Grady County GaArchives News.....W. L. Benton Bound Over On Charge Of Murdering Wife July 28 1918
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Janet Sumner http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002510 May 30, 2004, 9:03 pm

The Cairo Messenger
Last Monday afternoon, the committment hearing of the case of the state vs. W. 
L. Benton, charged with the murder of his wife, Mrs. L. L. Benton, was held 
before Judge T. H. Dekle.  It was charged that he administered poison to his 
wife which caused her death at their home sixteen miles north of town in the 
Spence District, on April 20th, this year.  The state was represented by 
Solicitor R. C. Bell, while J. Q. Smith Esq., represented Benton.  About a 
dozen or more witnesses were introduced by the state while the defense did not 
use any.  The case was to be tried Monday morning, but owing to the fact that 
one of the state's witnesses was attending court in Thomasville, the case was 
put off until Monday afternoon at 1:30.  It consumed practically the entire 
afternoon.

It will be remembered that owing to the mysterious death of Mrs. Benton, the 
undertaker who was called in the case, Mr. Cowart, of Pelham, would not allow 
the body to be buried until a coroner's inquest was held.  The coroner's jury 
recommended that the contents of the stomach be taken and sent to the state 
chemist in Atlanta, which was done.  The contents were not examined until about 
June 2nd, a few days after the fee was guaranteed by a relative of the 
deceased.  The chemists, Dr. Edgar Everhart who testified at the hearing stated 
that he found arsenic and copper, which no doubt caused Mrs. Benton's death.  
Following the find of the copper and arsenic, the arrest of Mr. Benton was 
ordered.  Upon learning that he was wanted, he came in and gave up and was 
placed in the county jail, where he has since remained.

At the hearing, among the witnesses testifying were: Dr. J. L. Summerlin, of 
Meigs, Dr. O. B. Bush, of Pelham, Mr. Cowart, the undertaker, of Pelham, Dr. 
Edgar Everhardt, of Atlanta, several ladies who were at her bedside the day of 
her death, besides several colored parties.

After hearing all the evidence in the case, Judge Dekle remanded Benton back to 
jail.

Much interest is being manifested in the outcome of the case, owing to the 
prominence of the parties connected.  Benton had been married to his wife for 
about eight months at the time of her death, and was the only legal heir to her 
estate valued at $8,000.  Mrs. Benton had been married before, but no children 
survive her.  The case will be tried at the September term of Grady Superior 
Court.     

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