The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-15
SENTENCES co,IMUrEn.
William henson VIII Not ne Hanged
Next Friday.


William henson VIII Not ne Hanged
Next Friday.
Austin. Texas. June 1.-THE sentence
Of william II. Henson. who was to hang In
Fort Bend county mex, Friday. was today
commuted TO life Imprisonment by Gov
ernor Culherson.
Richmond, Texas. June ii.--Williafn Ben.
son, the murderer of Canady. was COM
mutcd today. pcnitentiary agent slipped
into town and few minutes before train
time presented the order from the governor
| and left for Huntsville with him, Indigna-
tion Is great, There was not the slightest
necessity fer slipping the prisoner away.
He was not known TO any one here except
those who saw him at the trial. and. Ike
the man he killed. was n stranger In the
county. lie would not have been molasted
In Richmond had he been liberated ana re-
manned In town.
| The crime for which Benson was sem
fenced to hang was the murder of George
| Canody near simonton, Fort Bend county,
| Sunday, May 2. 1897. y
| About two weeks prior TO the killing
| tho house occupied by Canady and his vito
/
| While II was being rebuilt The Canadys
occupied a small house. whieh was also
| occupied by q number OF ini1arriei Lnn,
| Benson being one OF the number. On ac-
count of their crowded condition, Canncy
| frequently found IL necessary to Tie a
room occupied by Benson and others 10
change his clothes. His children also used
tho room at times aud. as all children VIII
do. misplaced articles and fingered the CT
focts OF the mon. which caused tho latter
TO lock the door Canady found that U,is
frequently prevented him from obtaining
articles that belonged to him, uni ono day
he forced the door oren IN order to get
some clothes This caused some little ,sik
and hard feeling. but not sufficient to ere
ate even a susSIcion OF n difficulty and little
attention was paid 10 IL.
. The day before the murder the new house
for Capady was completed and he intonied
TO move in II on Monday. Some one stated
. In a crowd that his (Canady's) new no, sc
4 was ready for him. Canady replied III q
good naiured way that he was glad OF IL.
aud that the yahoos can now have tho
| whole of tho old housc to roll around IN =
, Some one ut once Impaired this to the
other men, among them Benson, who at
: once prepared TO resent what he considered
IA deadly insult. IIu secured sixsbootef,
. had Il cleaned and oiled. and set ou- u
find Canady
Iio met him Sunday afternoon nftnt 9
O'Clock coming down the ROAD III Wakou'
accompanied, by his little boy, al iniDut.
& Stopping him. and not needing the friendly
a e1lutation OF Canady. he lennndci re-
Y traction OF the cpthet Canaly, who vas
j large good -natured fellow, seemed
8 aroused ut the demand but ut once Gpol-
ogizcd. :.
Benson then demanded that no take Il
back and eat IL.
: Canady refused to do this, saying he ola
J. not know how he could do that, ana treat
: cd lightly Bensons threat to shoot him
: with contempt, whereupon the latter
stepped back and began firing.
r or the five shots discharged, tive took
!, effeI., in Canady's body, producing mortal
I wounds from which he died the next MORN
: ing.
Q Benson was born about twenly-e'.hi
: wears ago and came to Smonton fsoIu
II Grimes county about December ono year
: prior 10 killing. He has mother end
n sister at his old home who have worhed
h faithfully for a eommutation. but to NO
u avail petition was sent In from y
4 home county and nm effort made 10 &c!
y up a similar appeal from this tonn'y, WI
u Il was unsuccessful.
0 George canady, the murdered man. '''ne
To this county from Missouri several yea,
ago He was an excellent citisel, 80. q,
y natured and Jolly aud clustering In TN
u manner, and strongly manifested thc iebls-
: ity OF his character, During his iast mo
!, msn,s no excused his slayer. ana said'
: "'rhe poor fellow, guess. didn KNOW
u what apologlzing meant" His wire ana
i; Ave children we're left helpless and I'M
- provided for.
8