The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-16
EVIDENCE SHOWS
GIRL MURDERED
Tragic and Sudden Death of
Girl at Abilene, Kansas,
Still Mystery.

ABILENE, Kan, Aug. 15,-After an
hour S session in which no information
was gained, the coroner's jury that was
investigating the death Of Miss Ber-
tha Benigus this evening adjourned for
a week.
The police still hold to the theory
that two persons entered the girl 8
room, overpowered and chloroformed
her The sheriff told of finding traces
of what he believes indicated the pres
ence of burglars.
It is thought that Miss Benigus was
either the victim Of housebreakers or
Of some revengeful suitor, Earl Liv-
ingston Of Topeka, who was to have
married the girl today, arrived to at
tend the funeral which will be held to-
morrow
Ladder prints beside the porch, paint
rubbed of the side Of the house. a hole
cut in the screen of her bedroom window
is lost and not even tangible suspicion
is held
Miss Benigus was one of the town IS
most popular young women Her father
has meat market. and she was born
here. She had for several months been
employed in the local telephone Office.
Saturday evening she was down town
with some young friends and left them
about 10 clock, asking one glrl friend
TO spend the night with her.
Miss Benigus was planning surprise
on some of her friends, and was to have
left toda'- to meet Carl Livingstone, a
former schoolmate and longtime sweet
heart, and be married, Livingstone has
been employed as cashier IN Harvey s
of a vyoa
for Immediately after the young won,
ans death was discovered He arrived
Yesterday afternoon.
A suicide theory was disposed OF by
search of the room, Miss Benigus
was covered carefully with bedding and
around one wrist was tied silk hand
kerchief which appeared to have been
used to bind both hands Other than
this there was no indication of a strug.:
gle, An empty chloroform bottle stood
on a dresser five feet from the bed.
This, the physicians say, was too far
away for her TO have used the poison
and then have reached the bed.
Body Well Concealed
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 DencdUn lnc covering
All the family was in the house all
night, yet none heard any noise. Mrs.
Benigus slept in room adjoining that
occupied by her daughter.
Miss Benigus was known to have had
hundred dollar diamond ring gwen
her by Livingstone. This ring was IN
another part of the house. Two weeks
ago the house was entered and the
young woman S necklace stolen, but 1T
was found hundred feet from the
house in the grass. The robber had
been frightened away from the Benz
gus dwelling.
Note Is Puzzler.
The most mysterious part of the af"
fair is a note scribbed in German on
billhead and found In the yard, This
written under strain of great excite"
ment. 1t was placed in the yard on
evening Just below Miss Ben
igus' window and reads: "I have MUIR
dered 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 sheriff s hands and
will be submitted to the coroner, who
ternoon upon his arrival from Topeka,
where he has been on visit.
Attempted robbery or the work of
some jealous rival for Miss Benigus
hand are the theories on which the au-
thorities are working. Robbery com
mitted by two persons is considered the
most reasonable theory.
Miss Benigus was popular with the
young folks of town and had many
friends. Her engagement, though of
short duration, has been we'll known,
The funeral will be held from the
Grace Reformed church Tuesday after,
noon.