The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-11
WESTERNER SEEKS
FA|THLESS WIFE
She Spent Some Time in Rich
mond Posing as Wife OF
Auto Agent.
CRIES FOR VENGEANCE.
THE MYSTERIOUS Mr.. kETcHAM
SAYS HE WILL GET 1T TOO
-"BENFIELD" is DR.. BLACK,
MAN CLAIMS.

From far away Los Angeles. Cal,
today came H. l.. Ketcham. in search
of a man woman and child, who have
made their residence in this city for
the past few months and passed as
The man from the far west says the
woman is his lawfuI wife, and the
child his daughter, and that the two
left their home in California in COM
pany with Benfield, who is passing un-
der an assumed name. Ketcham
stated that he too. is using a nom de
plume and at his home is known as
DR.. Black, a respected citizen. But
Ketcham came too late. Only last
Thursday Benfield, woman and child
left this city, it is claimed. and have
not returned to their rooming house.
Benfield claimed he was going to Day
ton to secure an automobile and the
woman and child were to go to Green's
burg for a visit. Benfield has been
acting as agent for the Ford automo-
bile company while int his city and
has become known to large number
Of people.
Ketcham, or DIR. Black, tells a
story of untrue love and during the
short time he was in the city today
made threats against Benfield. He
seems to be seeking vengeance as we'll
as his wife and daughter. He says he
intends to secure all three.
Makes Quiet Search.
After his arrival in the city this
morning, Ketcham took up the search
He described the man he is looking
for and stated his prese mt occupation
as that of an automobile agent. 1t
was but short time until he was di
rected to a North Ninth street lodg
Ing and boarding house. Ketcham in
quired at neighborhood houses to find
If there was a couple in the vicinity
and his suspicious were verified. He
told a number of times. the woman
and girl are his wife and daughter
and that he had come all the way
from Los Angeles in search of them
Gaining hope and courage by the re
peated substantiation of rumors, he
| went to the place at which the Ben
fields have been residing and asked
for them. He was told they had left
and not returned. Without giving any
explanations and telling only of the
wrong that had been done him, he
stated he would continue the search
| and left, presumably for Dayton.
The alleged Mr.. and Mrs. Benfield
have been somewhat prominent since
coming to this city because Of the ap
parent attachment they have shown
for each other. When the man was
about the city in a machine the WON
an usually was to be seen with him
They were accustomed to take early
| morning trips and the woman ap
peared to be a constant reader Of the
| newspapers. She often carried one
with her when in the machine an6
read as she sped along. The CIR
| spent most of her time seated on the
veranda at the lodging house. She
seemed to make acquaintances slowly
and was seen upon the streets with
her mother and her paramour but sci
dom. The child is affable and quite
pretty.
Benfield appeared thoroughly &C
quainted with automobiles and was ar
expert mechanic. The Ford runabouts
he used always were a bright red col
or. He was a good salesman and sew
eral local persons purchased machines
from him.