The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-08
Citizens of Belpre Rally to De-
Tense of Barber.
Editor I'll. C. Busenbark Killed
in Opera House Row.
EYE WITNESS TELLS STORY
But Who Fired Shot Seems to
Be Mystery.
Struggle Over Revolver Fol-
lows Killing, Witness Says.

Hutchinson. Kan, April s-A fund is
60 be raised by popular subscription to
defend Harry Bennett, barber of Bel
pre-, who is awaiting trial next month
on a charge of murder.
Bennett was mixed up in the mys-
terious shooting of H. G. Busenbark
editor of the Belpre Bulletin. He was
drunk, it is alleged, and does not re-
member what happened. A. large part
of the people Of Belpre believe that
Bennett is really innocent. and that the
editor was shot by one of the othel
men present at the time.
The barber is popular in the town
but is without means to properly de-
1end himself, and a fund is being rails
ed by his friends.
There is a deep mystery in this Bel
pre tragedy. All that is known to a
certainty is that Barber Bennett ant
Floyd Alexander had been wrestling III
the formers shop, and decided to &C
to the opera house to have a wrestling
duel.
Charles Alexander and Editor Bu-
senbark went along as spectators OF
seconds" They got the key of the
opera house, and went there. While
the four were at this wrestling match
some one shot the editor. Whether it
was one of the Alexander brothers or
the barber, nobody knows.
So far as is known there was but one
man, outside of these four, who saw
the shooting. This is Elmer Badzer, z
stranger in the town, who was hiding
in a dressing room of the opera house
at the time, peeked through crack
and saw the tragedy, but he isn't sure
which of the three it was that shot
Editor Busenbark.
What Eye Witness said.
Elmer BADGER made the following
statement at the preliminary hearing:
II went out of the back door of the
pool hall and up the rear steps to the
opera house. I had hardly gotten in
side when 1 heard some one coming
I'D the front way and I hurriedly hid
in one of the dressing rooms. The door
could not be closed completely and }
saw Rusenbark, Bennett and the Alex
ander brothers come in.
1.-The talk was of wrestling and there
was banter between Bennett and the
older Alexander. I made no particu'
lar effort to see or hear until some
tioning tone Why you - Then J
opened the door and looked out.
Bennett Knocked Down.
1.-THE older Alexander knocked Ben
nett down and said, Give me that gun.
.Curley' came forward and at the same
time Busenbark stepped in saying
No you don't. BY this time Bennett
was on his feet again and there. was
general mixup. I saw Busenbark stag
ger back and exclaim, oh my. He
then started down the stairway and
soon after 'Curley' followed.
Bennett and the older Alexander were
alone in the hall struggling for the
possession of the gun In the fight the
gun was discharged. Alexander was
shot in the back. He then said tc
Bennett, If you'll let me loose I'll go.
Bennett said, Go, damn you Alexan-
der ran toward the door and as he did
SO Bennett shot at him. Then he sat
down and left the hall"
"On examination Badzer said
he was not positive who fired the shot
that killed Busenbark. In the scuff1'
for the gun afterward he said he
thought Alexander had it,