Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-06-20

Murderer Cheats the Law.
Philadelphia, June 19.-"Did you
know my mother was dead?" asked a
young man of the captain of schooner
lying in the Delaware at the foot OF Mt
Vernon street, Camden, this morning.
No" replied the skipper, Il didn't
even know you had mother"
We'll, she is, and it worries me
good deal"
The young man had climbed aboard
the boat unannounced, and his strange
actions attracted the attention Of the
schooner's men. After tramping up
and down the deck for few minutes
he climbed to the wharf and gazed at
the water an instant and then deliber-
ately plunged overheard. Plenty Of
help was at hand and efforts were at
once made to rescue the suicide. His
body went down almost Immediately,
however and, though it was recovered
in less than half an hour, life was ex-
tinct. Then came the most remarkable
feature of the odd suicide.
Some one in the crowd which quickly
assembled on the wharf declared the
body was that of Thomas Benbow, OF
No. 2S3 Mechanic street. Word was
sent to the house, and Mrs. Lydia Ben
bow. wife Of the young mans brother
came down. AS soon as she saw the
corpse she burst into tears and de-
clared it to be that of her brother-in-
law. Then Charles Benbow, brother
of Thomas, arrived and was fully as
positive in declaring the body was not
that of his brother Old friends and
acuuaintances of Benbow assembled
Some said the body was that OF Ben
bow. and some said it wasn't, the num-
Der being about equally divided
Other members of the family saw the
body in the afternoon, and were posi-
tive in their assertion that it was moi
that of Thomas. D,sr1--..f TN, sso'-s
clared that he came to Philadelphia to
work as usual this morning. The BODY
was taken to the morgue.
In a. trousers pocket OF the suicide was
found a hastily scrbbled note which
could scarcely be declphered because OF
the action OF the water. Morgue Keeper
Martin ]. O'Brien, with the aid Of a mag
nifying glass however. made out these dis
jointed sentences:
Dear Mothep-I leave you this note to
let you know that L am sorry Tor you
all l have done--fearing that
my blessing Good bye 10 all. Harry
When Thomas Benbow returned home
from work this evening he denied that he
had committed suicide or had any idea OF
doing so. He shuddered a little when told
how greatly the corpse resembled him. The
bodv remains unidentified a. the morgue.
POISON TO ESCAPE PROSECUTION.
PHILADELPHIA. Pa, June l9.-John
Smith. IS years old. of Front and Penr
streets. Camden. swallowed an overdose
of laudanum yesterday at Fourth and
Chestnut streets. lie was sent TO the Coo
per Hospital. where the doctors pumped
out the poison and he was then taken &c
the CITY Hall and locked up. Smith said
he attempted suicide because his wife
threatened to sue him for support.
MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.
MOORESTOWN, y. J., June l9.-Melan'
choly induced by illness and worry Over
the recent death OF a sister affected thu
mind of Miss Sale Borton. a years old
and this afternoon she took her life at her
home on Church street. Miss Borton had
been living in comfortable circumstances
with her sister. Mrs. Busby. and Miss Ger
tie Evans, a companion. Miss Busoy was
attending quarterly meeting at Mount
Laurel After dinner Miss Borton sald
she would go upstairs and take a bath.
She remainsd away that Miss Evans De
came alarmed and on going to the bath
room found the door locked. Miss Bor-
tons bedroom door was also fastened ana
as no response was made TO repeated calls
and knocks. Miss Evans called in neigh
Dor. Gilvert Aitken. With tho AID or
ladder he tried TO get In WINDOW out
they were also fastened. He then burst
omen the door Miss Borton was found
prostrate on the floor. her head raised
several inches by rope which had been
fastened TO the door knob and around her
neck. The rope was Immediately cut but
she was dead. having strangled. Coroner
Stroud viewed the remains and the jury
returned a verdict OF suicide. Miss Borton
belonged 70 an old and well known family
of Friends.
MURDERER CHEATS THE LAW.
PATERSON. y. J.. June l9.-The body OF
William Peters, who yesterday murdered
Lee Schrsifers. was found this morning
hanging in the house at No. IS North
Main street where the murder was COM
mitted. The man had evidently hanged
himself Immediately after assassinatins
his victim. Chief Of Police Graul went 70
the scene of the murder about 10 o'clock
this morning to sec II he could frd any
papers that might lead to the discovery OF
Peters whereabouts.
The man was dressed in a woman's shirt
waist and a pair of trousers. His feet
touched and he had evidently strangled
himself by raising his feet from the floor
FWE