The sun., 1894-12-29
KILLED FOR HISINSURANCE
EVIDENCE THAT THAT WAS YoUN0
HENDERSHOTT,s FATE.
His Uuels suS Another Mar Arrested Tor
ths Crine-Hoth Assert Thsir Innocsuce
An Wseterr 0nt~rfs Greatly Exctted.

His Uuels sus Another Mar Arrested Tor
th. Crfne-noth Assert Thsir Innocsuce
An wsstsru ontsris Greatly Ezoitea.
LoSpou, Ont, Dec. 2s.-This part Of the Dc
minion Of Canada II receiving its share OF SEN
sationallsm through the medium Of the insur-
anoe frauds and the murder Of young Hender-
shott, near St. Thomas, town twenty miles
from this place. The horrors Of the Birchal
case. which will be readily recalled by the read
ers OF TIE suN. are surpassed in this instance,
and the butchery Of the unfortunate Benwell,
who was enticed from England and murdered
In the swamp near Woodstock, was not whit
more cold-blooded than the killing Of John
Henry Hendershott, in the woods on Friday
two weeks ago. IL is pretty generally belved
that the trial of the accused men will bring TO
the surface all the details Of we'll planned con-
spiracy TO rob New York insurance companies
Of large sums.
The dead man was insured for s11 900 in the
New York Mutual. and the policy was held by
his uncle, John Hendershott, to whom 1t was
made payable. John Hendershott is a farmer
near 81. Thomas in more than an ordinarily
prosperous condition. and he was regarded by
his neiahbors ss an upright conscientious man
before the details of the plot by which his un-
fortunate relative was put out OF the way were
made public. The nephew lived with his uncle
and helped to work the farm. Another man on
the farm was Frederick welter. who was known
TO be q suitor for the hand Of his employers
daughter, and II was generally supposed that
they were engaged to be married in the spring.
On Friday two weeks ago the three men went
into the woods TO fell trees, and early in the
afternoon welter came TO the farmhouse and
said that tree had fallen on young Hender-
shot and had crushed the life out OF him.
Charles wsiter, q brother OF Frederick, went
e., Gt nd l,uatin
When that Official visited the woods he found
John Henry Hendershott with his head under
the main trunk of a tree about twenty feet from
the stump. The head was not crushed and there
were eleven separate bruises or gashes on II, ap-
parently made By an axe or some other weapon.
The Coroner was suspicious, and, carrying his
investigation further. found the leaves dyed
crimson and the stumps of the trees spotted
with blood. Some distance further on large
pool Of blood was found and the suspicious of
foul play were confirmed. A warrant was issued
for both Hendershott and welter and they were
Jailed In St Thomas county Jail.
A further examination of the ground near
where the body was found brought to view an
axe the blade and handle OF which were COW
cred with blood. The weapon had been hidden
under an an old log which had been buried In
the leaves. There was was prominent prominent nick nc IN the
OF the tree which had been chopped down. 1t
was proven conclusively that IL was the same
axe that Hendershott and Welter had used that
day.
nocence. welter says he and the dend man
were both chopping at the same time. When the
tree started 20 fall young Hendcrshott ran for
his coat, which lay on stump near by. He
wanted to save his watch, which was In the coat
pocket. He was caught and killed, John Hen.
dershott's testimony varied trine from that or
welter. Thoy both say that the bloody axe
which was found belongs to neither OF them.
The Coroner's Jury Is sitting on the case at ST.
since young Hendershott's death people have
begun TO talk about tn e death of his aunt, John
Hendershott's wife. She was insured for $4,000,
and her hus band got the money a year or so ago.
Another circumstance which makes 1t look bad
for John Hendershott. Is the fact that she died
rather suddenly. She died OF stomach trouble.
although she had always been regarded as q
healthy woman. Hendershott also tried
recently to take a risk on a young
man named Fitzpatrick OF ST. Thomas,
for $4,000 The application was rejected BY the
local examiner on account OF the tntemperate
habits Of the applicant An application was
then made at another agency Of the same com.
pany and IL was granted. The home office noted
the similarity In the applications and sent an
agent to look into the matter. The second appli-
cation was finally rejected.
This whole western part of Ontario IL agitated
as IL has not been since the Birchall -Benwell
murder The case is being handled by Prose-
cutting Attorney ID. J. Donahoue of Elgin county.
The New York companies that are interested
have agents at St. Thomas taking notes OF tho
proceedings.