ACCUSED OF MURDER- Mrs. Emily Bennett 1893

BENNETT, PENCE, WIESE

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 1/30/2017 at 22:29:26

Dubuque Sunday Herald, November 12, 1893

ACCUSED OF MURDER
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Mrs. Emily Bennett Charged With Killing
Annie Wiese-Jealously
The Supposed Motive
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MARSHALLTOWN, Nov. 11. – Armed with a warrant charging Mrs. Emily Bennett with murder in the first degree, Sherriff Pence and two deputies drove to Vienna yesterday, arrested Mrs. Bennett, brought her to Marshalltown, and lodged her in jail. She is accused of the awful murder of Miss Annie Wiese, near Green Mountain, on the night of Aug. 26 last, and the net of evidence is woven so strongly and completely that there is apparently no hope of escape. She has been ill ever since the murder, and after being incarcerated in jail became so prostrated that a physician was summoned.

The motive for the crime, which was one of the most brutal and bungling ever committed in the state, is supposed to have been Mrs. Bennett’s jealously of her husband’s attentions to Miss Wiese. The accused is 45 years old, the second wife of Silas Bennett, a farmer, and has a grown son by a former husband. The family had lived within a half a mile of the scene of the murder for several years and all bear rather unsavory reputations. They refused to join in the search for the murderer after the crime was discovered. Apparent blood stains were found on their door and gate the following day and a tuft of hair found clutched in the dead girl’s hand corresponds exactly with that of Mrs. Bennett, having been subjected to microscopical test by an expert professor of Rush Medical College and local physicians. There are several other strong links in the chain of evidence which the state will not yet divulge.

The best legal talent will conduct the case, which will be of greater interest than any other murder trial since the celebrated Rainsburger case of several years ago.

The readers will remember that Annie Wiese was attacked from ambush at 10 o’clock at night while returning on foot alone from a neighbor’s. Her head was fearfully beaten with a club, her throat slashed in a horrible manner and her body stabbed in a dozen places. Her remains were twice exhumed in the hope of securing clues, and two previous arrests to that of Mrs. Bennett were made, but an alibi was proved in each case.