Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-08-23
Dentn of l,eniamin .. Chase.

The remains OF Benjamin {. Chase, who
died very suddenly at kearney, Neo., on
Monday, Aug. 18Th, reached here on the
early morning train Tuesday. The tuner
al service was held at 3 O'Clock that after
noon. the Rev. q. W. Morrow officiating.
His friends in this place know but little
concerning the circumstances connected
with his death beyond an account pub
lished in the Buffalo County Journal OF
Kearney which gives the story
as follows: "The usual quiet of our
city was instantly changed TO horror and
excitement as the news was borne from
lin TO lip, on Monday evening last, that a
stranger had committed suicide in his
room at the Windsor hotel. Hurrying 20
the hotel and passing up TO the room late
ly occupied by the unfortunate man, a
horrible sight was presented. There, ly-
ing upon the floor, With monstrous cut
in the throat, from ear to ear, was the
PROSTATE form of young man dead. The
arteries and large veins OF the neck were
severed and death must have soon come
after the fatal thrust had been made. The
deed was done with a keen edged bowie
knife, which was lying on the bed. The
facts and details of this sad, sudden and
awful deed are given as closely as they
can be ascertained. Benjamin Charles
Chase was a young man about - years OF
age and with his young wife resided at
Hardwick, VT. They were married about
two wears ago. Last April, they went to
California, where both expected to regain
health, not having been well for some
time. Mrs. Chase took her youngest broth
er, also, who was afflicted with throat
trou Die, and whom she left with an uncle
in the West. Longing TO return East
again, Mr.. Chase and his wife left Liver
more, Cal, the 1st of August on the return
trip Mrs. Chase stopping OF for a few
days at some point on the road TO visit
relatives W hen MIR. Chase reached Ne
braska, he was delighted with the country
and at Kearney he decided to stop short
time, notifying his wife, VINO Joined him
few days later. They botn liked kearu-
ey, and Mr.. Chase had about concluded TO
purchase quite an extensive ranch near
Buda. Nothing was noticed about
him that seemed at all peculiar until 5
O'Clock Monday evening, when be told
his wife to consult some attorney in re-
gard TO certain statements made, that the
people at the hotel intended putting him
into ain insane asylum. Thinking to
humor her husband. Mrs. Chase left him
standing by the bureau in their room and
went TO a lawyers office. she was not alb
sent over 40 minutes, and on returning TO
the room found the door locked. Think
ing that her husband might have gone
away for a little while and left the key
with the Office clerk, she went downstairs,
only TO find that he had not been there.
The clerk accompanied her to the room
and soon discovered that the door was
licked on the inside. Climbing up and
looking over the transom, the clerk saw
the body lying on the floor. From the
surroundings, it was evident that the act
was done while the victim Of self destruc-
tion was lying on the bed, and in the
death struggle, the body rolled from the
bed to the floor. The coroner was at once
notified, and a jury Was impsneled TO
make inquiries as 10 the cause of the sui
cide's act. The finding OF the jury was as
follows: Benjamin c. Chase came to his
death at about O'Clock D. m. Aug. Is,
1894, by means of a wound inflicted upon
himself with a knife in his own hand,
hile laboring under an insane delusion
that be was about TO be incarcersted in
the asylum for the insane Mr.. Chase, in
addition to comfortable means. carried
life insurance policy for 8. 000'' His Wild
ow, accompanied by her sister, arrived on
the express Tuesday afternoon, AND the
funeral took place at the home of his I'M
Gle, c. Z. McCrillis.