The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-08-22

stopped manner. His clothing was
OF adark color, whether or not they
were black | cannot say, and his face
was we'll shielded by a dark colored
slouch hat.
That night believed the man was
there for robbery and that he became
frightened at the last moment But
gradually the belief has grown on
me that this man in the shadow was
the one who killed Beta Benignus, or
at least knows something of the kill
ing, and for that reason l told the
authorities Of it,
Not the Actual Murderer.
With the story of Reuben Fair has
come the birth of a new theory in the
murder mystery. That theory is that
this man in the shadow was not the
actual murderer, but confederate.
"If the man in the shadow had any
thing to do with this murder it was
in this way" Sheriff Young said this
morning. "He was the lookout. The
other man was safely hid in Betta's
room upstairs, waiting for the time
when she should come up to bed. If
they used ladder the confederate
/ is the one who carried it away after
the other man had reached the top of
the porch and gained entrance to the
room. The family was at supper
downstairs laughing. chatting and
Joking. A few slight noises would
have been drowned by the sound OF
the family's voices. The entrance
was made and the ladder carried
! away. Then waiting game began.
THE curtains of Betta's room were
not on rollers. They are down all the
time. except when pinned to the side.
The intruder, if this theory is correct,
knew this and, as he had lookout
outside, the fact of lighted lamp did
not worry him in his work. If this
! theory is correct the intruder waited
until Beta was ready to retire and
/ then attacked her. Death was the re-
suit. Then the note was written, or
/ perhaps it may have been written be-
fore as a blind"
While the inquest is in progress a
remarkable thing has happened in the
little country town of five thousand
| people. A popular subscription to
make up special reward for the de-
lection and apprehension Of Betta's
murderer has been started by an Abil-
enc banker and all Abilene is respond
ing eagerly. Anyone may give to the
fund and as small an amount as
| twenty-five cents is welcomed. In
truth. no large sums are being So
licited. The idea of the banker who
proposed the fund is that great
many donors is more to be desired for
the moral effect of the thing than a
great many dollars from a few per-
sons. To a reporter he said this
morning:
The Duty of the Community.
"If BETA Benignus was murdered
as there no longer appears any rea-
son to doubt, this was the most
. shocking crime in the history of Dick
inson county. That such crime could
| be committed in small town like this
and the murderer go undetected and
uneahght is almost beyond belief
Aside from the natural desire tina,
| Justice be done, the people Of Abilene
feel that the burden rests upon the
community of solving the mystery, OF
at least of leaving nothing undone
toward solving it.
Il am satisfied that the proposal OF
community reward toward which
every man may contribute any amoun,
he or she can give, will meet with a
] QUICK dIlu ucdltS IeSpoHoC iioiA oi
the people. ] will start the fund with
S. and propose that any sum as small
even as twenty-five cents be accept
ed"
A Reward of $1,000.
The county commissioners of Dick
inson county met in Abilene today
and offered in behalf of the county a
reward of $500 for the arrest and con-
viction or information resulting in
the arrest and conviction of the per-
son or persons responsible for Beta
Benignus's death. 1t is likely the city
of Abilene will offer a reward of 500
Gus Benignus, the murdered girls
brother, already has offered reward
of $1OO.
The county authorities have been
trying for several hours to get into
communication with Governor Stubs
at Topeka, but wires have been down
as the result of the storm. The state
! is to be asked to offer a reward of not
less than $500. Thus it is expected
that by tomorrow there will be total
of $1,000 in rewards awaiting the
person who brings to justice the per-
petrator of the crime.
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