New Britain herald., 1922-05-17
After Tragedy, Murderer Calmly Walks to Neigh
 bor's House, Tells of
 Shooting, Then Dis. appears
Armed Posse Searching in Woods for Self Confessed Slayer-Victim Was 80 Years of Age.
 

South Kent, May l1.--Mrs. Flora Louise Benedict, widow, was shot and killed by former farm hand, Sidney Wa d at her home in a little valley between Kent mountain and Spectacle mountain, early today Ward also wounded Mrs. Benedct's daugh- ter, Mrs. Cora Page, a widow, and in shooting at the latter may have tried to kill both Mrs. Page and William Farrell, farm hand, who was talking to her at the time.
 Admits Staying.
 Ward, after the affair at the Bene- dict place. walked to the farm of Ralph Rowland. entered the barn where Rowland and an employe were getting ready for the days work, bor- rowed a chew of tobacco, casually re- marked that he had killed "son1e- body and sauntered out and disap- peared in the woods Men are out searching for Ward, and all have gone armed, as the man is said to have | shown signs of moroseness of late and was carrying the 30 caliber rifle with which he had killed Mrs. Benedict.
 MT. Rowland did not pay much nt- tention to Wards remark at the time, as it was thought he was either drunk or merely had spoken off hand. It was some time later before word was ', received of the murder. and several ! neighbors hurried to the Benedict ! place.
 Victim Tells Story. Those who were among the first at the Benedict place were told of the circumstances by Mrs. Page, who had been wounded in the arm by a bullet, but was able to tell story of what she had experienced.
 She was suffering severely from shock, but the bullet wound is not thought to be dangerous. In the house also was Mrs. C., B. Morgan, 2 sister of Mrs. Benedict, who two years ago came from Torrington to make her home with her sister and niece, She was not molested by Ward. al- though the latter as he was in thu house told her to say in her room.
 Quarreled With Ward
 The Benedict farm. is on a road running through theplacei and prob- < ably three-fourths oRa mile from the highway between Merryall and South Kent It is of about 25O acres in ex- tent and had been farmed by Mrs Benedict with the assistance of Wil- , liam Farrell and at times by Sidney :. Ward. Farrell had been almost reg l ular In employment for the past 20 years while Ward worked of and on, About two years ago it is said Ward . had dispute with Mrs Benedict be- cause the latter objected to his drink !. ing habits. It is also said that at the tune Ward used gun or a pistol and , in discharging cartridges, smashed a window Mrs. Benedict ordered him i off the premises and warned him that l If he came about the place again she would have him arrested. Mrs. Bene- dict it is stated, refused at the time to press a complaint. Ward, how ever, probably had not worked for Mrs. Benedict since that time Mrs. Page says that Mrs Benedict was up about 4:So this morning and went out doors as usual and looked after Che chickens.
 Gunman In Hiding
 Ward had been hiding in a hatch way in the rear which leads to a eel ar He stepped out and Mrs. Bene- iict and he began to talk Mrs. Page loes not know just what was said but 'he did hear a shot Mrs, Page was still in bed. She 1eard someone come up stairs and noticed that someone was trying to push in her door She held the door ut Ward pushed his way in He was arriving rife, and Mrs Page says le told her that he intended to kill Ter. She says she fought Ward and inally pushed him into the hallway nd he retreated down stairs. When 10 noise was heard Mrs. Page went downstairs in her night dress but 'ould see no signs of Ward
 She went outdoors and made a. circle of the house without eeing Ward, but found the body of 'lrs, Benedict in little vestihue.
 Fires At Couple DiaEonally across the road at the 'arn was William Farrell Mrs. Page avs Farrell came over and stood alkng to her and there came the eport of a gun. Ward had been be- lind an oak tree fifty yards away and lad stepped out and fired at the cou- 'le. The bullet went into Mrs Pages rm, cutting the feshy part The mis- ile went through the side of the 'ouse and was later found on the ,'tchen floor
 Ward walked away and as Mr. IoWand later reported. he stopped { the Rowland farm and then disap- cared in the woods. The rife Ward lGei was magazine one
 nr H F Terrell, of Kent and Dr. N NJ Rarnun, medical examiner, vere summoned and later Coroner S.
 Herman at Winsted was notifled. MeanNhile Constable Eric Hagman lad got party of neighbors to start ut in search Of Ward.
 Had Keen Drinking
 Neighbors who had seen Ward late Y said he was morose in his dispo-