The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-19

death, have commenced to come to the
county officials working on the case.
Two Durported confessions came in
unsigned letters from Kansas City ad
dressed to the county attorney and it
is understood a Kansas City news
paper has received something similar.
These communications are regarded
as only the customary curios which
turn up invariably when an unsolved
criminal mystery is being held up to
public gaze.
No single development in the case
is to be reported beyond the increas-
ing of the reward started by Gus Be
nignus at S1OO on Wednesday, to a
probable $1.1OO. A fund of $500 has
been raised by the citizens of Abilene,
the county commissioners offer $500
and the governor of the state has been
asked for $500, which will probably be
forthcoming. The second session of
the inquest called yesterday produced
little evidence of Importance Puzzle
ment is the mental condition of the
big majority of the people of Abilene,
and great number still cling to the
theory of suicide
That no autopsy was held over the
girls body by Coroner j. c. Entz on
the day of her death is now regarded
dls1nterment of the girls body has
been proposed and seriously considered
but is considered now to be useless. If
seems now to be we'll established that
the bottle which appeared in the dead
girls bedroom may have nothing to do
with the case, because it was bund in
the course of the first Searcn' by an
undertaker's assistant who took it from
dresser drawer where it is believed
TO nave been tossed at some time prior
to the girls death. That some other
agent beside chloroform may have
oeen used has been suggested and it is
because an autopsy could have re-
moved this doubt that regrets are ex-
pressed that none was held
Mr.. Fairs Testimony.
Testimony given Dy Reuben Fair, a
clerk, before the coronerS jury has
caused police here to give more heed to
the theory that Beta Benignus was n,ur-
oeIeo oy jealous and unsuccessful
suitor In her home here SATURDAY.
night.
Fair said that while he was passing
the Benlgnus residence Saturday at
midnight he noticed light burning in
Miss Betta's room. He also saw a man
yard, he said. Fair further testified
that when he approached, the man
ran, finally disappearing.
Several persons testified the girls
father was in bad shape financially
Others said the girl was contented and
not inclined to be morose.
Discouraged over the failure to find
his fiancee's slayer, Earl Livingston
left here for Salina but announced that
he would return.
The inquest will be continued Mon
day.
Are the Gypsies Guilty?
A ney theory was started Thursday
that band of Gypsies that spent that
night in the vast part of town may have
been responsible. A red handkerchief
In the bed, the part tied to her hands.
is the foundation for that theory. If
was such a handkerchief that the
Gypsles wear and none like it has been
found in town. The reference in thn
note to ponies" also is GYPSY like.
That there was no ransacking of the
room is against this theory. It is
thought, however, that they may have
been frightened away finding that
they had killed the girl. The Gypsies
have been traced to Whitewater and
they seem to be heading for the sta.o
line as fast as possible. Their horses
are all tired out which seem to sub
stantiate that statement. From Abb
lene the Gypsies went to Marion.
thence to Peabody, then to Elbing and
on to Whitewater the latest trace OF
them that has been reported. At
Marion the Gypsies tried to hold UP an
automobile but did not succeed. They
arrived at Whitewater yesterday at
O'Clock in the afternoon and only re-
mained in that town 10 minutes An