Woodruff County news., 1909-03-04

swamp. It is a deso- ~lzz1z1Asuaa~ late lonely spot, which fallen logs and tangled thickets com bine to render weIl-nigh impossible to the feet of the curious explorer, and at one edge there lies a pool of black, sullen water yclept Pine pond.
 Far in the depths of this foul morass on the morning of February 21, 1890, two brothers, Joseph and George Eld- ridge, while out chopping wood, stum- bled over the lifeless body of a young man. half buried in the weeds and brush. In the back of the head was round, black hole indicating where bullet had ploughed it's fatal way. and near the nape of the neck was a similar wound Even to an unexpe- rienced eye it was evident that the victim had been shot down from be- hind. perhaps without obtaining a glimpse of his cowardly assassin The body was that of a smoothly shaven youth of refined appearance. The clothing was of excellent quality, English in style and cut, with a check capped macintosh, and underwear also of British make. There was no clue to his identity The name of his tai Tor and the label on his clothes had been cut away and the label on his brown derby hat removed.
 Detective John Wilson Murray of Toronto was ordered to take the case in hand and he went to view the big Blenheim swamp where the body had been found. He gazed upon the tell-tale crimson splotch where the head of the murdered man had lain. then surveyed the surrounding ground and came across a grim trail of ac- cusing red. He followed it back a few paces and found that it ended in one great blot of gore. beyond which there was no further trace of blood. It was evident that there the shot had been fired that felled the victim His mur- derer had borne the lifeless body to the denser place to hide it. On his hands and knees Murray crawled around the scene of the crime, going oyer the ground inch by inch Three times he crossed and recrossed the fatal trail hoping that he might dis cover a bit of label. a button. a scrap of paper-anythiug that might lend a clue to the history of the mur- dered man. At last his eXertions were rewarded by the finding of a ci- gar holder with an amber mouthpiece, marked F. w. B, and that was all of the grim secret yielded by the dismal swamp.
 Five days had elapsed since the finding of the body. but though pie lures of the victim were published in all the leading Canadian papers and copies sent to England, no identifica- tion was made The body was buried at Princeton, few miles from Blen- helm. On the sixth day a man and woman arrived at Princeton and asked to see the body, saying that they had seen the picture printed in the pa pers and fancied they recognized the features. They had crossed from England recently, and on the same ship was a young man who resembled strongly the picture of the deceased The body was dug up on March 1, the lady and gentleman viewed it, and identified it as the remains of their fellow passenger.
 We think his name was Benwell." ." they said He was merely a casual acquaintance aboard ship and we knew nothing of him"
 They returned to Paris, town about ten miles from Princeton. and Murray, returning from visit to the swamp, went directly to the hotel where they were staying.
 T am John Wilson Murray of the department of criminal investigation" said the detective, introducing him self. You are the gentleman who has been viewing the body found in the swamp
 Yes" said he, my wife and I were out at the grave and saw the body
 You were acquainted with the young man?" queried the detective.
 Very slightly was the response q just met him aboard ship.
 What was his name?" inquired Murray.
 "I think it was Fred Bentwell or Benswell or Benswell," replied the gen tleman We were fellow passengers on the Britannic Of the White Star line. He was on his way to London, Ontario l last saw him at Niagara Falls He had a good deal of lug gage and left some of it.
 ''Will you be able to point out his baggage?' asked Murray.
 Why yes responded the gentle man T am going to the Falls today. We only came here because we saw the picture in the paper.
 Let me have your name, please, so ,hat I can find you at the Falls re- 1uested Murray.