The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-09-05
FAMILY SQUABBLE RESULTS
IN DEATH OF WELL KNOWN
BLACKSMITH.
HEARING FRIDAY
Eye Witnesses Assert That Benefits
Son-in-Law Fired Fatal Shot
Following Heated Argument.

That Prince Bennett came to his
death through the agency of a bullet
fired into his left breast from a SO
calibre Smith and Wesson revolver
was the verdict of the coroner's jury
which heard the stories of several eye
witnesses. According to testimony
given at the inquest, Bertram Dresser,
Benefits son-in-law, fired the shot
which resulted in his death. The in
quest was held Monday afternoon at
Packham- Case undertaking establish
ment. Preliminary hearing for Dres-
ser will be held before Probate Judge
S. Ben Dunlap, Friday morning. The
shooting occurred at Benefits home
at about 1920 Sunday evening.
County Attorney Curtis Hayden is
in possession of letter which Ores
ser wrote to his brother, DOC" Dres-
ser at Boise and carelessly left on
table at his home where it was found.
1t is understood that this letter was
the immediate cause of the misunder-
standing which resulted in the shoot
ing affray although, according to
stories by both sides, considerable diff
ticulty had arisen in the family of
late over domestic matters. Contents
of the letter, will probably not be
made public at the preliminary hear
ing Friday morning, according to Mr..
Hayden.
Dresser Tried to Leave.
According to stories by eye wit
nesses of the tragedy at the coroner's
inquest held Friday, Bennett and
Dresser had been quarreling for some
time during the course of the evening
when Dresser finally arose to 60. He
was stopped by Benntt who drew
gun and informed him that the diff
culties might as we'll be settled then
and there. c. E. Frye relates that
Bennett worked his way slowly toward
Dresser during the heat of the argu-
ment. Suddenly Dresser spang upon
him, the two men rolling together on
a bed where Bennett had been sitting
early in the argument.
Women who were present en-
deavored to intercede at this time and
were warned by Bennett to KEEP away.
Dresser finally came into possession
OF the revolver and arose. Mrs LII
ellie Meadows, Benefits housekeeper,
at this time stepped between the two
men. She was struck twice by Dres-
ser, probably with his first, though the
testimony at the inquest did not make
this clear. She persevered in her at
tempt to prevent Dresser firing upon
Bennett but he circumvented her by
reaching around her body and firing.
Only One Shot.
Only one shot was fired. The bullet
lodged in Benefits left breast, some
where in the neighborhood of his
heart. Death was instantaneous. I'M
mediately following this shot, Dresser
turned to those who witnessed the
tragedy and asked if anyone else
wanted some. Mrs. Dresser, accord
ing to the story, told him that he
might shoot her.
Those who testified at the hearing
included Mrs. Meadows, Frye, Will
lam March, Mr.. Andrews and DIR. I.
d. Farrer. According to persons who
are well acquainted with the family,
Mrs. Dresser is not Benefits daugh-
ter but is step-daughter by marriage
and thus in actually not blood rela-
tive of his.
Another version of the story is that
told by DOC" Dresser as coming
from his brother. According to this
tale Of the nights events, Bennett shot
himself during the course OF Dressers
endeavor to get hold of the gun. Ac-
cording to this story, Bennett and
Dresser were fighting for the gun
when Bennett suddenly warned the
women who were mixed up III the
ARRAY, to keep out of tn range OF fire.
A shot followed shortly which entered
Benefits body from below on an up
ward course.
Dresser Leaves House.
just what occurred after the shoot
ing is not clear. 1t seems that Ores
ser left the house in possession of the
gun and went to a nearby tent, 1t
was there that he was taken into
custody by William March. night
Waterman, and II. ID. Andrews, JAM
tor at the court house. who happened
to step Off the interurban car shortly
after the shooting He was attracted
by the cries of the women Tor help
and went to the house to investigate,
1t seems that while Andrews held
Dresser, March took the gun from
him. II was later given to Andrews
who took 1t to the court house and
lodged it in the safe.
No evidence was introduced at the
coroner's inquest to show that Frye
had anything to do with the affair in
any way. While the women who were
in the house became active, it did not
develop that Frye took any hand in
the matter. Ii was he, however, who
covered Benefits body with the bed
spread after the affair.
Bennett Well Known.
h. =.