Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-08-16
BENIGUS MURDER
BATTLES POLICE
Coroner's Jury Adiourns Without
Gaining Any Information
on Girls Death
DISPOSE OF SUICIDE THEORY
Find Mysterious Note: 4 Have
Murdered Her; Bring Jew
eIry Two Blocks
DISPOSE OF SUICIDE THEORY
ASSOCIATED Press)

ABILENE, Kas., Aug. 15.-After an
hours session in which no information
was gained, the coroner's jury which
was investigating the death of Miss
Bertha Benigus this evening adjourned
for a week.
The police still hold to the theory
that two persons entered the girls
room, overpowered and chloroformed
her, while DIR. Steel Smith declared it
was his opinion the girl had been muir
dered.
The sheriff told Of finding traces of
what he believes indicated the presence
of burglars.
1t is thought Miss Benigus was either
the victim of house breakers or of some
reYengeful suitors Earl Livingston of
Topeka, who was to have married the
girl today, arrived to attend the
funeral, which will be held tomorrow.
The police today found other evil
dence which make it certain the girl
was killed by some one who entered her
bedroom. Ladder prints beside the
porch, paint rubbed off the side Of the
house, a hole cut in the screen of her
bedroom window were discovered. At
this point all trace is lost, and not even
tangible suspicion is held.
Miss Benigus, who was born here,
had for several months been employed
in the local telephone office. Satur-
udy evening she was uONn lONll Will
some young friends and left them about
10 o'clock, asking one girl friend to
pass the night with her
Miss Benigus was planning surprise
on some of her friends, and was to
have left today to meet Earl Living
ston, a former schoolmate and long
time sweetheart, and be married.
SWEETHEART ARRIVES
Livingston had been employed in
Topeka He was sent for Immediately
after the young womans death was
discovered, and arrived yesterday.
A suicide theory was disposed of by
a search of the room. Miss Benigus
was covered carefully with bedding,
and around one wrist was tied silk
handkerchief which appeared to have
been used to bind both hands. Other
than this there was no indication of a
struggle. Miss Benigus' body was so
carefully covered that when her father
first went to the room he thought the
bed had been made and she had left
the house. Returning to search further,
he found her beneath the covering All
the family was in the house all night,
yet none heard any noise. Mrs BENZ
gus slept in a room adjoining that oc
cupied by her daughter. The most
mysterious part Of the affair is note
scrubbed in German on a billhead and
found in the yard. This note bears evil
dence of having been written under
strain of great excitement. 1t was
placed in the yard Saturday evening
just below Miss Benigus' window, and
reads:
IT have murdered her; bring jewelry
two blocks"
To the west of the Benigus home
there are several vacant lots, the trees
on which afford a safe hiding place.
The note is in the sheriffs hands and
will be submitted to the coroner
Attempted robbery or the work of
some jealous rival for Miss Benigus'
hand are the theories on which the
authorities are working. Robbery com
mitted by two persons is considered the
most reasonable theory.