The New York herald., 1921-02-28
DRINK CRAZED, KILLS
WIFE AND HIMSELF
L0ngshoreman, Upbraided for
Spending Money, Shoots
Woman Six Times.
DOG GUARDS HER BODY
Policeman Knocks Down Ban
dit and Thwarts HOldup
Of Athletic Club.

Victor Benson O longshoreman. OF 446
yesterday morning at his home, several
hours after he had shot and killed his
wife, Margaret. who had upbraided him
for spending money for liquor. The city
took charge OF the bodies. removing them
to Bellevue Morgue. Neighbors took
charge of the two children-Herbert. II.
and Helen, daughter of q sister OF Mrs
Benson. whom the Bensons had adopted
The rooms were put in order and locked.
One tenant remained. That was the
terrier. Mutsy, as the children called
him. Detectives who reached the house
after the shooting found AIusty curled
against the body of Mrs. Benson. He
raised his head and snarled at them
Because OF the dogs animosty the
officers turned frst to a quick examina-
ton of Benson. He had put a bullet
through his head and the revolver still
was clenched In his right hand. They
approached Mrs. Benson's body again
and Mutsy snapped at them. but they
pushed him away. They found the
woman had been shot six times Neigh
bors gave the police the story OF the
quarrel and said Benson had come home
intoxicated.
When the bodies were moved Mutsy's
rage turned to sorrow. He went to Mrs.
Bensons bed and curled up at its foot
and cried. The policemen gave up try
ing to get him to leave the house.
A holdup in the Bear Athletic Club at
732 Eleventh avenue was thwarted yes
terday by Patrolman John Higgins Of
Traffic c. who. although one Of the ban
dts held q revolver only few inches
from his body. reached over and
knocked the man down with blow on
the jaw. One OF the bandits fed. but
the man knocked down was arrested
and was said by the police to be Peter
Fitzpatrick, 532 West Forty-ninth
street. A search OF Fitzpatrick was
said TO have revealed about $500 which
had been taken from club members.
Patrolman Higgins said that Fitzpat-
rick carried two revolvers. His COM
panion was going through the pockets OF
the club members. Evidently to hasten
things, Higgins said, Fitzpatrick ap-
preached him, putting one of the revolv-
ers in his pocket, and started going
through his clothes. Higgins saw his OPP
portunity and crashed his fist against
the others Jaw. The second man was
not captured.
Identification of James Minogue. de-
scribed as a professional gambler, who
was arrested Saturday night, as one OF
the bandits who held up the Peoples
Trust Company at Wyomissing, sub
urb OF Reading, Pa. was made at Police
Headquarters yesterday, according to
the police, by three employees OF the
Wyomissng bank. No one appeared TO
George Stuyvesant, who was ar
rested with Minogue in a room at Lenox
avenue and 111th street.
The men were arraigned in Yorkville
Court and were remanded for q hearing
to-day. They were charged with viola
ton OF the Sullivan law in illegal pos
session OF firearms and with suspicion OF
being fugitives from justice.
The Identification of Minogue was
said to have been made by Lester b.
and Miss Agnes Bredener
Of Wyomissing. Miss Bredener. cashier
of the bank, said Minogue forced her
and several others into the bank vault.
There were six men In the holdup party.
The holdup took place February 4. The
loot was s1S0.0oo. mostly in securities
Minogue was said to have been identi-
fed Saturday night by Helen Davis OF
Reading. She said she knew him as
Belmont" and that she aided him and
several other men to find lodgings. which
they left about the time OF the Wyomis-
sing robbery.
In the room In which the men were
arrested two caps. with the mark OF
Detroit dealer. and two valises wero
found In addition TO the shotgun with
the shortened barrel. Among the papers
in the bag was a receip. for an automo-
bile purchased at Detroit In the name OF
Perry Collier" Acting Inspector Cough
lin said he believed Stuyvcsant Is Col
ler." SO far no information has been
obtalred regarding Stuyvesant. He re-
fuses to talk.