The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-21
Sc, HIGHLY POPULAR SUICIDE"


T., sundays paper we printed an Asso-
c,ated Press dispatch from Chicago III
,,,,cb a. was stated that Fritz Benfiel'
nan,sb laborer. shot and killed himSel
,r,mediately after firing two bullets into
a woman and fatally wounding her Two
.vear-old son. whom she was holding IN
her arms.
BenfeI is described as being Of an ugly
disnosition. and on Friday night ne
threatened 20 Kill his wife and FIVE chill
dren. Mrs. Benefel caused his arrest ana
he accused Mrs. Youngblood' a neighpor
of being party to it. When she oenieu
he drew a revolver and opened hre upon
her with the result above stated.
But the most startling part of the story
is that Benhers death, instead OF oeins
q grief TO his family, was an 'unquah-
fed low" and we are told that within an
bour after the shooting Mrs. Benhel was
holding an impromptu reception and ac-
knowledging the congratulations o. lne
neigbbors. who called in dozens. one or
the daughters is reported to have remark
Cd that she was glad Of it, and that her
father should have killed himself long
aoo. She and one Of her sisters an
nounced their intention of giving a the
atre party TO celebrate their father
death. and their mother went them one
better by saying that she would not even
bury him.
such shocking stories as this arc not
often recorded even in the criminal an
nails of Chicago, yet the Washington Post
renroduces the news items ia full in its
editorial columns. and offers its congratu-
lations to Mrs. Bonfel and her daughters
not only for their happy radiance but for
the commendable show Of honesty which
they made in rejoicing over the death by
his own hand of the head Of the family.
The Post declares that this IS "a breeze
Of honesty so strong and wholesome as
TO be positively refreshing The Post
thinks that IL Mrs. Benhel had belonged
to a higher station in society she would
have been compelled TO conform TO the
proprietios and TO indulge in the usual
eush." but adds that as she did not have
to appease any great social law-giyers
or TO conform 10 any set OF rules she
was permitted 10 indulge herself IN the
pleasure Of expressing her sincere and
fervent sentiments. And 80 the Post COM
mends her and not only the mother, but
the daughters who gave a theatre party
in eloe over their fathers taking of.
We are never surprised at anything that
we see in the editorial columns Of the
Post but We are none the less horrihed
AZ this latest freak Of cur Washington
contemporary. The idea that a journal
OF national reputation, printed at the cap
ital Of this great nation should publicly
express It's approval OF mother and her
daughters who hold high carnival over the
death OF the husband and father is some
thing new even In the annals Of freak
Journalism. II the Post was after making
a record it has succeeded, for we cannot
but believe that its action In this matter
is unprecedented.
| We protest not only against the Posts
irrev erence, but against its unrighteous
| fling at what 1t terms "high society," 1t
may be indeed that the 'Jrappings OF
woe" are sometimes out Of keeping with
the honest sentiments Of the chief mourn
| ers at a funeral, but that any weil-breG
woman should even feel inclined to re-
joice in pu5lic over the death Of husband
| or father, no matter how mean he may
have been, is simply inoonceiyaole, and
the suggestion OF such thing IS libel
| on American womanhood.