also that
he did not dog Etta's footsteps until she
became infatuated with the cracker
drummer, while thereafter he watched
her continually, as if jealous of her. 1t
is said he also wanted her to keep house
for him, which she refused to do.
His letters to her are regarded
by many of her friends as a lovers
and not fathers epistles. On reading
some of these Eta exclaimed. "This must
stop or shall go crazy" Once she wrote
to her mother about coming home, but her
mother advised her not to, saying it was
not safe for her to do so.
Others incline to the opinion that she was
wronged by Benton, while Harris friends
incline to the belief that his daugh-
ter was the burden of his life, causing
him great trouble and expense to keep her,
she shamming sickness and demanding to
be kept at various places where fancy die
tated, at her fathers expense. Several to
whom Harris addressed letters incline to
the latter view.
Miss Eta Harris left the employ of P. P. Car
rnlfo nnp hnt he A
year and half ago she met Ira g. Benton, u
cracker drummer, who has a brother living in
this city. They became great friends and, az
the story goes, Bentou proposed and was ac-
cepted. About nine months ago Eta had
trouble with her father and, when she was
taken sick, was sent to Providence hospital
from which place she was finally taken home, a,
reconciliation having been effected. Three months
ago the young woman consulted an attorney in.
his city and told her whole story. She was &C
companied by her father and he corrobOrated
her story in minor details. She claimed that
Benton had seduced her under promise of mar
riagc and that she had been living with him fol
year. or until her folks learned her story. Six
months ago she secured revolver and
threatened that if she found Benton she
would shoot him unless he married her.
The girl and her father wanted to bring Grim
inal action sgainst Benton but cooler couus e
prevailed aud scandal was avoided.
While in Seattle the girl bore good reputa-
ton and. being refined in her manners and a
pleasing gconversationalist, had many frienda
Benton formerly lived on Marion street In
this city, but he moved some months ago and
his present address is not known.
isI nar