Connecticut western news., 1916-05-18
FORMER cANAANITE IN TROUBLE
Charles w. Benton Missing Under
 Suspicious Circumstances.

Suspicious Circumstances.
 The following from the Pine Plains Daily Argus. of Thursday refers to a former resident of CaDaan Valley:
 Charles w. Benton. of No. 60 Fisher Avenue, an insurance agent here with offices in Main Street, has been miss ing from his home since last Tuesday night and it is said that his finaucial affairs are much involved.
 It is known that for several months Benton claimed to be worried about his business affairs and that he was de. spondent. He is alleged to have threatened to kill himself because of his troubles.
 Today an examination of his insur ance business was made by F. A. Mari gold, an inspector for the Go operative Insurance Company, of Albany, and following that a close friend of Ben- toms said that so far as could be learned the total amount of the alleged short ages ill bus mess and lodge organiza- tions was over $3, 400.
 Benton is said to have made con. fession recently of his financial troubles
 
 what might be left of the wreck but it is also said that no sooner was one matter adjusted before another cropped up.
 Money said to have been taken from the insurance company funds was secured and the company or those ln- sured with it will not suffer since the surety has taken care of all that.
 Benton was treasurer of Hebron Lodge, No. 229, I. O. o. F., of this city, and there is said to be difference of about $90O between the moneys turned over to Benton and the accounts ill the banks.
 As treasurer of White Plains Lodge, Loyal Order of Moose, Benton handled the funds of that organization also and when his troubles began to multiply, a difference of $450 was found in his ac. counts. This amount was restored be- fore he left White Plains.
 There are also checks for which there are no funds and other moneys raised on notes that the sureties must stand for.
 . These checks and notes aggregate something over $2O0 and several checks given the night before he left White Plains have been returned, marked either "No funds" or Insufficient funds.''
 At least one of these checks has been presented to District Attorney Frederick E. Weeks, although Col. Weeks said today that he had nothing before him which warranted him taking the matter before the Grand Jury
 Tue checks were cashed by different business men in Main Street and five different business houses are known to have given sums ranging from $20 to $40 within a few hours of BentOn's disappearance.
 Benton is married and has two chil- dren. He worked as carpenter here for considerable time and then he went into the insurance business. He was known as a man of his word and met his obligations promptly. Because of this it was not difficult for him to get credit and while he operated on small scale he prospered in way.
 Last January his troubles first came to light when payments had to be made to the insurance company he worked for. His friends helped him through that trouble.
 That was no sooner settled than other deman Is were made on him and he was helped again. Following that came the alleged shortages as treasurer of the lodges.
 He was last seen ill Tarrytown last Wednesday and to a friend he met there he is alleged to have said, "Good- bye, you will probably never see or hear of me again.
 At one time when his affairs were much muddled he threatened to shoot himself. it is said, and it is also as- serted that when he left his home on Tuesday he took his revolver with him.
 In note that he left he said he was sorry but he could not help what he was doing. that he could not keep going and he intimated that he would take short route out of hls difficulties