Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-25
PROBING FOUL MURDER
HEARING OF TRIO IN CRIME
NEAR WHEELING. W. VA.
Special Cores pondence OF The Star.

I
WHEELING W. Va. March III, 19oS.
Developments are coming thick and fast
in the case of the muraer of Charles Ben
nett. jr.. of New kensington. Pa. for
which Lila Zane Cook. Charles Cook. her
boy husband. and Joe" White. an asso-
ciate. stand accused The hearing of the
trio on the charge Of first degree killing
took place in the O.iio county Jail this
morning.
II is expected that this trial will bring
forth some light upon the mysterious
death of Ella Zane cousin of the ac
cused girl. whose dead body was found in
the willows near the bank of the river on
Wheeling Island. not ten yards from the
spot where Charles Bennett was robbed
beaten to death and his body cast into the
Ohio river. There were mysterious cir
cumstances connected with this case.
which occurred about three years ago.
that were never unraveled by the authorl-
ties.
The mother of the girl was grief-crazed
over her sad death. and is now i'll the
State Insane Asylum The victim. too.
was direct descendant of EbeneZer
Zane. founder OF Wheeling. and Eliza bet h
Zane. the heroine of Fort Henry in revo-
lutionary times. Ella Zane left her home
one beautiful summer night and never re-
turned \ few days later her body was
recovered. Invested of almost all OF her
clothing.
Whether or not there was foul play done
the girl the victim of some iea ious rival
in a love affair-or whether there was
some other motive for the crime. or
whether the girl in a iii of temporary in
sanity or dependency or grief over some
thing that was hidden in her heart and
which she carried to the grave, committed
suicide may never be known.
To strengthen the insanity plea that will
probab bly, be offered by counsel for the de-
Tense of Lila Zane Cook. these facts may
be brought up. and may lead TO some de-
velopmentS of a sensational nature. The
girl is we'll educated. although her vivacity
and fondness for outdoor life caused her
To leave school while quite young. and in
years she has read but little. Her asso-
Citations for two three years llave not
been the best. and according to the police
she was just finishing up a night of
carousal in Bellaire. Ohio. when she was
arrested. following Cooks confession.
Cell Life Telling on Girl
The confinement of her cell is telling on
the girl. 1t was hoped by counsel for the
defense to secure an early hearing. in the
hope of admission to bail. but with the
strong evidence already given there is
little possibility of that Reports that
she has been deserted by her wealthy
Although they are not permitted to call
upon her in the Jail daily tokens in the
way of flowers. delicacies. etc. are sent
to her through the turnkey. She still has
hope of securing her freedom when ar
aligned at the preliminary hearing. She
says it is cruel plot of her vindictive
young husband to get her into trouble be-
cause he knew that he could not elude
the law much longer. and tried to save his
neck from the gallows rope by his con-
fesSion.
On the other hand. the boy sticks to his
original story and recites the horrible
details without a whimper. His deneanor
has not changed: he shows no sign of
remorse over his deed fear of his fate.
He appears to believe that the worst will
come. but displays wonderful fortitude.
He is constantly singing popular strains
he recently sang on the vaudeville stage.
or whisting softly to himself in the con-
fines of his gloomy cell.
His widowed mother is in dire want.
and owes her very existence to kind
hearted neighbors. His aged grandmother,
who comes from sturdy German stock
once well-to-do. but now reduced to pow
erty. is lying near death in their ram
shackle cottage in the East End An in
valid for several years. the new sorrow
will cause her death. The boy was the
pride of her heart.
Charges It All on Woman.
IN. chef. i was making good money
in the SOUTH he told Chief OF Police VIII
liam Clemans. land was sending every
cent l could rake and scrape to my dear
mother and old grandmother. But the
old desire for the piano music of Wheel
ings saloons and the piteous appeals OF
Lila made me homesick. 1t was Lila
who put me here. With her. she got my
money l forgot the folks over there at
home.
The boy ended this with a sigh, but his
eyes were fearless. He evidently believes
that but for her he could have made a
man of himself but with his life and
career blighted he seems ready to face
anything i'm order to bring his hopes de-
stroyer to justice.
In Wheelings criminal history there has
never been case in which So much in
terest was attached. and the outcome of
the hearing will be awaited with ex-
pectancy by thousands.