Rock Island Argus., 1902-10-08
is A SUICIDE
Slashes His Throat With a Razor
When About to Be Ar
rested.
BROUGHT HEREIN DYING CONDITION
End Comes After Reaching st. An
thongs HOspital-Proba-
bly, Insane.

Benjamin Porter will not be obliged
to stand trial on the charge of as
sault with intent TO commit murder
preferred by his wife, for he died last
night at st. Anthony's hospital from
the effects of wounds inflicted by
razor i'm his own hands at Wheatland,
Iowa, yesterday afternoon when he
and brought here.
Porter, as is known generally, was
proprietor of a restaurant on SeconC
avenue north of Spencer square. Dur
ing last Friday night, after his re
lease from Jail. having been locked up
at the instigation of his wife, he
quarreled with the latter. the result
being that he attacked her with =
razor. infiicting several gashes in her
neck, and then disappeared. 1t was
first thought he had suicided by
throwing himself i'm the river. but
Monday afternoon of this week he
was located at Wheatland, Iowa. His
wife, learning of his whereabouts.
swore out warrant in Police Magis-
trate Johnson's court, charging him
with assault with intent to commi
murder.
Ohicer Goes for Him.
The warrant was given Constable
Peter j. Heverling to serve and that
officer left on the afternoon Milwau-
llee train yesterday for Wheatland.
On reaching the Iowa town, however,
the constable was surprised 10 find
that the suspect held at the lookup
was not the Rock Islander. Luckily,
the officer ran across +. w. Goulder.
foreman of the Lewis Roofing com
pany. which was doing work in the
village, who informed him that Por-
ter was in his employ and could be
found at the City hotel.
Porter was in his room. but when
he was commanded by the constable
to dress and accompany him. he be
came enraged and there was n fierce
struggle. the landlord coming to the
Rock Island officers rescue. Porter.
when all three were about exhausted.
partially promised he would not
make any further resistance, and
while released suddenly drew n razor
and began hacking his throat, falling
to the floor with the blood gushing
from ugly wounds. Medical assist
ance was summoned and the flow of
blood stopped. but not before Porter
had been greatly weakened.
Dies at Midnight.
In a short time il was considered
safe to remove Porter. He was car
ried to the depot and the Rock Island
authorities telephoned for To have
the ambulance at the train when il
arrived at Davenport. This request
was complied with, and Porter givel
every attention after reaching the
hospital, but the shock had proved
too great. and he breathed his last at
midnight.
This morning Coroner L. V. Eek
hart held an inquest at KnoX's under
taking room, after impaneling the
following jury: II. NJ. McCaskrin
foreman; W. II. Hubbard. f. w. God
frey. Gus Klotz, Dennis McCarty and
w. S. Nichols. Mrs. Porter, wife of
the dead man, testified. as did Con-
stable Heverling. The jury, after
hearing the evidence. returned yer.
dict that Benjamin f. Porter came
to his death from injuries inflicted by
his own hands while violently insane"
Mr.. Porter was born in England
and was 50 years of age. He was
married to Mrs. Porter in 1871 at Vim
ton, Iowa. Porter had a sister at
Maquoketa, Iowa, and it is believed
that he was on his way to that place
when apprehended.