Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-03-13
THE CAPTURE OF BENSON.
The Assassin Of Dave MorreII Captured Just
Week After the Escape.

THE CAPTURE OF BENSON.
The Assassin Of Dave MorreIl Captured Jus
a Week After the Escape.
1t was just one week, within q few
hours, after the murder of Jailor Nor.
rell, on Sunday afternoon, the 2Sth
ult., by the desperate Benson, that he
was apprehended and replaced in his
old quarters. The week had been an
exciting ons to the msn-hunters, and
the public who had met on the curb.
stone daily to discuss what they knew
about such matters. Several times
the murderer came very near being
apprehended, once by the guard on
Nesqually bridge, who did not become
sure that he was the man wanted until
he had disappeared in the distance
and once at Goldsby's cabin, where he
was seen by Burn Shotwell, but had
disappeared before aid could be sum.
moned. Benson left the cabin after
Shotwell had come to town. a distance
of about four miles, for the Sheriff
officers.
Saturday evening q courier came in
from the Mallory.Allen mill, about a
mile and half west OF town, stating
that Benson had found refuge against
the severe weather in deserted shack
formerly used by him and the partner
he robbed while engaged in wood-cut.
cutting, and that the cabin had been
surrounded by neighbors. 1t was
about fifteen minutes OF eight when
the Sheriff and couple of deputies
left the rt.house for the hut, and ct
the rate they drove it was not long
afterwards that they arrived on the
scene OF action. Before reaching the
cabin, however, the posse was met by
one of the temporary guards, who said,
that in q parley with Benson he said
he would give himself up to the officers
of the law.
The door was locked, Benson having
effected an entrance through an open
window. A few moments passed
while one of the party went for key
that would fit the lock. When the
door was opened, Benson was told to
come out with raised hands, which he
did. A thorough search showed, how
ever, that he had told the truth about
his being unarmed. Nothing WAS
found on him but a ten-cent piece.
He was then marched to the carriage,
and the Sheriff's posse came to town
with him. The carriage passed rapidly
through the business portion OF town.
followed by crowds OF excited people
evidently anxious to get q glimpse oil
the desperate, but there was not q
semblance of disturbance except when
the party arrived at the Jail, when
there were cries of Hang himY''
Get Q ropep ETC., but it was after.
wards found that they proceeded from
. couple OF drunken men, whose safe
~ valves responded to an over-pres-
sure of Dutch courage"
Benson seems to be a combination
OF opposites. In the cabin, after
surrender, he amused himself playing
on q mouth-organ; in the Jail. after
capture, he gave way to tears, his body
shaking with emotion. At one time
he talks unconcernedly of his death
on the scaffold; at another he Graves
sympathy and seeks the consolation OF
religion. 81
Benson claims that Charles Clarke
awaiting trial for murder OF Leila
Page, and Albert Bradley and John
Green, charged with larceny, were con-
spirators with him for an attack upon
the jsiler, to knock him senseless and
escape. That it fell to him to perform
the principal act, through lot. Az
there are several statements made by
the prisoner which are believed to be
untrue, this story is not generally
credited, although it is in some degree
substantiated by the actions of Brad.
ley after the escape of Benson, and by
one of the boys. Roy McClelland. who
had broke from Jail the evening before
the tragedy, made to the police OF Al
bany, Oregon.
Benson says that after leaving the
Jail where the tragedy was enacted, he
ran up the railroad track and dissp.
peared in the brush. After dark, be
started northward on the railroad
track, and it was he who warmed him.
self at q fire and ate q lunch of crack
ers and cheese at Sherlock, and was
afterwards passed by Guard Golson, al
Nesqually bridge. He proceeded to
Tacoms. His claim that be followed
the railroad track the whole distance
is one of the statements discredited
from the number of men on guard in
this and Pierce counties. He claims
likewise that he went into Tacoms
where he learned that all avenues
were 90 closely guarded that it would
be impossible to escape. So he says
he returned to this city on ." blind
| baggage Car on the Gray's HarboI
train, dropped off at the depot here
crossed the trestle and entered coun'
try where he was we'll acquainted. He
admits his talk with Burn Shotwell, ia
the Goldsby cabin, Friday. Saturday
he spent in the woods, cold and dis
consulate, and towards evening he be.
came desperate and found refuge in
the cabin where captured. 1t was the
sparks from bis fire, issuing from the
chimney, that gave notice of his pres
ence.
Benson is OF German nationality
rs years Of age. His father and
mother now live at Park Ridge. Ill
He has FIVE sisters and two brothers
living. He was four years of age
when his parents came to this coun'
try. He had never been to school,
cannot read and can scarcely scrawl hit
name. About four years ago he left
home and worked in Wisconsin, Mon
tana and Warrington. He denies the
report that he had ever been in Joliet
prison or that he was wanted for ser
GUS crime before he came here, and
there, if il be true, 10 lost the motive
for the crime for which he will now
have to answer.
A. NJ. Kearful, IS years of age, and
| formerly of ST. JOseDh. Mo-. was found