The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-29

elegant in every detail. Wide colonial
verandas abOunded on every side; the
caves and windows were adorned with
cornices OF very expensive and clabo.~
ate pattern; iron railings and orna-
mcntations were added TO enhSnce the
general effect and In the center os tn
roof an observatory was constructed,
from which a splendid view of the prai-
rieS could be obtained for miles around.
The house contained 10 rooms and cost
$4,000. An additional $4,000 was eN-
pended for fixtures and furniture, ond
the ilve-acre tract OF ground upon
which il was located. together with the
improvements. brought the actual cost
up TO $4,000 Such was the prairie
home John Benjamin built for Diana.
Those who professed TO know claimed
that BENJAMIN. was now worth $l5O,00O
Until this time il had been all uphill
for Benamin. He had suffered no re
,, verses. Then the tempter came and h.
went in pursuit OF false god.
IL seems that while~he was a Con-
gressman I'm Washington he met n wO-
man OF the name of Minnie Welsh,wth
whom he became infatuated. He lent
his influence to assist her In many ways
and aided her financially. IL is CLAM
cd she was a bold and schemng wO-
man. unscrupulous and OF questionable
character. His relations with her
marked the beginning Of the t/1ubles
that so swiftly led TO his undoing.
His first reverse was his defeat for
Congress by Col. John NJ. Glover. the
Democratic nominee. Soon after he be-
came involved In a church quarrel at
ShelDina, which caused an unpleasant
break i'm his relations with several
members of the Christian Church, TO
which organization he belonged ana his
influence in the church and town BE-
gan to wane from that time.
Another unfortunate affair was that
i'm which James Hanley was involved.
/ Hanley worked about the place for
benjamin. keeping things I'm order and
acting as general utility man. One day
Benjam missed some powder that
had been placed i'm an old army chest in
the stable. He inquired what had be-
come of il. and was told by one OF the
servants. an old colored woman, that
Hanley had taken il. When asked about
ii Hanley denied any knowledge OF it.
and some words followed between him
and his employer. Hanley gave up his
situation, but brooded so over the stig
ma of the accusation OF stealing that he
determined 20 seek redress for his
wrongs by shooting his enemy. He
accordingly laid i'm wait for Benjamin.
and one afternoon. as the latter was en-
route from his bank 10 the post office.
Hanley accosted him. and after some
parleying, drew revolver and shot
him i'm the side. He was removed 10
his home and lay for weeks a great suf-
ferer, lingering between life and death.
He rallied, however, and finally recoV-
cred Hanley took a change OF venue
10 Monroe County and was acquitted.
During the latter part of 1874 Col.
Benjamin returned TO Washington and
engaged I'm the banking business with
a man by the name of Otis Bigelow.
From that time until his death he spent
1. Iii. l. z.s..
while his wife remained alone in her
elegant home at Shelbina.
Minnie Welsh soon tired OF Benjamin
and married "A younger and better-look-
ing man. He then established protec-
toratc over her younger sister,Guy, who
was fairer and also more Capricious.
She was married TO man by the name
Of Allen. but her marriage did not in
the least interfere with the numerous
escapades she INDUCED i'm or prevent
her taking up with Benjamin. She
always called him papa" and he. i'm
turn called her Bonnie" They occu-
pied apartments. which communicated.
on ID street. i'm Washington. He passed
her off as his adopted daughter and
she travelled with him considerably.
Benjamin was not destined To linger
long in the unnatural Eden he had en-
tered. His death occurred suddenly,
March :. 1877.
Immediately following his demise
came the memorable struggle for his
possessions, his relatives on one side
and his daughter and her faction on
the other. He left two Wills, one that
he made while i'm Shelbina in April i'm
1876, and the other purporting to have
been made in Washington March 7.
1877. Just the day before his death. The
first will was witnessed by William A.
Reid, Daniel Taylor and other promi-
nf IL
well for his wife and stipulated that his
daughter" should receive in addition
to his diamonds, silver plate and other
personal effects not so valuable, the
income from the proceeds of the invest
ment of one-half OF his estate
The second will was witnessed by J.
II. Thompson and c. l.. Hagruder. at
tendant physicians; Otis Bigelow, his
partner, and George Truesdale, a real
estate agent whose office was i'm the
same building with Col. Benjamin's
bank in Washington. This will provided
for a few minor bequcsts. and then
gave his wife the fine residence at Shell
bina. together with some bonds and
notes. To his daughter was given all
his real estate i'm the District Of Colum-
hia, his entire interest in the banking
business I'm Washington, as well as all
the debts which were owing To him by
persons i'm the District of Columbia.
IDuS II Will De seen tnat the SeConu VIII
provided much more generously for the
daughter" than did the first one. The
relatives took Immediate steps 10 con-
test and break this second will upon the
grounds that IL had been fraudulently
obtained and made. The claim was ad-
vanccd that the principal beneficiary.
the daughter" had unduly Influenced
the testatur. 1t was further charged
that foul played had been resorted to
and "a general conspiracy induiged In
by the doctors. nurses and others % put
col. Benjamin out OF the way i'm order
to get possession OF the bulk OF his val
uable estate.
Ia the meantime, matters were FUR
| ther complicated by tho death Of Mrs.
benjamin at her home i'm Shelbina, and
| the entrance of her heirs into the con-
| test over the disposition of the property.
She survived her husband less than
| ihrcc months. and hers is the most pa
| thetic feature OF this noted case. She
| was woman OF medium size, very
| homely and possessed OF quiet patient
disposition. She was very frugal and
economical in her habits. having never
8. Ia