davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-08-25

The clues, such as they are lead in
three directions. Out Of all the
guesses and theories no others have
been evolved that are worth consid-
ering One was that a rejected suit
or or one who was Jealous Of beri
coming happiness went with anSacs'
complice and broke into the room,
chloroformed her and either unin-
tentionally or wilfully took her life,
that he threw the note out the WIN
dow to his confederate, that he used
the knife and nail to open the screen
whcih showed signs of thus being
forced open. Another is that 1t was
suicide with the note as a blind 70
make 1t appear murder, or uninten-
tional death through use Of drugs
and that the note was a frameup TO
lead the public mind away from the
facts, placed there by someone so de-
string the story to be read. One 10 a
lover trying to recover a ring that
she once had but It is missing. Then
some think gypsies in the town that
night were responsible. Others that
pervert killed her out of wanton-
ness. The three last have been abb
andoned because of no diflnite in
formation that locates evidence ard
becouse no evidence of robbery or
ransacking Of the room were found.
The difficulty OF any person enter
| ing the room with eight persons in
the small house and causing a dis
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-08-25

The town has to-day been recover
ing from the strain Of the mystery
surrounding the death Of Bertha
Benigus. It is no nearer a solution
Of the mystery than It was in the be-
ginning. Every clue has proved oil
little worth SO far as getting at the
real story. Many new theories
have been presented but not one has
worked out. Yet there are some Of
them that seem plausible and most OF
The matters connected with the case
can be explained thereby. That does
not, however, prove anything ana
there Is no warrant or probability
Of any warrant being issued on sueh
evidence as It at hand.
At 4 o'clock this afternoon notn-
ing had been heard from Governor
stubbs concerning a reward By the
state.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-08-25

q handkerchief as gypsies wear and
none like II has been found In 'own'
The reference in the note to pom
iest' of which they had large NUM-
ber is also gypsy like. So, too, the
reference to meet me couple
blocks n of here" which would indl-
cate unfamiIiarity with the towns
prominent points. But the gypsies
left town and where they have gone
no one knows, If they were
the guilty ones they will never be
caught. That there was no ransack-
ing of the room is also against y,
but they may have been frightened
away finding that they had killed the
girl. Her expensive diamond ring
was motive enough for the attempt
at robbery.
y y
G. A. Benignus, father OF Beta
genrally sleeps out on one of the
porches at night during the not
weather until about o'clock in the
morning. He feels grieved that he
did not the night of the murder. he
said: Il had my hand on the knob OF
the front door ready to go out on the
front porch to sleep but changed my
mind and went or upstairs and slept
with my son, Albert, in the room. ad-
Joining Betta's. wish now that l had
slept on the front porch for ] Pc
lieye If / had the murder never would
have happened. That man wouia
never have gotten in my daughter
room had / been out on the front
rorch and IL l had of gotten him !
would have dug his eyes out and ad-
ministered some severe blows. l. don't
care if a man is as big as mountain
and comes to my house I'll tackle
him. / have always scolded my
daughters for being afraid to go out
alone after dark, but now since this
murder they shan't go out without
company. My daughter, Marie has
also complained Of having men follow
her home from town at night, but
has never been afraid, but now she
is afraid to go out after dark alone
If ever catch any man following my
daughters I'll not treat them very
gentle"
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-08-25

Reuben Fair gave testimony lsts
Yesterday afternoon before the cor
oner,s jury in which he told Of hay-
ine passed the house at midnight
-1elns ce.1a.n suspicious thlnsi- hs
said: II was going ONE SATURDAY
pIrbt Al uidnigbt. passing the Benz
~ home on the way. sav
li,np buTni.F n ths roqn oss1p.''
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-08-25
probability that it was written as o
blind and not for a real warning.

pnnu ana not IOr Teal WtInihS'
That she was first strangled, then
hands tied, and poison poured down
her throat is the most reasonable ex-
planation. But the murderer took
away with him every indication that
told of the presence of a poison ex-
cept what was contained in the body
itself. He left no clue except the
note outside, evidently a blind, and
Ahe articles on the roof.
y -
The truth Is that four days after
the discovery of the tragedy, with a
dozen newspapermen, the officers
and half the town offering sugges-
tions it is no nearer being solved
than it was Sunday morning. The
clues have proved useless, no trace
Of the writer of the note has been
found, the possessor of the other end
Of the knife whose blade was on the
roof Is unknown, the red bandanna
handkerchtef's source is a mystery.
Letters have revealed nothing,
searches Of the house have proved
nothing. There is a feeling that
there should have been an inquest,
but it is too late to accomplish much
now, though the undertaken thinks
the stomach might not be affected by
the embalming fluid.
There was no odor of chloroform
in the room when the undertaken en-
tered and there is a suspicion that
some other poison may have been
used. The undertaken, Herbert
Eicholtz, today explained the stories
Of finger nail prints on the face,
which were reported to indicate the
grasp of a heavy hand. When !
prepared the body there were slight
blisters or pimples on the face. These
we're slightly opened in the opera
tion and when her face was powder
ed they looked like three or 1our
nail marks. There were no bruises
on her face"
A.
The Kansas City newspaper men
lare raking the town with a fine
lh6othed comb to get stories Of th'
murder. The Star prints five col
umns a day with pictures OF every
thing that can be photographed
Some of the managing editors nave
their own ideas of what the reporters
should do. One telegraphed his spe'
eial man here yesterday a dozer
times giving him pointers on how tc
conduct the search. One telegram
read: Find out If the murderer
came from the outside. If he didn'
come from the outside and it wa
murder he must have been on the IN
side" In this rather logical argu
ment, is only one flaw-he migh
have been in the wall. Every towT
in Kansas is interested in the cas'
and people all over the state are in
terested in it.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-08-25

The intense interest in the case
seems to have reached all over tue
country. The Kansas City Post
saws it received this note yesterday
"I can stand it no longer ! must
tell 1t all. l killed Betty Benignus
Ny God, how l have suffered since.
1t was my jealous love. My God,
nust give myself up and Will II
won't get capital punishment, ] an IN
Kansas. city now hiding" VI
The Reflector this morning r4telv'
cd this note dated August II Te
whom this may concern; ] am med
ium, | can tell who killed Bette
Benignus if you wish to hear from
me | will be found at 1908 Eas
Eleventh street upstairs, Mrs. Edn'
zouse, Kansas City, Mo"
County Attorney Rugh Is receiV
ing freak letters. One written II
green ink and mailed at Argentine
SAYS: Don't worry about Bertha
death. 1t was who did It and m!
reason was to keep her from marry
ing my sweetheart. You Will neVe'
catch me, SO just give up. am sor
ry for the folks, but she is bette
off-The other Woman"
He also received a letter from 70
neka from one who claims, 'fors
site" which advises him to find ou
what happened on the seat in th'
front yard at 8 o'clock in the morn
ing. When she was there crying
what she said and what was said U
her in return.
A Kansas City Sherlock Holme
sends a long detective story theor'
which locates the affair as beinI
done by another woman who wa
Jealous of the girls approaching
happiness.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-08-25

Gus Benignus, brother of Beta,
who has offered reward of 800 for
the arrest and conviction Of the MUIR
derer said: "I think, in fact ! know,
that there were two parties con-
nected with this murder. Just be-
fore the robbery Beta complained to
the family of man following her
home at nights. She said he wore a
black slouch hat, dark suit and was
rather heavy set. He would meet
her on every other corner and some
tines every corner Tfis leads me to
believe that there were two mer fol
lowing her for ! do not believe any
man can get around a block in the
time nv sister could walk one ~ the
short blocks they have In Abil're
There must have been two fellows
dressed alike. They never showed
I'D after the robbery so that makes
me think they are the guilty parties.
~ y
Why were there only three foot
prints on the front roof, each point
ing toward the house? Gus Benignus
who examined the rotf early in tb'
morning says there we're on the rooi
three we'll defined footprints. The
ground was muddy and the marks
were plain. They led from the edge
of the narrow porch where the lad
There was none returning and there
der probably stood to the window
were no footprints either in the hall
or bedroom. The lamp left burning
is the one that usually burned in the
hall and shone into the bedroom.
The girls liked to have a light there
and the fact that It was burning
would have attracted no especial at
tention.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-08-25

by the slain girl. thought 1t strange
as the curtains we're all down and
were flapping in the wind. A man
lodged out from behind a tree In
the yard, ran on and then hid again;
took my weeks wages from my
pocket and put 1t In my hat, then
went on. He lodged ahead Of me 10
the first corner, turned and ran up
the street."
Not much value is given this by
the officers. 1t merely accounts for
a stranger on the street, who may
have been a Jack-the-Peeper The
family probably had not retired and
there is no probability that anything
Of value attaches to seeing a stranger
in the vicinity. The family had not
retired at this hour.
y y
The gypsies have been traced to
Elbic and they seem to be heading
for the state line as fast as possible.
Their horses are all tired out, which
seems to substantiate that statement
From Abilene the gypsies went to
Hope, Marion, thence to Peabody
then to Elblc and on to Whitewater,
the latest trace of them that has
been reported. At Marion the gyp-
sizes tried to hold up an automobile
but did not succeed, They arrived
at whitewater yesterday at A o'clock
An officer may be sent to~look over
the gang.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-08-25

T. Srsr.s o. Bona. sOu are invited obtain fan ~
'''r'a'
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-08-25

1t is reported that a Topeka de-
tective has been working on 's7
case since Sunday, but since there
have not been any arrests there Is
no authority to substantiate the
statement. Reports also have been
sent abroad that there are four de
tectives here. There are several
strangers in Abilene that have the ap-
pearance Of detectives but the off,
GERS declare that no such men in
habit Abilene at the present time.
Earl Livignston, Betta's fiance,
has returned from salina where he
has been visiting his mother and
will remain at Abilene until the
mystery is cleared. Although broken
down with grief, he has offered his
assistance to the officers in their en-
deavor to trace down the murderer.
He is staying at the home Of Roy
shearer, brother-in,l law Oh the ueau
girl.
Mrs. c. A. Benignus is still unable
to talk. she is very nervous and
lgrIef stricken and breaks down At
every attempt to talk Of Beta. 1t is
thought BY the physicians that she
will be able to give her opinion Non
day
It is thought by some that an un-
fortunate mistake in Judgment was
made in the decision to perform no
autopsy on ther body Of BETA
Benignus. As a result Of this err
ror the s1humation Of the body may
lbe ordered By j. c. Enil, coroner.
within a day or two he discussed
ltbs sdvlsabiIIty Of this step with g
.lr, Rueh county atiornsy, Who from
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-08-25

A new theory was started today
that a large band Of gypsies that
spent that night in tie west part OF
town may have been responsible. The
red handkerchief in the bed, part
tied to her hands, is part OF the
foundation for the idea. 1t was such
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-07-06
BUILDING BILL A MOCKERY
The Erection of Structures Is An.
thorized, But No Money Was
Provided by Congress.

WASHINGTON, d. C.-Discoverv
was made that the public buildings
bill, carrying about $2O,OO0,O0O as it
passed the senate and house, does
not carry an actual appropriation of
moneys, but merely authorized the
purchase of sites and the erection of
buildings. And thereby hangs a tale.
The bill originated in the house,
and it was stated it was generally I'M
derstood there was to be no immedi-
ate appropriation of money, although
number of members worked ar
IDENTIFY for the bill in the belief that
their districts were to receive some
immediate benefit.
In the senate, however, many of
the senators busted themselves in
unusual effort for their states, be-
lieving that the bill provided for the
early erection of public buildings.
1t was explained by a statement
from the house committee on appro-
priations that the experimenting ar
chitect of public buildings was so far
behind with his work that there was
no use appropriating money for any
additional buildings for at least six
teen months to come.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-07-06
FLOATING PALACES.
Galleys of the Hindo Rajahs on the
Ganges River.


Notwithstanding the fact that In
ola has for many years been under
the rule of England, the conditions
and manner of living have not great
~ changed in many parts of it. On
the Gauges river, in the northwest
provinces, the tourist will see. if he
approaches Benares at the right time
the same type of craft that carried
pilgrims to this most sacred of Hin
200 cities hundreds of years ago.
Ihese are floating palaces or mag
innocent galleys on which raiahs Jour
ney to Benares, and which serve as
test OF their pious zeal.
These galleys differ hardly an iota
from the vessels used for the same
purpose by rajahs who died centuries
past Incrusted with gold, silver and
pearl and decorated with tapestries
embroidered with precious metals
and jewels these wonderful modern
ancient vessels lend a festive touch
10 the river scene. But their sump-
tuousness does not prevent the rich
est raJah who possesses one from
bathing in the same water, surround
ed by 100000 poorer pilgrims, even
though the sacred river is thus nj
ously filled with myriads of microbes
And he will fill great jars with the
water in which the pilgrims have
washed their bodies and drink it.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-07-06
SMITHS FORCES ORGANIZING.
They Claim He Will Carry Judge
Harris Home County.


Hon. Hoke Smith continues to re-
ceiye large numbers of visitors at
his offices and campaign headquar-
tiers in the Peters building.
The Smith supporters announce
that they were not at all distressed
by the entrance of Judge Hart into
the race, despite the fact that Judge
Harris strength is in the Eighth con-
gressional district, where Mr. Smith
has also been very strong. In the
last campaign Mr.. Smith carried an
overwhelming majority of the coun-
ties in the Eighth district.
Letters and communications have
been received from Greene, Baldwin,
Jones, Laurens, Morgan and other
counties of the Ocmulgee circuit, over
which Judge Hart formerly presided
and they are said to indicate that
former Governor Smith is as strong
there as ever.
Usually it is conceded that a can
didate will carry his own county, but
the Smith men are insisting that
Smith will carry Judge Harris home
county of Greene.
1t is also announced from the
Smith headquarters that former
Brown men are pledging their sup
port to the ex-governor.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-07-06
EDISON DEL - ROBBED OF 5000.
Crime Committed While Train Was
Standing on Track.


One of the boldest robberies ever
committed in Edison occurred Mon
day morning when some unknown
white man entered the safe at the
Z. f. & A. Railway depot and Sc
cured something over $500 in cash
and checks.
The robbery took place while the
9:O5 northbound passenger train was
standing at the depot. Agent Mathis
and his assistant, Miss Ethel Culpep-
per, had left the Office to transact
business with the train crew, and
during their absence the robber made
the haul unobserved and with but
little trouble, as the door to the safe
was left standing open. Miss Gull
pepper heard the door in the office
smut and saw the man come out
from the freight room, and thinking
something was wrong tried to at
tract Mr.. Mathis attention, but ow-
ing to the noise of the train failed.
lie boarded the train and made his
escape, as no one on the train knew
OF the robbery. 1t is believed that
ne left the train at the water tank,
which is about half a mile above the
depot, as Mr.. Mathis got in commu-
nlcatlon with the conductor at the
next stop, and a search of the train
was made, but no one was found that
htted the descriptions Edison News.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-07-06
USE TOBACCO AND AVOID THE KISSING BUG

black field cricket. They had strong
wings, thus being enabled to fly with
great rapidity. The head of the bug
was furnished with a pair of long
pinchers, and with these they did the
biting. The following cold winter
disposed of the kissing bug, and none
has been seen here until a few days
ago.
Recently Mrs. L. NJ Minard and
her two daughters were sitting on the
front porch just after dark. There
was whir of wings, and the next
moment the three women screamed,
eXclaiming that they had been bitten
on the lips. The lips of the three
swelled rapidly, and it was "a hours
before the pain ceased. Since then
number of women have been Bit
ten.
Not one of the insects has alighted
upon the lips of man who is a user
of tobacco in any form.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-07-06
5000 BUSHELS OF CORN IN A TREE STUMP


rily through the long day and the
corn still came from the great
stump's interior Yost and his hired
help hauled the shelled corn to town,
and it was nearly O'Clock at night
when the last yellow ear was pulled
from the great stump.
Young was dumbfounded at the ca
pacity of the great stump, and mar
veled at the ingenuity of Yost in
making such fine dry crib from the
old cedar. Yost explained that the
cedar wood preserved the corn from
mice, rats and other destructive ami
mails and all insects. The great
stump that held 5000 bushels of
corn is SO feet high, with a diameter
at the base of over Is Feet. The in
terror diameter averages about ten
feet, and Yost used a homemade ele-
vator to get the corn up to the top,
where it rolled to the bottom and
piled up until the yellow ears showed
above the rim. Then he stretched
.creosoted canvas over the top and
nailed it fast to the trunk. The crib
is the most unique ever heard of in
the Pacific northwest,
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-07-06
The Temperance of Caressing In
sect Is Worrying Many WO-
men i'm Omaha,

OMAHA, Neb.-Twelve years ago,
when the Transmississippi Exposition
was held here the kissing bug first
made it's appearance, presumably
brought from some foreign country
in the exhibits. During the warm
evenings that summer persons visit
ing the exposition were greatly an
noyed by the bugs that alighted upon
the lips, stung and Immediately flew
away. The sting caused a smarting
sensation, followed by severe pain,
after which the lips would become
swollen.
Caught and examined the kissing
bugs were found to be of a dark
brown color, and as large as the
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-07-06
'H'ef Otilizes an Ingenious Crib
For His Grain, and Keeps
1t Safely.

SEATTLE, Wash. -Orson Young.
VIZ came from Iowa two months ago,
T ~ chat he would do corn
susIling, A farmer in Jefferson
oUn'y sent for him to shell 5000
IN Sps 4llS of corn that was from one
rivo oaFee years old. When Young ar
Ioo oIu at the farm he saw nothing that
|aIs S@gU ike a crib holding 5000 bush
mo, u corn. There were small build
fo So ana many immense stumps of
' m monster cedar trees.
dtr ~oel Yost, owner, appeared and
ms oIteu the corn shelter to set the
stnn rnlne close to one of these big
bov t PS. With the help of a sturdy
In tl me farmer opened a small door
that uo south side of huge stump
graot cared upwards of SO feet of it's
a GOV oro. shape into the air. Instantly
corn =, 0 a., stream of fine dry yellow
the was was released and rolled out on
e'ouhd. The shelter roared mer-
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-07-06
WOULD STOP TREspAssING.
The 'Pennsy'' EndeavOrs to Reduce
Deaths on Its Tracks.

The "Pennsy'' Endeavors to Reduce
Deaths on Its Tracks.
Trespassing on railroad property in
violation of the law has caused the
deaths of more than $4,000 people
in the United States in the last eleven
years.
In this same period more than 55,-
600 trespassers have been injured.
With view to reducing to a min
imum the practice of trespassing on
its property the Pennsylvania rail-
road has determined to redouble its
efforts to secure on it's lines that
rigid enforcement of the law against
trespassing which in foreign coun-
tries has done so much to decrease
the number of fatalities resulting
from trespassing.
In 1907 the Pennsylvania railroad
inaugurated a vigorous campaign
against trespassing, and, due doubt
less to this, the number of trespass-
ers killed in 1908 was only 757. In
1909 1872 lost their lives in this way.
In the eleven years prior to January
l, 1910, exactly 1872 people who
were on the Pennsylvania railroads
right of way in willful violation of
the law, in spite of thousands of
warning signs along the railroad,
were killed. 1t is thus seen that in
the eleven years an average of two
trespassers a day have been killed on
the Pennsylvania railroad property.
This long death roll is every year
charged up to the railroad, even
though these people are killed as a
result of their violating the law and
under conditions over which the
company has no control.
The Pennsylvania railroad has now
posted it's tracks and stationed
watchmen to see that warnings
against trespassing are respected.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-07-06
BROWN WILL REMAIN ON JOB.
Legislature Being in Session He's Too
Busy to Campaign.

buSy 10 Campaign.
Governor Brown does not expect to
make any speeches during the prog
ress of the present campaign; neither
will he spend any time in the cam
paign headquarters which his friends
have opened at the Kimball house
in the rooms occupied two years ago.
Instead, the governor will remain on
the job in the executive office at the
statehouse.
During the past two years Govern
or Brown has accepted a number of
invitations to make addresses In vari-
Gus parts of the state. AS the Iegis-
lature is now in session he will not
leave the city for any purpose, not
even to advance his own political in
terests. He believes that his duty is
to remain at his post, and there he
will stay.
A large number of communications
by mail and wire constantly reach
Governor Brown from friends in all
parts OF the state, among them MANY
from strong supporters of Mr., Smith
IN the campaign of two years ago. but
who are supporting Governor Brown
for reelection this year.
Governor Brown is also being he
seiged by callers.