The North Cumberland Reformer. — 1890-10-30 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

TIIE BEN WELL MURDER.  A Ileuter's telegram from Woodstock says that Birehall received on Saturday lest a letter bearing the postmaik of Jackson, Michigan, October 21th, 1890, which, if genuine would' throw a new light upon the murder. The letter, which is signed " The Colouel " purports to be written by the hand that initidetcd Mr. Benwell, and gives an account of how the murder was committed, and the 10118011 a for the deed. The letter tallies hi many oepecte with the statements made by Birchall, and, it tiue, makes the condemned man innocent. The wi itor says that if Biroliall gets a reprieve he will write again and send his address. Re begins his letter by expi easing soirow at Birohall's position, rud then proceeds to give hie version of the manner in which the crime was perpetrated in the following wcads :—" To make a long story short, and a bad one at that, let me say that as soon as I lett you I began to see thutit was not going to be an easy job to get that fellow tattled on a farm for over two weeks or any leugtii.pf time. I never got up to that old Rooster's with him, and I don't think I mild have found it any way. It would have been easy enough it you hadn't told him you owned the plum. We struck into that uototious swamp just for tun, to get a 410 i if we could see anything, and while in there the devil seemed to come over me, and I told him straight it was a clear case of swindle—that the w ole tat m-pupil business in Canada was a swindle, and wants hint to chum in. As he was well connected in the Old Country we could all wake a big thing out of it by using his name, and get a lot on u siring, and what he would lose now would soon be made up again. Well, Hex, you ought to have seen him. Great Scott 1' didn't he get up steam 1 Ilireateued to shoot me on the spot, and would, too, it I hadn't drawn my revolver. ALI blood was up. I reasoned with him, and did all I could to get him around, but it was no go. We talked the matter over for, perhaps, three-guilders of an hout—sometitnea quietly, sometimes otherwise. At last he jumped up and said he would expose ti e whole lot ot us, mid started for the road. I it:Mowed, and, knowing what exposure would mean settled it then and there. F;ow you know all. lam sorry I did it, and never thought of getting you into trouble of the kind you are in now. Forgive me, Hex. His watch and revolver no one will ever see again. He didn't have much money with him. [should have thought that any darned fool of a lawyer might see that for you to kill him would apoil your chance of getting the boodle. I do hope the Canadian people will treat you fairly, and at least give you a reptieve. If so 1 will write you again and give you my address, and will expect to get a letter from you. Flew barn this as soya as you have read it, and dou' t give my true name to anyone. You have kept it to yturself well, and I thank you. It would du no good now. I bid you a long farewell, but still hope to see you in this world once more. I hope you are prepared for the worst. Time love of mouey and exoiteinent has caused we much trouble, but I hope to do better in days to come. Good-bye. Ever yours, Tax CoLoxisz."—Posteuript. "I 800 that Smarty we met in London last January has beau trying to get his say in toe, if I meet him out he'll get different box from the one you offered him in the theatre that night. He'll get it just as cheap." The letter is written on note papem iu pencil, but the envelope is addressed in ink to " Reginald Birchen Woodatook, Ontario."