The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-18

The two men slept last night in the
Benignus home. The father of the dead
girl was restless, almost delirious
throughout the night, say the two
men, and the sleep of the other occu-
pants of the house was broken by his
tossing and mutterings. The words:
81 knew you would come backr' were
enunciated distinctly. say the Shearers.
The incident was related to a CORE
spondent of the State Journal by Syl-
vester Shearer who heard 1t.
Mr.. Shearer and his son, Roy, both
of whom have been unremitting in
surrounding the death of pretty Bertha
Benignus Saturday night, spent the
night in the house last night. The
sleep of the girls father was troubled
by bad dreams. Then came the out
cry which so startled the elder Shear
er that he reused his sleeping son and
related it, They held a short con-
sultation and determined upon an ex-
pertinent.
Awakening Charles Benignus Roy
Shearer told him of the receipt of a
telegram-the story being fabrica-
tion.
I'VE have a telegram saying the man
who murdered Beta has been arrested"
said Roy.
Mr.. Benignus reused up" said Mr..
Shearer, land demanded that We let
rlim go to the girls grave. Then, af-
ter a moment, he said he would go and
get the man and dig his eyes out At
ter that we quieted him and he went
TO sleep again, evidently resting more
quietly than before.
What do you make of it, Mr.. Shear
er?" he was asked.
II don't know what to say" he re-
sponded.
Although it has been reiterated that
someone was under suspicion in the
case the officers and other investiga-
tors, among whom the Shearers have
been active, have been reluctant to
say Just who it might be. No arrests
have been made in the case but the
people familiar with the investigation
are very expectant of early develop
ments.
The Coroner's Inquest.
The inquest was resumed at 10
o'clock this morning when a secret
session of the coroner's jury began. 1t
is said this afternoon that nothing
tangible was obtained. As to what
Samuel F. Gipe, two neighbors, has
been kept quiet. 1t is thought to
have been of little consequence.
A report had been started that car
bolic acid was smelled when the room
was entered the morning following the
girls death. H. K Eicholtz, the un-
dertaker, testified that creased paint
was used in covering up burns made
by the chloroform on the girls face
and that this was the odor detected.
A. K. Eicholtz, brother of the under
taker, was called. He testified he had
not smelled carbolic acid.
c. A. Benignus, the father, testified
he did not smell anything in the room.
He occupied the witness stand only a
few minutes.
Coroner J. c. Entz now has in his
possession a cork found on the floor
of the room where the girl died. 1t
was found about eight feet from the
bed and fits into the bottle, which had
nothing in it when found. 1t is thought
by the authorities that this clew NAV
have some bearing on the case thoueb
they now are at a loss to say in what
manner.
A reward of $500 for the cantura nj
the murderer of Bertha Benignus
found dead in her bed here on SUNDAY
was offered today by the Commission
ers of Dickinson county Application
also was made to Governor Stubbs for
state reward, which probably will he
$780,
Augustus Benignus. brother of the
dead girl, has Offered a reward of 500
and 1T is likely that the citizens of Abi-
lene Will raise the total to $1,000 by
subscription.
Mrs. Benignus. the mother, has NOT
yet recovered sufficiently from the col.
lapse which the occurrence bronqht
to talk to the county officers or this
newspaper men. What she NAV tell
If anything. is yet unknown. The dead
girls brother, Gus Benignus, has
started with an offer of 800 reward
for the capture of the murderer anc