The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-22
=--=Me -
BENSON MURDER CASE
hy S. S. WXAN DINE oAzn snsxns -
. 0AnD Scarauut -

/ The Benson case from the outs
had proved trying and diffic
one from the police standpoi
! Within an hour of the time It
Vance and l had left the scene
the crime a systematic investie'
ton had been launched by the n
Of the homicide bureau in char
of Sergeant Heath. Bcnson's hou
was again gone over thorough
and all his privlIe correspondent
read; but nothing was broug
the tragedy.
No weapon was found aside fro
Benson's own Smith and Wesso
and though all the window grill! \
were again inspected, they we
found to be secure, indicating III.
the murderer mad either let h.msc
in with a key, or else been admittt.d
by Benson. Heath, by the way. ";
unwilling to admit this latter poss
bility despite Mrs. .'latz's positi,
assertion that no other person b.
sides herself and Benson had Ike.
Because Of the absence of ar
uSlIiilG AiuS, OLACI lIclll JilC LAIN 9
bag and the gloves, the only prt
ceeding possible was the interrogas
ing OF Benson's friends and assoc i
atcs in the hope Of uncovering som &
fact which would furnish trail.
1t was by this process also tina
Heath hope to establish the ider
tity Of the owner Of the handbag
A special effort was therefore mad.
to ascertain where Benson had spent
the evening; but though many o.
his acquaintance were questioned
and the cafes where he habituall,e
dincd were visited, no on could q
once be found who had seen him tina
night; nor. as far as IL was possible
to learn. had he mentioned to any
one his plans for the evening.
Furthermore. no general informa Y
ton Of helpful nature came t.
light immediately although The pc :
lice pushed their inquiry with tht J
utmost thoroughness. Benson ap1
parently had no enemies; he hat
not quarreled seriously with any
one: and his affairs were reported
in their usual orderly shape. !
Major Anthony Benson was natu
rally the principal person looked te'
for information, because Of his in
innate knowledge Of his brothers
ton that the district attorneys Of
flee did its chief functioning at the
beginning of the case.
Markham had lunchcd with Major
Benson the day the crime was dis
covered, and though the latter had
a Willingness to coopcrate--even to
the detrimcnt of his brothers char
actcr-his suggestions were of little
value. Il" explained to Markham
that, tht = he knew most Of his
brothers e.ssociates, he could not
name anyone who would have any
reason for committing such crime,
or anyone who in his opinion, would
be able to help in leading the police
to the guilty person.
He admitted frankly, however,
that there was side to his broth
cr's life with which he was unac-
quainted. and regretted that he was
unable to suggest any specific way
Of ascertaining the hidden facts. But
he intimated that his brothers rela-
tons with women were Of a some
what unconventional II ture; and he
ventured the opinion that there wac
a bare possibility Of Il motive being
found III that direction.
Pursuant Of the new indefinite and
unsatisfactory suggestions Of Major
Benson, Markham had Immediately
put to work two goof. men from the
detective division assigned 60 the
district attorney office, with in
struetions to confire their investiga-
tions TO Benson,s women acaGaint-
ances SO as not to appear in any
way TO be eneroaching unon the
activities Of the central Off men.
Also. as a result Of Nanee's APP
p..-ent interest in The housekeeper
at the time Of the Interrogation, he
had sent a man to look infn the wo-
man S anfecedents AID relsl tailships.
Even the famous Eiwci. case,
which Came several years later and
bore certain points Of similarity to
the Benson case, created no greater
sensation, despite the fact that Ell
well was more widely known than
Benson. and the persons involved
were more prominent socially. In
deed, the Benson case was referred
to several times in descriptions of
the Elwell case: and one anti-ad-
ministration paper regretted editor
tally that John F.-X. Markham was
no longer district attorney of New
York.
TO be Continued
John Greenwood. q Continental