The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume], March 07, 1873, Image 2

About The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881

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ffUntially Ium heretofore been given in
In reply to a question, he said
J? ie Lv-Tfffi"??
for lOBl B VOiuuua, uw no uau uu
donbt rt could readHy be had: where
upon. Mr. Greene raid the Hocking
Boad wouia xurnisn nun witn au uie
Coal he ought mot.
MR. GREENE,
la i ponseo to a calL again ovat
ionrard, aad atated that hia plan wi
to use the depot of the Hockm? Yal-
ley Boad, whereby not a dollar of
expense would be incurred tor that
parpoee, wniie we roods, crouncu, etc
would alao be in common. He said
" aeparate aooommodatioc of that kind
would cout $200,000. He said the
mazunnm erade of the Atlantic
Lake Erie Eoad in Pefrvoounty, TU
62 feet per mile, and in Wood oomiTl&p
40 feet. If anybody wanted Coal
over such grades, instead of 28 feet,'
uer would nave to toot the bUIa,
He atated that the lowest figures yet
found for profitable transportation of
coai, was a traction over one cent per
ton per mile, over the Readingf Penn.)
Boad, where 4,000,000 tone per an
num were transported. He had not
much oonSdenoe in the preliminary
estimates ot Engineers, and he thought
e sad experience of most ot ue
Boads built in Ohio would justify him
in this. The truth was, that Directors
generally were not BaHroad men, and
went into the enterprises on ue ng
nres of an Engineer caring no inter
est beyond his salary; whereas, most
ol the Directors ot ue JOl-mous
Toledo Road were experienced Rail
road men. who act upon their own
judgement, and are not likely to J
into anything that does not promise
auooeas.
It having been suggested to him
that the Durchase of sround tor Coal
dock ana depot here would secure the
construction ot tne ttoea, r. ureene
a ue company naa oouent no
.r wf w f haf itMnM ffiw VAelilw Mil
again, Uey WOU1U, nuier unu
Mt i 3.000.000 in an unprofitable en
i . , . .v l
terprise. He asked nothing of Toledo
axoept as wasundentood at ue out
set. Hor did he ask a dollar until the
Company had performed on its part.-
There was no advance to be made or
wiA takm. The friends of the West
tin W asked him if tl.000.000 of
local aid would secure the' Road to
them, to which- he had replied that it
was sufficient to say that the Company
had made the East line a proposition,
which, if accepted, would end the
matter.
We have thus given, as fully as time
and spaoe will admit, an abstract of a
discussion which lasted from 8 till 11
o'clock. The interest which marked
the occasion may be judged by the
length of time which so large a num
ber of business men remained to listen.
This was due both to the deep concern
they had in the subject matter, and to
the unusual ability of the speakers.
With Gen. Lee's qualities in that way
most of our readers are familiar ; but
it is proper to say that Mr. Greene, on
this as on former occasions, by his off
hand, business style and thorough
knowledge of his subject, made him
sell specially acceptable to his hearers.
COLFAX AGAIN VINDICATED.
The evidence establishing the
ruth of Mr. Colfax's statement re
garding the money received from
Neebitt having accumulated to such
an extent aa to remove all doubts in
the ease, hia enemies circulated the
report that he had received the
mosey as a lobbyist, and that the files
of the Postmaster General's Depart
ment bore evidence to that effect An
Associate Press dispatch gives the
story the following authoritative de
nial:
The Postmaster-General denies the
telegraphed report that the files of
lus department show that Mr. (Jolfax
waa attorney or lobbyist oiJXeebit.
He says that finding the Nesbit con
tract i or sum pea envelopes naa neen
extended by his predecessor without
advertisine tor competition, ne re-
f erred the question of its legality to
the Attorney-General, who decided
it to be without the sanction of law,
and the department should terminate
the same on reasonable notice and
issue proposals for a new contract,
which waa done. In the meantime
the question arose as to the tempo
rary ttupply until the new supply of
the new contract should commence,
and it was to this temporary aupply
that Mr. Colfax urged that the heirs
of Mr. Keabitt. havine the necessary
buildings, machinery, and material,
and not having forfeited the contract
by any malfeasance, should have an
oDDortunitv to work up the same
until the new contract was let or that
they be allowed to present an argu
ment as to the validity ot ineir con
tract aa extended. These views ai
to a temporary supply seemed so just
and reasonable that they were adopt
ed by the department, and the heirs
of Neebitt were employed to furnish
the temporary supply, though at the
reduced cost of fifteen per cent upon
the old prices. The extension had
been pronounced illegal, by the At
tomey-General, and no argument up
on that point would have availed
against his decision, no matter from
whom it came. The Postmaster-
General further aays that he never
supposed for a moment that Mr. Col
fax designed or attempted to influ
ence him in his official action in any
manner ; that similar suggestions as
to the interest of constituents are
frequently made by members of Con
gross without comment or Intimation,
ot their impropriety,
CONGRESS.
As usual at the close of the sesion.
there was a great deal of hurry and
confusion. The appropriation bills
and other Becesary legislation was
put through with a whirl in order to
make up for time lost during the ear
lier portion of the session. Oalsst
Friday, in the House, a resolu
tion was adopted appointing a com
mittee for the impeachment of Judge
Delahay of Kansas. The Legislative,
Executive and Judicial Appropria
tion bill occupied the day session on
the question In relation to interest
paid by the Government on Pacific
railroad bonds. In the evening ses
aion the subject of increasing salaries
caused considerable debate, but
without disposing of the bill House
adjourned. In the Senate the session
Thursday night continued until after
midnight, the question being the bOl
providing for a new elecUoTn
Louisiana. A substitute waa a"&pJ
recognizing the Kellogg GoverntjsVni!
until a new election, and the bill pro
viding for a new election was' ttien
rejected. Bill passed amending the
act authorizing honorably discharged
soldiers and sailors to acquire
homestead on public lands ; legalizing
homestead entries of soldiers and
Bailors, not exceeding 160 acres each,
within the limits of railroad grants.
Wa notice that our representatives,
Hca. Chas Foster voted against the
amendment to the Appropriation bill
to increase the salaries of members.
Alao Representative Beat! of the
-.ignin district.
of .Mm
Toted for the amendment.
Bora Housee of the Ohio Legisla.
ture met in their respective chambers
last Friday, and without traaaacting'
any badness in either House, adjourn.
SI Tuesday afternoon, at three
o'clock.
Atrocious Murder
A Man Deliberately Shot through
the Heart, after being Decoyed
the Heart, after being Decoyed from His House-Proceedings of the
Coroner's Inquest and Synopsis of
Preliminary Examination.
' terriUa ni trociou" crime'
frfey- paces from the gate, and a shows
Last Friday morning our citizens
. . .
were suruea oy rumors ust a man
had been killed on the Tiffin road, a
short distance east of town. Tarious
stories were afloat and it was nearly
mght before the people of our town
could get a correct version of the facts.
We have been at some pains to get a
history of the persons as well as the
and oircumstanees connected
ch are about aa follows
Nicholas Sensing, the murdered
man, was born in Heaven, Germany,
Oct 24, 1826, and was therefore a
few months over 46 at the time ot his
taking off. He came to this country
about eleven years ago, and resided
in iienry county ior seven cam
previous to coming to Findlay, mov
ing here about three years ago. When
he first came to this country we have
heard it represented) that he was in
pretty well-to-do circumstances, but
by the villainy of a partner m Louis
ville, bad been broken up, and had
never succeeded in getting much of a
tart since. We learn from those who
knew him best here, and in whose
statements we can place confidence,
that he was an honest, inoffensive,
hard-working man. He waa a member
of the German Befbrmed Church, and
his pastor Rev. J. G, Buhl informs us
that he was always in his place in the
sanctuary. Ilia neighbors au speajc oi
him aa an excellent man in all his
dealings. He waa a man of fine per
sonal appearance, nearly six feet in
hcght,would weigh nearly 160 pounds,
well proportioned, and straight as an
arrow. His face swowed evidence ot
more than average intellect, his fea
tures gnely cut, his eyes a light gray,
verging on blue, and his hair daik
brown, as was his beard, which he
wore in a carefully trimed goatee and
mustache. He had been a soldier in
the regular aimy in the old country,
wrote an excellent hand, was well
educated in German, though his En
ghsh waa somewhat broken.
A little over three years aero he
married Mrs. Sarah J. Primmer, for
merly Miss Sarah Jane Smith, whose
parents lived near Napoleon, Henry
county. She had been divorced from
Prjmmer, to whom she was married in
1859, and by whom she had two
children. He had gone into the army,
and on his return, waa dissatisfied for
some real or fancied cause, removed to
Indiana, and applied for and was
granted a bill of divorce. Mr. Ben-
sing married her in 1869, and she has
borne him two children, a very intel
ligent little boy of 2 years and a lit-
tlf girl of nine months. Mrs. Benarng's
people are a reepeotabe famil-,and we
ate informed rank well as respectable
rple in Henry county. Uer sisters,
whom there are several, are well
married and witn her aged father and
mother, feel acutely the trouble which
has come upon them. Mrs. Sensing
is a large woman, probably five feet
eight inches in height and weighing
180 pounds. She has a fair complex
ion, light haxel eyes and black hair.
Her features, when talking, lights up
and rhe appears to a good advantage,
making a very favorable impression.
About one year ago they moved to
their present home upon the farm of
M, D. Shaier, 1 miles east ot town.
Two years ago she became acquainted
with the murderer of her husband,
Henry Jacob Garteo, a beardless boy
of less, at that time, than eighteen
years, and tot September he became
a member of the family, boarding
with them and chopping cord wood
with Sensing lor Mr. Shafer. This
gave them abundant opportunity to cul
tivate a friendship which had been
commenced doubtless sometime pre
viously. Within a short time a new
member was added to the family in
the person of Mrs. Welder, a niece of
Mr. Bensing's, whose husband is in tne
Insane Asylum, and since then Miss
Bahama Smith, a sister of Mrs, B.'s
h lived with them attending upon
Mrs. Walters, who last Sunday week
ago gave birth to a child,
Last Thursday Mr. Bensing went
eight or nine miles east into Big Lick
town-hip for a load of corn, returning
about 5 o'clock, leaving Gartee at his
house. On his return, after unloading
his corn and domg his leading, they
si) eat supper about 8 o'clock, after
which Gartee left the table and started
to Findlay to take a letter to the post
office for Mrs. Bensing, directed to
her lather in Henry county . Bensing
at that time was sitting at the table,
little thinking that the man whe for
six months had eaten at hia table and
shared his hospitality, was now going
out in the darkness of night to lay in
wait for his life and aim the messenger
ot death at his defenceless breast.
Moving back from the table with his
eldest child, he seated himself by the
stove and commenced to prepare the
little one for bed. Mrs. B. opened the
door, as she ssys to chase out the cats,
and called his attention to noise at the
barn. Bensing handed her the child,
took his hat and started. Mrs. B.
remonstrated against his going, closed
the door after him, and almost in the
same minute heard the shot, and start
ed out to meet him at the gate as he
Jell, exclaiming aa she bent over him,
"some rascal (or bad man) has shot me
through the heart
That the reader may form a better
idea of the situation than words can
give, we have prepared the following
rough diagram of the premises. This
diagram, of course, without the aid of
an engraver, is imperfect and rude ;
and yet a tolerable fair idea may be
formed by it of the appearance ot the
premises. The house stands back from
the Tiffin Road, about fifty rods, and
is a single story hewed log, with a
a
irame oea-room attached. A door
opens out on the porch, on the north
side, and about 30 feet directly in front
is the gate. The stable is a loe struo
fure, shedded all-round, exoept on the
north aide. The shed on the west side
is open at both end,and wagons may be
driven under from lane. This shed
also contains a corn crib. The shed
on the east side is used for a cow-stable,
and has a door at each end. The
do-w at the south end is about forty.
the position of the murderer as he lay
in wait for his victim. The position
of corn shook, where pistol was found,
may be seen on east aide of the lane.
After committing the deed, the mur
derer passed out of south door, hid his
pistol in fodder shook and fled.
at
in
Txrna boad.
a.
, BID
I aooif
ronca
l
CORONER'S INQUEST.
An Inquest wss held by the Coro
ner o Friday morning, which elicited
the following facta :
STATE OF OHIO,
FINDLAY T'W'P, Hancock Co, SS.
An inquest by the undersigned, ju
ry, &c, duly impanneled and sworn,
was held on the 28th day of Februa
ry, A. 1873, on the farm of M.
D. Sbafer, Esq., in said township,
over the deadbody of Nicholas Bens
ing. who was supposed to have coine
to his death by violence, the under
signed, Frank J. Karat, coroner of
said county, being personally present
at said Inquest The following is the
testimony of the witnesses then and
there examined, before aaid Coroner
and jury, and which was then and
there reduced to writing, in pursu
ance of the statute it such case made
and provided :
Sarah Bensing, being duly sworn,
stated that she and deceased had been
married three years the 7th of Iset
November. Had been married before
to Simon Primmer, about 13 years
ago. I lived with Mr. Primmer about
10 years altogether. I had two chil
dren by Mr. Primmer. Don't know
whether he is dead at au or not ; he
went to the army and didn t come
back to us again ; I heard he was in
Indiana since ; he was divorced from
me in Indiana; he wrote to me to give
him a divorce, and I wrote to him he
might get one ; that was several years
ago; I married Bensing in Henry co.;
this husband always treated me kind
ly unlets he got more bitters in him
than he ought to have, then he got
crabbed, tie used violence on me
last week or week before last ; we had
some trouble. We ate supper lsst
evening between seven and eight
odock; my sister Kohanna bnutb,
Sevenna Welder, Jacob Gartee, me
and my husband and the two children
were all that were here for supper.
Jacob Gartee has been here six or
seven months ; about three or tonr
weeks ago Jacob Gartee and my hue
band had some trouble about cutting
wood in the evening after supper ;
they were both very mad; Jacob
would have fought if Nich. would
have fought with him ; never heard
Nich. say be wsa dissatisfied with
Jacob staying here ; Gartee was late
ly chopping wood for. Mr. Sbafer, and
was boarding here ; last evening when
Mr. Bensiug and I were yet sitting at
the table, Jacob Gartee started off,
and told us he waa going to town ;
they had no trouble last night; I
know my husband didn't think of
anything, and I never thought auch a
thing would be done. Gartee was
gone I think about half an hour ; I
had my work done, my husband was
holding the little boy ; he was undress
ing him to put him to bed ;'I opened
the door to put the cats out and I
heard the chickens squalling in the
barn, or ahed, or around there some-
where ; I shut the door and he aaid
"what is that and I told him the
chickena were equalling ; he said he
was going out, and asked for hia hat ;
I told him that anybody that would
steal chickens would be ugly enough
to hurt a body, and he aaid he would
go oat ; he was gone I hardly thought
he had time to get to the barn, yet
don't thins: it could bsve been three
minutes before I heard the pistol go
off; it didn't crack very loud ; didn't
sound very loud ; sounded smothered
like ; if there hsd been a little noise
in the house I dont think I would
have heard it at all : just as Quick as
I heard it I set the little boy down
and run oat to meet him ; I met him
coming back at the gate ; he fell down
there and said in German some wick
ed man had shot him through the
heart ; that is all he said ; I tried to
get him. to talk more and he couldn't;
he run from the barn to the gate till
he fell ; I didn't see him till he was
on the way coming from the barn ;
heard him groaning when he fell ; he
had been yesterday up in Biglick
township alter a load ot corn for Mr.
Shafer. Jacob Gartee went out and
emptied one aack of corn for him ;
we were shelling corn. Mv husband
asked him to go out ; Jacob helped
me and my sister shell corn in the
afternoon in east room or big room of
the house. Jacob waa here all day
yesterday. He didnt do anything
but keep up the fires. He didn't
make any bullets here yesterday, if
he did I didn't know It That was
done last week. Jacob and I went
out and got the corn in the basket
while toy sister washed up the dmner
dishes ; I can't tell the day the bullets
were made; I think they were made
out of two little spoons of lead here.
He melted them in the fire shovel ; he
run the bullets in a little spool and
cut one or two pieces in two, and keot
the other, aa he said, for a lead pen
cil ; aon i anow now many he did
make ; he made them one evening
when I was getting supper; didn't
know he had any pistol ; knew he had
some secret, but he didn't ssy what it
is ; he had me make a packet in the
inside of his vest he said to carry his
pocket book in ; the pocket was worn
out in the bottom and I patched it
yeaerday for him ; at the time the
bullets were made I think Mr. Ben
sing was at the barn doing his chores:
. 1 tf ft . . .
a got a letter irom uartee mia morn
ing; put it in the stove; I read it
and then John Buhl asked me 'if I
cared if he read it, and I said I didn't,
and handed it to him and he read it
I wrote a letter to pap, Geo. P.'
Smith, in Napoleon, Henry county",
and gsve the letter to Gartee before
he started to town ; I asked him to
get an envelope and address it him.
self, and my husband gave him five
cents for the postage and envelope;
he had no four cents : I wrote the
letter dsy before yesterday : Mr
Styder and Mr. Walters were the
first persons that came last night : I
ran down to Snyder's and told them
and waited till Walters came over;
when Jacob Gartee came In here last
night after the shooting, Walters and
Snyder and our family were here : I
first got acquainted with Gartee two
years ago this winter, when we lived
Heck's ; he would come over once
a while in the evening.
I
in
of
on
to
it
I
to
at
at
i
ne
SaJUH BSKSTNO.
Bohannah Smith being duly sworn,
says sue is 15 years of age. I was
shelling corn yesterday afternoon, me
and Sarah and Jake Gartee; Jake
and Sarah carried the corn in ; they
carried in six basketfuls ; I was wash
ing the dishes after dinner; once when
the machine pedlar went past they
were out about ten minutes ; the long
est Jake stayed out Sallie was picking
np corn and Jake was giving the cows
corn fodder ; the corn was in the crib
at the barn ; Sarah wrote a letter to
pap day belore yesrday evening;
when Jake started to town we were
eating our suppers yet ; I think Jake
could Lave been about to town from
the time he started till the pistol was
shot off ; I didn't hear the chickens
till Sarah opened the door; he said
"listen," then we heard the chickens
squall ; she opened the doer to chase
the cats out; Mr. Bensing said to
Sarah, "take the little boy, I want to
go out ;" she said he should stay in ;
that folks that are mean enongh to
steal chickens are mean enough to
hurt him ; I came here last Tuesday,
from my brother-in-law's, Philip Whit
man, in Findlay ; when Bensing went
out Sarah shut the door ; she didn't
say anything ; she shut the door and
came and sat down ; then we heard
the gun crack, and she run out, and
then I went out and helped her carry
him in; after he was brought in he
only drswed one breath ; I got a pil
low and put it under his head, and
Sarah got the quilt and put it around
him ; then Sarah went out to go to
Snyder's as soon as e laid him down ;
Gartee was sitting in the house all day
in the big room ; I came from Henry
county three weeks from to dsy ; after
that man took Gartee by the shoulder,
Sarah said she didn't think Gartee
could have done it; when Gartee
came from town after the shooting,
he opened the door and afked what's
the matter ; Gartee asked whether he
was clear dead ; we only heard just
one ehicken squawk; we thought it
waa in the caw stable at east end of
tbe barn ; be shut the door when he
went out, and he slung the gate shut
behind him ; I heard Bensing holloa
when he was coming from the barn to
the gate; he kind of groaned and
hallooed over toward tne gate Dy ue
as
cow stable ; wnen vrartee came ne
knocked at the door when that man
was here after tbe shooting ; about
an hour and a half after the shooting
Gartee came back; yesterday I thought
saw a pistol sticking out of his back
pants' pocket about three o'clock
yesterday ; Mr. Gartee and Mr. Ben
sing and Mrs. Bensing slept in one
bed together since last Tuesday ; Mr.
Bensing slept in the middle; they
slept that way since I came here last
Tuesday; she got up still and got
breakfast ; Jake and Nich. would go
to bed first : they sleDt that wav nip
beiore last ; when they came in the
lost time with the last basket of corn
yesterday, I asked them what they
stayed so long fer, and they said they
were giving the cow some corn fodder;
they stayed about ten minutes ; l
looked out twice and could not see
them; if tbey were in the crib I oouldnt
hsve seen them ; rhe said the cow was
standing in the stable and Jake turned
her out and gave the cattle some corn
fodder ; this was about one o clock in
the afternoon.
Rohaxnaii Smith.
Dr. Geo. W. Galloway and Dr. W.
M Detwilt r being duly sworn accord
ing to law depose and say that on the
morning of February 28th, 1873, be
tween the hours of nine and eleven
o'clock, we made pott mortem exam-
ln&ton ot the body or isichoias cen
sing, in the township of Findlay.coun-
ty of Hancock and state ot Ohio, and
find the following tacts to wit : mat
the said Nicholas Bensing had a hole
his body caused by a small cylinder
ical ball which cut through the vest
between the 1st and 2d button, cutting
the binding ot the left side of vest
front, also through both shirts, the
said ball passing into the body between
the tnsiform cartilege and the cartil
ege of eighth riband about an inch to
the left side, and upward from the
point of said enstform car til at, also
about 2 J inches below a horizontal line
connecting the nipples; we found in
the cavity of the thorax large quanti
ties of clotted blood and also quantities
serum, the clotted blood altogether
the left side of the thorax ; the ball
passed into the body upward from the
entrance at about an angle of 45 de
grees, ranging toward the left at an
angle ot about 3a degrees ; ue d&u
passed centrally through the heart,
also centrally through the left lunc
and lodged in the cavity ol tne thorax
on the left side, producing death ; no
external marks of violence were ob
served, except an abrasion of the skin
on the end of the nose about I inch
across, and about inch across verti
cally.
G. W. Galloway M. D.
Wm. M. Dxtwilxb M. D.
Sworn to, and subsribed before me
my presence, this 28th day of
February, A. D., 1873.
Fhajtk Karst, Jil,
Coroner of said County.
John S. Ruhl
being duly sworn, stat
ed that 1 arrived at the house ot de
ceased about 10 o'clock, with Mr,
Karst the Coroner, Mr. Henry, the
Sheriff, Mr. Shafer, Mr. Brown, and
others ; we commenced searching for
the guilty party and looking for the
tracks ot the party in the snow ; the
first tracks we saw we were sure of we
saw on the north side of the stable in
front ot stable door, which stood open
tracks showed big jumps taken when
he started. Tracks showed that the
running was kind of straddle-legged.
looked as if the boots turned out, and
were run over; we got the exact tracks
through Snyder's fields, and circled
round and angled back and came back
road about half a mile nearer town
than when he crossed the rotd ; we
followed the track till we got on the
Tiffin road ; went beyond the orchard,
east of barn, through Robinson's woodsl
back again to the road; the track was
not very plain till we got to the woods;
got plainer all the while ; it was
snowing when we took the track:
came into Tiffin road west of Walter's
house ; south stable door was shut and
fastened ; paid particular attention, as
saw the hat there ; we came on the
road and went back to the house; we
met Jacob Gartee when we went out
house of deceased; met him coming
out oz lane toward i unn roaa near the
house ; we went on to the house ; was
about ten o'clock when we met him
lane.
When we got to house second
time I est on south side ot stove ;
Mrs. Bensing was making some fuss
that time ; had been at the house
perhaps half an hour till Gartee
came; he came to the porch and
shook tbe snow otr bis coat ; then he
came into the house, and I then went
the bed of the sick woman ; the
dead body waa lying in the N. W.
corner of tbe room that the aick
woman was in, wnicn is in the east
room ; the body waa covered with a
blanket before Gartee came in;
when he came in at north door to
ward stove ; after looking round the
room he est down near stove on a
chair, looking down : I went nn tn
i . " i - .. '
mm ana put my nana on mm and
told him he was the man that killed
Bensing; he raised up and aaid,
"just as sure aa birds fir I never
thought of such a thing, and never
did aucn a thing;'' took him out in
the yard and run him round awhile,
and be aaid I am going to tell von
tue vuui uu noining' else; Frank
&arst was there and measured his
track, and Sheriff Henry lifted nn hia
iw wiu tuuaeu at uis ooot ; UW Way
r.. ...I In.l.. J v: i ..
waixeo corresponded with the
tracks uirougn ue held ; noticed tbe
odd wsy he had in his walk; some
time afterward he aaid, "I could have
put on a pair ot rubber boots and you
couldn't have told my track ;" had
some talk at the house about the
matter with him; told him I waa
sure he was the man that made the
track through the field ; we went to
north end of corn crib and wagon
ahed, and I asked there how the
1
trouble started ; he said, "I am going I
to tell you the whole thing ; some
twelve days ago Bensing came home
and commenced abusing his wife ; I
then got up and told him if he want
ed to whip anybody he should whip
me and not his wife;" Gartee then
said, '.'Bensing had told his wife and
she told him that Bensing was going
to clean him out ; Bensing walked up
to me and put hia hand on me last
evening and said to me, 'Look here,
Jake Gartee; said then I didn't
know what he bad in his pocket ;'
said he wss standing a distance
away when he shot," (I judged it was
about three feet;) said, "I didn't
think I hsd killed him ; thought I
had hurt him from the way he groan
ed." I heard some one ask where
the pistol was ; Gartee said, "Come
on and he would show us where be
had laid it ;n we went with him then
almost N. W. about 50 feet to some
corn fodder across board fence; he
waa ahead and commenced looking
round for pistol. Mr. Henry picked
up the pistol by the side of the corn
fodder, covered up with some fine
fodder ; Gartee said, "I had a sure
shot, and if had missed him I had
some other wsy;" I told him Ben
sing was taller than him; Gartee
said "he could fight anybody." Shaf
er made the remark, "Boys, let's go
on to town ; I asked him what kind
of a cartridge it was ; said "he had
another just like it in his pocket ;"
probably between 12 and 1 o'clock
when we found pistol at fodder
shock ; could see the track when we
first went to house from where hat
lay ; tbe tracks were made from
near stable door toward house;
could see where he turned about four
feet from atable door in a circle to
the hat and then run toward gate
near dwelling: saw where he fell
near the gate ; judged from the steps
by the track that he run toward the
gate after he waa shot ; the hat waaJ
lying about 12 leet irom stable aoor
when I first saw it; was near the
tracks. John S. Buhl.
James L. Henry being duly sworn,
says That he was at the house of
deceased lsst night from about 9
o'clock to half past twelve; among
other things said by Jacob Gartee I
heard him say be bad shot bim with
pistol ; said if you will go with me
will show you where the pistol is ;
we were then standing at the north
end of corn crib, at end of shed ; we
started across lane over fence to
shock of fodder, and he pointed to
place where he claimed the pistol
was ; I felt down in snow among the
fodder and felt the pisol, and took
it out and asked whether that was
the pistol, and he said it was : it was
a single barreled pistol ; Gartee told
me last evening coming along toward
town that he had a mate to the ball
that was shot ; after we came to tbe
jail Gartee gave me the ball which
now show you ; the ball is a cylinder
in form, made ot some white metal
looking like pewter, and about the
size ol a cut a quarter of an inch in
length off from a large round lead
pencil, and resembles the one 1 saw
taken from the body of the deceased
by Dr. Galloway and Detwiler, to
day. J. L. Hehbt
We, the undersigned, Jurors em
panneled and sworn on this 28th day
of February, A. u. lots, in the town
ship of Findlay, in the county of
Hancock, by Frank J. Karst, Coroter
of aaid county, to inquire and true
presentment make, in what manner
and by whom Nicholas Bensing,
whose body wss found at the farm of
M. D. Shaier, Esq , about two miles
from rindlsy, on tbe Tiffin road, on
tbe 27 th dsy of February, A.D. 1873,
came to hia death. After having
heard the evidence and examined the
body we do find that the deceased
came to his death by a pistol shot
wound, the pistol then and there be
ing in the hands of one Jacob Gartee.
Jesse Wour,
Wm. McKinhis,
W. W. SlDDALL,
Gottliib Pvlkqeb,
Jacob llocn,
J. Cbomlxt.
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.
The prisoner was arraigned at
o'clock P. M., Monday before Esqs.
Beardsley and Byal, and in a firm
and clear tone pleaded "Not Guilty."
Mbs. Sarah J. Bxxsixa svom.
Live on Mr. Shafer s farm ; have lived
there since last October a year ago
was married to Nicholas Bensing in
Henry county, three years ago the
7th of last November, and lived with
him until he was killed ; was married
once before to Simon Primmer ; mar
ried him in Henry county about 13
years sgo and lived with him about
9 yeara ; was only about 16 years
old at the time ot marriage ; I lived
with him up to the time he moved to
Indiana with hia people ; be was
soldier, and waa in the army two or
three years; I waa divorced from him
Became acquainted with Bensing at
the residence of his nephew in Henry
county about 3 J yeara ago. My
maiden name was Sarah Smith ; was
never married but twice; had two
children by first husband : they are
in Indiana ; his father came and took
them. Tbe oldest was two and the
youngest one year old when taken
away. Have bad two children since
married to Bensing the eldest a boy
two years old past, and tbe youngest
a gin oi nine months. We lived on
the farm of Mr. John Heck about nine
months before moving to Mr. Shafer's
piace. uot acquainted with the pris
oner, J acob Gartee. when we first
moved to Heck's farm, as he came
nrst evening to help us fix up, and
occasionally afterwards, though not
very often. He has been boarding
with us about four months ; do not
remember exact time, but it was when
we were cutting un corn. The longest
time he has been absent wss once
when he away a week at a ball at Ca
rey. He waa choDninc wnaA tor Mr.
auaier. ittuld see where he was
- -rr o
chopping from the house. Has done
nothing else ol importance, except to
help us butcher about Christmas,
Also assisted in butchering Shafer's
hogs at our place. He did not work
in cold weather, but spent his time st
me nouse. was chopping Wednes
day last. On Thursday, in the fore
noon, did nothing bat keep up fires,
and in the afternoon about 1 o clack.
helped my sister Ruhama and myself
to aneu corn, uartee and I carried
in the corn from tbe crib in a hmhel
1 4 .
naaxei, carried basket in six times
run. uut one cnb and that connected
with barn. No door in the crib that
could be seen from barn. The corn
has been In cnb since lsst fall. Hus
band went nine miles east on Thnrs
dsy morning for corn for Mr. Khrr
built fire myself and got breakfast
oy canaie-ugai. aiy husband re
turned about 5 O'clock in tha even.
ing, just aa we finished shelling corn.
Gartee was engsged in shelling all
tne time. A neighbor woman, Mrs,
Hanpt came in. Pat the corn shell.
ed in Mr. Shafer's sacks. Sister Bu
nanna came to our house one week
ago last Tuesday, and hss been there
ever since. sne came from mv
aisters in cast f indlay. The clock
- . , . ... j
bad not been atopped to my knowl
edge, duaoana came home at 5
o'clock, just as we finished shelling
euro , av vac uteres uink 1 need a
light to get supper by. We eat nn-
peraboutS o'clock, Thursday even
ing. Cannot tell how long after
dark, but had to have a light to get
aupper by. My husband, sister.
Gartee, and myself and children sat
at the table. He talked about the
people where he had been for the
corn ; about them giving him a good
dinner, how hungry he was, and he
aaid he had drank three cups of cof
fee. Gartee roae from the table first
about five minutes before my hus
band. He went and put on hia hat
and coat in east room to goto Find
lay., He put on every day coat and
went out at the front door. Gave
him a letter to put In tbe poet-offioe.
I
it
a
wan
-rt
in
She
in
the
She
Gave it to him from drawer before
supper, and husband gave me five
cents to psy the postage. It was to
go to my father. ?ly husband and
sister were present at the time. Told
mm to put it in post-office. Do not
remember any conversation. Think
he intended to go afoot. Don't think
husband asked any question, but re
marked that it must be urgent busi
ness that would take him out such a
night. Did not know whether it was
very dark at that time or not, as I
bad not been out. I think I was
shelling corn at the time husband
came home. Heard the crack of a
pistol or gun, 1 1? did not think much
of it as it, did u. t sound very loud
seemed smo.Lert.-d. Husband was
out of doors at the time. Had been
out probably three minutes had
hardly time to get to the barn. I
waa talking to his niece, standing at
her. bedside with the baby in my
arms, bister, 16 years old, also
standing near the bed. Had finished
my work and opened tbe door to
turn the cats out, when I heard a
noise at the barn, and husband said
what is that?" Husband spoke
first, and said, "ain't chickens hal
looing ?" He was at the stove un
dressing David, and he handed him
to me and started to go out, picking
up his hat from a sack of corn. I
said, "Dont go out; any person
mean enough to steal folks chickens,
will be mean enough to hurt you."
His niece said, "yea, go out" He
said, "ot course 111 go out" He
grabbed his hat a brown hat, pick
up next morning near cow-stable and
went out shutting the door after him.
Didn't hear him go through tbe gate.
He shut it after him. Hardly thought
he had got to the barn, when heard
shot Cannot tell positively any
thing that was said after he went out,
but think maybe l asked his niece to
eet ud and have her bed made. I he
shit was not a very loud one. Niece
sa&l. "what was that?" All three
cats were in tbe house. Think
sister was silting by the stove. Think
there was a noise from at least two
chickens. Could not tell from what
direction the sound came. Nkce
heard it Alter shot heard him
groaning and saw him running to
ward the house. Ran to meet him,
and he fell at the gate. Think sister
ran out close behind me. Seen him
before he fell, all of half way from
barn saw him distinctly. He had
his hand on his breast, and was com
ing on a pretty good run. When he
fell I said, "oh Nich., where are you
hurt?" He said, "some rascal has
shot me through the heart," and
still kept on groaning. He fell out
side of the gate. He reached ior the
gate and fell. Tbe gate swings out
toward the wood pile. He fell
against the gate. By that time I had
almost reached the gate. He fell
back and struck the gate with his
feet Lay on his back, with one
hand on breast and tbe other beside
him. I said, "Let us carry him in
Sister said, "We cannot" I took
hold of him by tha shoulders and
sister by the feet and succeeded in
getting him into the house. Laid
him by the stove in the big room
and put a pillow under bis bead
then went after Mr. Snyder and Mr.
Walters. Sister did not want me to
go. Saw Mrs. Snyder first 1 suppose I
screamed loud enough to have been
beard a mile and a halt. Told any
der that some one had been stealing
chickens and had shot Nich. Waited
at Snyder'a until Mr. S. went after
Mr. Walters, aa Mrs. Snyder did not
like to remain alone.
Seen Gartee run something in
spool. Said he wanted it for a lead
pencil. Cannot mind what day
was, nor week, but think it was a dsy
on which he had been chopping
wood. Asked me tor lead spoon
saleratus box, but refused him.
Gave him one I had found in the
yard. Missed the one from the
saleratus box, and think like
ly he took it Melted them on
cook stove. Cannot Bay whether hus
band waa at home or not but think
he was chopping wood. Cannot tell
what day it was. Husband's niece
taken sick last Sunday week ago. Am
not certain whether she was the
when bullets were run or not It wss
a small spool. Had never seen
before. Paid but little attention
though he showed the lead he cast to
me. it was about two inches long,
and as thick as a lead pencil and
round, been him cut one up with
butcher-knife and stick of stove wood.
He cut it on a box. It cut hard.
Only see him cut it in two once. Said
it wss not run right and be would
have to run it over. Put it in his
pocket fHere was shown one of the
bullets, but said it was shorter. J Uar
tee had a pocket inside of his vest
made it for bim ; it waa an every
day vest Cannot tell how long ago
made it; think it was on the left
side. Said it was to carry his pock
et book in ; asked me to mend it for
him last Thursday forenoon. It look
ed aa if it had been worn through.
Showed me what shape to make the
pocket Took a pencil and paper
and made the shspe of pocket for
the benefit of the Court,! Hsd seen
his pocket book drop out a little
black book with rubber string around
it Asked him how he came to wear
through, but do not remember hia
answer, ue had back pocket in one
pair of pants the pair he has on now,
The vest be now wears is the one
put the pocket in. Mr. Bensing waa
killed last Thursday evening at 8
o'clock, Feb. 27. 1873, in Hancock
county, Ohio. Gartee had been gone
half an hour, and had time to have
been to Findlay when I opened tbe
door. Sister washed the supper dish
es and I put the baby to sleep. Hus
band took the baby and prepared him
for bed. . There was powder in the
house powder that Mr. Sbafer
brought out Kept it in a wall cup
board, which had one door. It was
scattered around on shelf. Gartee
asked me for it, and I told him he
might have it Said he wanted it to
shoot a mess of squirrels. He got it
Tuesday or Wednesday, alter I made
Docket in vest and after running
metal in the spool. Ssw him take it
and put it in a little sack which he
sewed up out of a piece of an old
?reen cress oi mine, isack was
shown ' to witness and identified by
witness. 1 Husband asked whst Gar
tee wtnted with the powder. Found
smashed gua cap on the floor. Can
not recollect what day it was, and do
not know where it came from. Told
sister Bahama about it Think I told
husband.but dont mind what he aaid.
Snyder and waiters were there when
the prisoner returned from Findlay
the first time. He rapped at the door
and Walters let him in. ue aaid,
"What's tbe matter : ue usually
rape at the door. He asked me
about going fer my friends, and I
asked him to do so, and to go In the
iron: He went out witn young Mr.
Hsgerman for the purpose of hitching
TT 3 MinrAl n 5 aIt owl and Ins.
pftlj IN lalalTH VUIWaB amAJll tUl -
keys frequently, and husband hal
killed a weasel last summer in the
front yard. Husband and the prison-
hrd gone out to the stable once
before, sbout Christmas, when there
was noise among tne cmcaeus, out
saw nothing-
CTir Sxtdkb stBorn I live within
nr 40 rods ot the house of the de
eessed Bensing. Waa at Mr. Houpt's
the early part of the evening, but
at home wnen un. d. came to
give the alarm. Have noticed that
longing's clock is about j of an hour
faster than mine, it wan tea aoout io
minutes of 8 when Mrs. B camu It
(jjrfc as aara as it uauiiy gets.
came screaming, r irst heard her
her own yard. Did not hear Ue
shot My uOr was sum. cue came
running in without knocking. I heard
screaming while standing in my
door. Went in. Could not ted ex
actly where sounds came from, but it
eemed as though she had startednd
turned back. 'She aaid Nich. was
ghotdead. I ran for my coat and boots
did not eay how or where he was
shot Asked her to stay with my
wife until I went for Mr. Walteis.
It was then about 8 o'clock. Walters
came right along, and only stopped at
my house long enough to light a lan
tern and then all three of us went
over. Thought from the noise she
was crying and screaming to rouse
the neighbors. It waa too dark to
see the fodder shock, where pistol was
found, from my house It was vest
of the barn and close to the fence.
Found the sister, the sick woman, and
children Bensing lay on the floor
dead. Walters went tor Houpt leav
ing me and the family alone. Mr. H
went to r indlay on horseback to give
tbe alarm I was there when Gartee
returned from Findlay the first lime.
of an hour after we got to the house
and about 20 minutes after f f otipt Lad
gone to Findlay. When Gartee came
he stamped the snow od hi feet knock
ed and came in. Ue aaid, "what in
the world does this mean ? Is Nich.
whole dead ?" Tbe door swing to
the right. Said he had been at Find
lay. Said "Isn't this awtuL'' Didn't
ask how it happened, saw him cast
his eyes on the body. He seemed to
be red in the face and excited, and
was sweating as though be had been
running. I examined the next day to
see if there were any tracks. Found
that they started from the northwest
corner ot tbe barn and seemed to go
north. The tracks in some places look
ed as if he had been running, and l:au
stopped and turned The tracks were
peculiar .and looked like prisoner s. 1
followed them down to the road. Ue
did not cross the fence when ho first
reached it, but went along it about
eight rods east. Gartee is pigeon toed
and thought it his track without a
doubt. Heard nothing said between
Mrs. B and prisoner. Gartee seemed
to be on a study and Mrs, B. bad but
Little to say. Believe be did ask where
the bullet stuck the dead man.
Crost ilx. Gartee remained I sup
pose halt an hour before going after
friends. The shock of fodder where
pistol was found stands about two feet
from the fence.
Buet Gabtek iwom I am brother
of the prisoner. Saw him last Thurs
day night Came to our house and
said that Nich haa been shot and they
wanted some ot us to come out aaid
he did not know who did it Jake
had told me that Bensing and wife had
some trouble on dinerent occasions.
Had been at the house of Bensing on
one occasion, one Sunday, when Mrs.
Bensing told the little boy to strike
his father with a glove. The little boy
did so, and Bensing took the glove
out of the boy's hand and struck his
wile with it, a pretty hard bloaaf bat
it appeared to be considered fun by
them both. Tbe prisoner plucked him,
and going out beside the house, said,
"There, Burt, you see he was mad
enough to have kuled her just then.'
I laughed and said I tLonght Bensing
was just in fan. Met my brother, the
prisoner, at W. L. Davis's store last
Saturday week ago, and he called me
back and showed me a pistol. Asked
him what he wanted it for. Said he
had use for it Asked him if be in
tended it to kill Welsh's dog. Said not,
that he had other use for it. Identi
fied the pistol shown in Coart as the
same or a similar weapon.
S. F . Hagebmah suorn Went to
Bensing's house about 8 o'clock on
the evening of the murder. Was
there when the pistol was found. fTh
pistol was handed to witness who said
it was the same. J ibe prisoner, uar
tee, said, "I can get you the pistol
shot him with." Sheriff Henry and
Messrs. Karst, liuhl, Brown, Shafer
and others present standing in the
north end ot the shed. They all foil
lowed uartee wno went to the corn
shock. Gartee got over the fence and
Ruhl followed. The pistol was found
about twenty inches from whore Gar
tee pointed on east side of the shock.
uartee said "that's it,' wtion it was
found. Said it was not loaded, but
did not say why.
James L. Hxhbt, Sheriff, tieorn
Fist saw Gartee aa I went out with
Ruhl, Brown, M. D. Shafer, Karst
and others, about 9 o'clock on the
night of the murder. He was com
ing out of the lane io a wagon, as we
want in. Saw bim after at the bouse.
Ruhl walked up to him as he was
sitting at the stove and struck him
on the shoulder exclaiming, "Yon
are the man that shot that man."
He said, "Oh no, I am aj clear of it
as the birds." Took him out and
walked him round in tbe snow to get
the shape ot his tracks. He first
confessed it to M. D. Shafer, but
said be did it in self-defense, as Ben
sing had a club and would have kill
ed him. Asked him what he shot
with and he said pistol. On the way
in he said he had the mate to the
bullet used in bis pocket and took it
out and gave it to me. Was present
yesterday when Mr. Wm. Anderson
visited his cell. JUr. Anderson ask
ed him to give him a true statement
of the matter, lie commenced by
saying that Jura, uensing naa pro
posed to him to cut IS icq s trsck out
in tbe mud and she would hang it up
in the chimney, and as it dried up
Nich. would dry up with it. Also ask
ed bim if be could not manage to kill
Nich. by cutting a limb on bim when
out in the woods. Said to her that
there were too many hunters around
She then proposed to poison him, and
one day when in town with her hus
band, purposely neglected to get
stocking yarn that she might have an
excuse to send him (uaneel to town
to pi ocure "extra medicine" as he was
in the habit of calling it She gave
me a quarter and asked me to go,
bat did not do it When in town
had boaght a pistol which pleased
her very much. She offered him
a spoon to make bulleta.and when he
run them in the spool, said they were
nice ; wsy were very herd to cut and
she took the knife from me and cut
them herself. She talked about him go
ing to mciay ihursday, and when
be spoke about tbe snow she said
that it was as good time as any. Told
her he bad no powder, and she gave
him some which she took out of cup
board. She had made pocket in his
vest the shspe ot the pistol; had
since torn it out, but stood up in
court and showed where it had been.
He said that lower end wore out and
she patched it the day of the murder.
Said that after the shooting he came
to town and stopped at Dietz s gro
cery to put an envelope on and direct
letter, but found he had lost it When
he went back Mrs. Bensing was sit
ting with handkerchief over her face,
but shedding no tears, but did when
Kuhl accused him of the murder,
Witness further stated that on the
way to town the prisoner had aaid
that he intended to go back and take
care ol airs. is. and the children, re
marking, "you bet, that is all fixed."
The court then adjourned until Si
o'clock, Tuesday morning.
r
of
go
SECOND DAY.
ibe court-room waa almost as
densely packed with eager spectators
as on the previous day. There ap
peared to be less excitement, and a
more settled determination among
the spectators to stand by the an
thoritiea and have equal and exact
justice done to ail parties engsged in
this dreadful crime.
Philip Wetkobs room I am a
brother-in-law of the deceased and
married to a sister of Mrs. Bensing.
Have known Bensing over four rears.
Lived in same house with him in
North Findlay four or five months.
He moved from there to Heck's
farm, and after that would see him
every three or four weeks. Him and
ife lived unpleasantly at times.
While living with us they had words
at one time, and after they moved to
Heck's Bensing told me they had
trouble. He aaid she must not give
him so much bp. But only spoke of
haying trouble once, while on tbe
Heck farm. She never threatened
of
He
to
to leave him. After they went to
the Shafer farm 1 would see them
every lour or five weeks. Had seen
Gartee at tteir house after they
went to the Shafer farm. He appear
ed to be sitting around loafing. Had
seen marks last fall that Mrs Ben
sing claimed had been made on hit
person by her husband. My wife
asked me to look at them in .N ich. s
prssence, and Nich. looked down as
if ashamed. It was a red and blue
mark on the side of ht r face. Wife
said, "look at marks where 2 ich.
struck her." Mrs. Bensing had
been married and divorced. Seen the
divorce at Father Smith's house.
Wife or one of the girls read it to
mc. II was sent by mail two or
three years before she married again,
aod had a seal on it Fir3t learned
of Bensiag's death from Gartee, the
prisoner, who came to my house in
East Findiay on the eveniDg of tbe
murder about 20 minutes past 11
o'clock. Was in bed. Came in and
said, "Well, I must tell you Nich.
is dead." Wile said. "That is aw
ful ?- I said. "How did it haoDen ?"
He said that boys were out hunting
and shooting around in the afternoon
and some one was stealing chickens.
Nich. had gone out when the chick
ens hallooed and they ha l shot him.
Wire asked bim how be kuew it.
Said he bad been to Findlay with a
load of wood, and on his way back
had met Air. Uoupt, riding so fast
that be aako l him what waa the mat
ter. He told him NicU. wait shot.
He hurried home and they aaked
him to go for Philip. Spoke about
being cold, and said he was opposite
Mr. Walters' when Houpt told him.
I noticed side of his face as he sat by
the fire. He was doubled down with
bis hands in bis pockets. Could not
say that there was anything peculiar
in bis voice, as I am not acquainted
enougu witu nun to judge, l again
asked him, "Jake do you know any
thing about it, how it happened?" He
said, "No," and then repeated about
the boys shooting and the chickens
hallooing. Said nothing only as
asked. I noticed in driving back
with him, that he held the lines loose.
and there appeared to be something
wrong with him. I took the lines out
of his hand and drew them up and
said "See how much better the horses
go ' He said he was too' cold to
drive. - Found Hsgerman and aon,
Walters, Snyder, Shafer, Brown,
Henry, Karst, Ruhl and others at the
bouse. Mrs. Bensing wss sitting be
side the stove and the body was
lying on two chairs. I said to her :
"Sarah, you must not go on so."
She answered, "How can I help it V
When Ruhl accused Garteo of mur
der I did not hear what she said.
Between 2 and three o'clock, I drew
my chair up close to her and said,
"&aran, now you know it wont do to
go on fretting that way V She said,
"My God, how can I help it I then
said, "Sarah, now we have known
each other as brother and sister many
years ; I want to ask you something,
and I want you to tell me tbe truth.
Tell me do you know who killed
Nich. ?' She said, "Philip I do not ;
may I never speak again, if I know
any thing about this." She after
wards told me some particulars. I
said,"Did Nich. run right away when
he neara tne noise 7 ' She said "Nich.
jumped right up when he heard the
noise and niece told him to go." Sie
said be slammed the door behind
bim. Asked her nothing about Gar
tee, but said to her that I had said
to Nich. that he ought not to keep
uartee about tbe house. She said
that she had told Bensing that he
must leave ; that Bensing and Gartee
went out together and talked, aad
Bensing came back and asked her to
let him stay until the first of March.
She kept saying "Can it be, can it be
that it was Jake. ?" She spoke in
English and was crying. Knew thai
ner ana iNica. naa trouoie, and no
tice her particularly. Noticed Gar
tee as he sat by the stove, before
Ruhl accused him. My little girl of
three years, wakened up m cradle.
after Gartee came to ray bouse nighu
oi muraer, ana said "Jake, scot
uncle Nich.' Uer mother triod to
hush ber up, but she repeated it over
and over. Do not know whether
the prisoner noticed it or not Had
no talk with Mis. Bensing in regard
to any improper advances that Gar
tee should have made to her. Be
tween 2 and 3 o'clock in a conversa
tion, asked her if she had ever given
Gartee any reason to hate Nich.?
She said not Heard her say nothing
about having a pistoL I asked her
the question because I knew they had
had some trouble. Hsd no knowl
edge of jealousy. Bensing was not
jealous. The first separation was
caused by bad treatment as Primmor
left her destitute and went into the
army. When he came heme on fur
lough, he again left her in the same
way. He got the divorce in Indiana,
but did not have any positive knowl
edge as to the c ause. Mr. Smith was
in good circumstances.
Cros$-a. Think the divorce was
granted in Tippecanoe county, Ind.
Mrs. Wktmobe tcor Am a sister
in-law of the murdered man and sis
ter of Mrs. Bensing. Have known
the murdered man over two years, part
oi tne time living in ue same nouse.
Frequently at their house. Acquaint
ed with Gartee about one year. Saw
him twice at the house. They got
along well at times, and occasionally
had words. Seen trouble between
them about two yeara ago, on account
ot him going to church and leaving
her sick in bed. She said he was ugly
to her and abused ber; had come home
half tight and whipped ber. He whip
ped her lor smoking when he was
counting. Never had said she would
leave him, but she had said that if it
was not for the children she would do
so. Lame to our house once and uar
tee helped her over the river. She
said Bensing had got up in a bad hu
mor and got his own breakfast and
she let him do it Had advised her to
keep Gartee away. She said he could
not stay at home and it was a pity ot
him.
ieveruau saiu mat icn. would
kill his wife if it was not tor Gartee.
ever had any talk about her intimacy
wiuiviart.ee. uiiu uame acroos tne river
time referred to about four months aso.
She complained often of bad treatment
by ber bosband, bat nothing very seri
ous. Tbe night bartee brought word
Bensing's death he said,'i ich. is shot.'
lie said somebody was at tbe barn
stealing chickens and Nich. ran out
and was killed. Were in bed when
he came. Husband got up. Gartee
said something about coming down
with a tcad of wood and bringing
letter. Said he met Houpt at McKee's,
ana ran nome irom mere. I did not
up until Saturday. Sister said
she did not know why Gartee had
done it. She said, "My God, do you
think I done it V I said I would
have sent Gartee away long ago. Sis
ter separated from first husband. Ue
charged her with adultery. Had heard
i ever saw divorce. Her husband
was at home once from the army but
never came back to her. Sister never
said to me that she thought a great
deal of Gartee. Bensing was jealous
his wife. Sister has been complain
ing on ana on a good deal about bad
treatment from her husband. My little
pin wakened up in ber cradle the
night Gartee came and k. pt saying.
Jake shot uncle rsicb.' Know of no
conversation in preseuce ot the child
that would cause her to talk so. He
poke of some accusation that had
been brought against her beiore they
came here. Mrs. B. said when I went
over there that she wanted to send
Gartee away, but her husband would
not consent. About two years ago
Mrs. B. said that when her husband
went to the woods she would not care
a tree or limb would fall on him.
was chopping at that time on
Heck's farm. Never beard such wmn
expressed while they lived on Shafer's
tarn, Sha never said anything to me
about hanging up her husband's track
dry. She told me Ural uanee naa
as
.11
the
interfered this winter to keep her
husband trom whipping her Navar
said she was afraid to let Gartee o
through fear that her husband would
abuse her. When there last winter.
in a conversation about her husband
striking her for smoking, Gartee wag
present and said that if he was a wo
man he would not be abused by any
man as she was by her husband. Sister
said that she had found out what it
was to separate from one man, and
would not try it again. She never said
anything to me about any slippers
presented to her by the prisoner. Dur
ing the conversation at that time her
husband was absent working out ot
doors, doing his feeding, &a We sat
in the east room, sister and myself on
the south side ot the stove and the
prisoner on the north side. She. was
not working. I was on a visit therf,
Bensing came after me the day before.
The prisoner, Gartee, dropped no hint
that if she left her husband, he would
take care of her and the children.
Sister said Gartee was a bad boy to
tell stories. Thought he was in the
1 . ..it? ' C - -
uauit oi telling stones, one came vu
my house on Christmas and took din
ner. Do not remember asking her
why she drove the cats out on the
night of the murder, as I know she
has been in the habit of doing so.
Sister walked to my house Last spring
wnen l was sick. Sister thinks Uar
tee killed her husband. She said
that be asked bar for a spoon aad she
let him hsve one. She has tin spoons,
and has them yet I suppose, as I think
none ot them are missing. Uannot
say positively though. Sister said
Gartee had run bullets. Said he sent
letter by Ruhl,after ho was put in jail
to her, and that Ruhl read it to her.
She said she was innocent and tfcay
could not get anything on her.-'
She did not in my presence say" to
Shafer that if Gartee had kept quiet
they could not get anything on her.
Shafer had said that he wanted-Gartee-
away. She said if tbey wanted to
take her they could do so ; she had
done nothing. She said she never
wanted to see Gartee again. My sister
Kuhama told me that for a short tune
back they had been sleeping all three
in the same bed Gartee next the wall
Bensing in the middle, and Mrs. Ben
sing in front She never intimated to
me that Gartee had made any impfop
A 4 ............ I.
Dr. G. W. Galloway noorn Was
present at Coroner's Inquest wfta
Vt. jjetwuer. lit. w . i aimer m
also present The evidence or wit
ness did not differ materially from
that given before Coroner's jury, ex
cept that he gave some account of
position body of murdered man must
have been in when ahot.j aid there
was no powder marks on the clothes
as be had examined with glass. Said
there were powder marks on the in
side of board about 17 inches from
door, 3 feet from ground indicating
that pistol had been fired from in
side.
Geo. P. Surra sworn Live in
Henry county. Came here Sunday
last have been to visit my daughter
two or three timea before; visited
them at the Shafer farm last summer.
Daughter'a first husband's parents
gave her a bad name ; as I under
stood it first busband got a divorce ;
did not know tbat Bensing ever
abused her; always thought him a
good man. Do not know Gartee
she waa married to Bensing at my
house.
- Tbe prisoner, Gartee wss remand
ed to jail tor trial at next term of
court commencing May 26, 1873,
and the following witnesses were
recognized to appear and give testi
mony, viz: Sarah Bensing, Wm.
Snyder, David Walters, Jos. Houpt,
Mrs. Jos. Iloapt, John Bensing,
Abraham Huff
The funeral sermon of Mr. Ben
sing was preached at one o'clock last
Sabbath by Rev. 7. G. Ruhl. from
Daniel xu- 813.
TOO FINE A POINT.
One of the points made by Senator
Norwood against Senator' Clayton,
is tbat -"he obtained five votes, which
made hia majority and were necessary
to his election, by giving to those
electors, as a consideration for the lr
votes, lucrative offices." Which the
Senator is pleased to add, waa
corrupt as it, ior tne same purpose.
he had paid them money in kind.
Now, we are in favor of Civil Ser
vice reform, and almost every other
reform of which we have any knowl
edge, but we submit that this is put
ting a little to fine a point on a no
toriously prevalent practice. We
should have been willing to risk our
political reputation (which we consid
er as good as political reputations
generally) that there is not an their
tive official in Washington city, of
any party, who had not given to their
electors, as a consideration for their
votes(snd influence) lucrative offices.
Of coarse we would have lost the
stake, as Senator Norwood, by hia
own showing, is certainly not guilty
of any such practices. Those who
vote to place Senator Norwood in a
position of honor or profit need nev
er expect any return for the favor.
We should be thankful that we hare
one guileless Senator. But we pity
his friends.
LET HIM BE INVESTIGATED.
The Republican members ot the
Missouri State Senate have forwarded
memorial to the Senate of the
United States asking that the manner
of the election of Senator Bogy be
investigated. A similar memorial
signed by members of the House was
forwarded a abort time previous.
We see no good reason why aa cir
cumspect and pretentiously honest a
Democrat aa Mr. Bogy should not be
investigated, and we hope tha Senate
will at once grant the request of the
memorialists. This thing of invest!
gating Republicans is becoming
monotonous. We have had Pomeroy,
and Caldwell, and Clayton, and Oakea
Ames, and Colfax, it al., and not
single Democrat except poor Brooks.
Now we protest tbat we want enough
Democrats investigated to spice the
lot. Brooks was well enough as far
he went. Boxy ia a capital subject
By all means let bim be investigated.
Come up to the trough, Mr. Bogy,
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Deles-tea are being chosen to the
Constitutional Convention in the va
rious counties of the State, but there
little paruzac strife manifested.
There is a general disposition to select
the best men who can be induced to
accept the position, and there is little
reason to doubt bat tne Uonyention
will be the most able body ever con
vened in the Slate. This as aa it
ahnnl.1 tut. fa framing tha oreaaic
law of the State, the services of the
most able and experienced men, from
tka wralka nf life, aboaia D secaraa
There are many reforms dema-ded
but the provisions of the Conatitalion
should U free as possible from those
purely leg-uaUvecnai-ot4atics which
weaken tne one at pe-t in force--i,
.1.,1.1 alao be free from even the
.Kiru--ot oart-taoahip. To secure
obiecta. men who can rise above
nirtv and labor for the good ot the
wbote peopiv am u-msu. auua nu.
people are acting wisely in tao
selection of candidates, and we conS
d ar expect to see a Convex-ion eora.
posed of the best talent in tin Stat
"--
or
of
Ila
Toledo Blade.
New Advertisements.
t
tat Uwm taitt
The Largest Stock in America
15 SfllllMa imtnm TrNt; IS XIII
KaraaMa Larck,etOL.elo. All (Town
from weds m oar own Noneties. Atao, 'ri
a4 Farvat Tw Catalogues Free,
. JtVBSaVT IML WLAH MAX.
Wukja, 111.
OUR AGENTS
maklns Mora Money Belling tha Ufa of
G. L. VALUHDISHAM
Than haa ever been made on the eala of any
Territory left. Thoae whoaools arx will rxt
It. r or terms addms
TV'ISBI. lA.S)KO --"!! a, a).
Largest Organ Establishment
in the World.
,; 7 Extensive Factories.
J.. ESTEY AND COMPANY,
Urattleboro, VL.U.S.A.
THE CELEBRATED
Estey Cottage Organs I
Tbela'eat and beat Improvements. Every
thing that u new ana novel, rue leading
IraprOTementa In Organa were introduced
flna In thla eeiaoilahment.
established 1840.
SaaA Far DJartrataJ Catalogma.
ThaOrTDa la published QrAB-nrai.T. 0
eenta pays for the year, which ta not half the
ooet. Taoee whoarterwarua eend money to
the amount or Oae Dallar or more for 8eeda
may alao order a eenta worth extra tha
price paid for the Umna.
Thenretwaoer tabeantlral, giylng plana
for making Btaral Maaaea. Dlalag TaMa
Deearatleae. Wladew atardeaa, !., and
a maaaot Information Invaluable to the lov
aar.aome Saa aaKra-(na,aa)d a eaperb fa.
ared Plate aad Ctwaaaa Caver. The PI rat
er OI nowera. IS aaaea. on fine tinted na-
Edition ofaaaOw Juat printed la Kngllsh,
and Utmin.
JA3EES via
Roeiieatef,
T & P. COATS1
Ul BEST SIX-CORD
White and Black Uhreads
Rkw nlftMt W. without thetmcf nay mbMamet
whatever Io prodaeeoM artificial glom, tAare-
fry prtt vCto thttuperior ttnmgtk ajf mx-
aantlltnad. Ika tliadm afblarA
', 4 Ao, a tOJun politfttmd alt aaa.
ben art nwraafea Xz-coni
For Sale by All Dry Goods Dealers.
ASK FOR J. & P. CO ITS' BLACK.
And naa It lor Machine Beirlng.
EVERY MErHODIST
WANTS IT.
THE METHODIST of New York la alvtna
away to eaoh anbacrloer who pay S2 5 tot a
year's aabeerlpUon, . .
THE ONLY PICTURE
pnbllabed or to be procured elsewhere at any
price, containing, la one group, the laeea ut
w eaiey ana or tsiaoope via, Aaonry. w nab-
ueon
eorge, Roberta. McKendree, Heddmg
iKh. Hamline. Baker. Thompson. Clark
and Klngaley4n addition to thoae of the living
bUhopa. Thla picture la, therefore, of
GREAT HISTORICAL VALUE.
THE METHODIST, althonch beartna a
denominational name, contain much to In
terest all who want
600D REABiNS FOR THE FAMILY
It has strong editorial eorpe, and many able
contributors. Tbe Lecture Talks ef Beeehei
and the Sermons of Talmage, Bishop HI ni Dana
and others are regularly published. Tbe In
ternational Honday School Lcsaoa la of 1
to ail teachers, while tbe Chlldn
pent la unsurpassed lor variety i
i Dafan
HubsoiipUons may be sent direst or paid to
the nearest Methodist preacher , (Specimen
aoples free,
at. C. HAUTED, PwbMaher,
11 Aaeeea ttW.Hewr Terk.
American Hand Corn-Planter.
Bent by express on receipt of IS 50. HANK T
A JO Manufacturers, Mt. Loals, Ma. Liberal
terras to duaiera. Hand slamp lur circular.
Moiaij, Matt ail Eld
taw U 111, riaoiingand Blast Furnace Ma
chinery. H..iiLA.NDY, Newark, U.
WITHEHBY, RUGG&RICHARDSQM
Ajiur ACTuaaaa or
MiiiHacMiigrjtoraIlj
SpeemitUe$ tWooOiorih Iteming, Tottgueing
and Wreoeav MaeMnet, Riehanttoa't
Jalswliapi oual Ttnoa M aoaaass, c
OtjUral, tar. Vmkm At, Wereeater, Biaaa
l a. with ran r. o, J. avoo. a. m. BjcHAJwena
GUNS! GUNS!
Wholesale and Retail. Double Uans at ft and
npwarda. Breech -Loaders, S3& to WUO. JUflea,
K to Sia, Bevoivera, ail kinds and prices. Air
dene and Pistols, Single articles sent to any
part or the country by express, V.O.D. Target
Companies and Base Bail Clubs supplied at
lowest wboleaale rates. Yon eaa save 'Jb per
cent, by ordering direct of us, as we Import
ir own goods. Bena ior mee ust. ntnai
eooda. I
I (or Price List,
ler and Dealer. I
C. rXlUIBES, Importer and Dealer, M Cbata-
r City Hall.) New York.
GRANDEST SCHEME OF THE ABE
$500,000!
" " ' 1 VJ JL JL ?
$100,000 for Only $10.
Under authority of special legislative act of
Mareb la. 171. tbe trustees now announce tbe
Tales Uraad ail ft C sax era. tor I he benefit
of tbe rebile Ljarary ef aieatawky. to
come off in Library Hall, at LoulavllleJy.jDit
TaesMlay, April 8 Lb, 1873.
At this concert the bast si osteal talent tbat
can be procured from all parts of tbe country
will add pleasure Io tbe eotertainmant. and
Teal Tasssaad Caaaj Olfsa. aggregating a
vast total of Mai f a aflllioai aveilan cur
rency will be distributed by lot Io toe tlcket
boldere. as follows :
OneUrand Casa , finsnna
OneUrand Casb ilft
una urana tasa ,
OneUrand Caab UIO
One ttrand Casb Oirt
One Urand Caab Girt...
24 Casb UMta of tlu
M Caab uifta of btm
Hu Caea Oifta of evs)
108 Caab ULfta of 8uu
HO Caab Ultta of M
&WCaabUlftaof Ml
tWO Caab Ulft of 10
Total. lO.OOOOIfta. all Ca
To provide means ior tbia saagnlOeent Coa-
eert. aw Haadreal Tbeasaad Whale)
Tlekeaa wwly will be Issued.
wool Xicketa, w: naivea, a: and tnar
tera.aM. Eleven whole Tickets for illAi. tta
diaeouat oo leas than UOu orders.
Tna object of tbls Thl I Win caateaia. Ilka
tbe two beretofore given wllb sncn universal
approval; la tbe enlargement and endowment
1 tbe rabile Llarary ef Kea tacky .wbleb
T tbe snecial act au mortal nc tne eoocert lor
is benefit. Is to be forever free to all duaena
ef every (Mate. Tbe drawing will be under
tbe supervision of the Trusts as of tbe Library,
lalsnl by tbe moat eminent cillsene of tbe
United ritslea. Tbe sale of tickets baa already
progressed so far tbat complete surma, la ae
emred, and buyers are therefore notified tbat
tbey moat order at once U tbey desire to par
Uolpate In tbe drawing.
Toe management of thla undertaking naa
been committed by tbe trustees ke Use.
Tbss E. SlraaalirliSi li '" T
tacky , to whom communications pcrtanltig to
the uia Concert may oe addressed;
M.T. DL'ttKETT. Prest
W. N.HAL1EMAN, VlcePresX
JOH 8. CAIN, Hee'y Publle Ubrary of Ky.
FABalltBS' AND D&OVEHcV BAJiK . Trees
, nrer, Publle Library of Ky- Loolsyllle. By.
Orders tor tickets or applications fnv ageo
eles, circular-. Information, etewlll meet
Wllb prompt attention wbeo areased to aa
Tsvaa. L Brans Irf Louisville. By.
a Atieut rMblle Library Ky.
All order for tickets sbonld be addressed to
a- aiu,i.-r.. Western Depotof supply.
UA La Iala &t Chicago, ill.
LADIES
at ll Pace Powdon
ty-evw eenta win
s by return mall.
box of FmlaaeWe laivfa-
isla tbe most charm Ink
wdom. B. r s, riau
Htreet. Mew York.
fci, OH ! day! Agents Wanted I All
Sl3 LO AZUcleaasa of worklaa people, of
either sex, young or oid, make more money
at work for us In their spare momenta, or ail
tbe time, than at anything else. PartJeulara
free. Address U. cVtuwum Co, Portland.
ktalne.e r a
We care tbe bnblt V mam pal.
. Umtek, wllbootsoflerlng
orimeonvealenea. Deerlbeyonr
LLaddrssri.U. Aaaurr ao.vo,
SlS. Berrien, lab. P.Q.BoaS
REWARD.
per any ease of Blind, Bleed
i. IteblnkorL'learalad Plica
chat DeBlng " Pile itemed y
ouistoeure. It la preoarad
rare tbe Pllea,aad nothing else.
Price, fl 00.
Inft-f ateri Burial ScM !
mXTVMLlC. BB-XCA COX,
The spring Tana commencea April 1st :
Soramer Term, J an Bab.
We deal re loaanoaaee tamt aapreesdeat
,td advaalagee eaa be enjoyed at thla lnatl
tatioa daring lb -taxi I we terms ay teachers
aad loose desiring te prepare for teaehl agar
naslne Ledlee and gentleman will 2nd
..
m ineraie, e; i. tie ca
tnltion sod boarding. Ila great range of
Madias and an lie. s. its live, practical and
thorough t earners. . its saving f time. a.
eern4B,enthuaJeaptrrtf work. a. Its
freedom from tbe vteea and temptation ef
large towns aad ettlea. 7. its healthful loca
tion, a. " 1 rrliti-alnrseatsilsii
restrain la.
M-WearaiesyonarMa tar tbe statement
mad bar or In oar raialngnos sud ejiwn iare.
a sad at oaee for daearlpu v eels log ue er
personal Iptormaltoa, Oil will haisiseifiillj
rexalsoert by
TFaUL-M MCHjLKaFTOseJsaU.
mmlm
w,uw
'JbMM
3U,tM
-- lu.Uue
. 6,IM
nsrh 1AA
eecb. S6,um
each , 8-uija
S.uu
1 i SU.1M,
1TST1 6W.UU
'"h MMM
SFHI
SATCBS I
t?i nnn
.n. mm