Emporia Gazette (Emporia, KS), 1 Dec 1941
Concordia Couple Dead; Apparently Murder,
Suicide
Concordia, Dec 1 -- Jesse Benge, 50, taxi
company operator, and his wife, Clarissa,
48, were found shot to death today in
Benge's room, an apparent murder and
suicide.
Sheriff Jack Cleveland and Police Chief
James Bowman said it appeared that Mrs.
Benge had shot her husband once in the
chest and herself through the forehead.
The .38 caliber gun was found near her
hand.
Officers said the couple, parents of five
children, had been estranged for several
months. One son, William, 14, told officers
he and a sister-in-law ate lunch with his
mother and that she informed them she
was going to have a talk with Benge and
for them to come for her in an hour.
The bodies were found in a small room in
the taxi company building in which Benge
had been living.
Sheriff Cleveland said the gun would be
examined for finger prints to ascertain
definitely whether the couple might have
been killed by a third party.
He said the weapon had not yet been
broken to determine the number of shots
fired, but it appeared each had been shot
once. One .38 caliber bullet was found in
Mrs. Benge's purse.
Coroner W. B. Newton said he was not
certain whether he would call an inquest,
adding he would wait until after the finger-
print examination.
The bodies were found by William and his
sister-in-law shortly before noon. The boy
said they did not wait an hour, as his mother
had suggested.
Mr. and Mrs. Benge had lived in Concordia
about 15 years.
Contributed by FAG MBR.# 46831367
[email protected]
Concordia Couple Dead; Apparently Murder,
Suicide
Concordia, Dec 1 -- Jesse Benge, 50, taxi
company operator, and his wife, Clarissa,
48, were found shot to death today in
Benge's room, an apparent murder and
suicide.
Sheriff Jack Cleveland and Police Chief
James Bowman said it appeared that Mrs.
Benge had shot her husband once in the
chest and herself through the forehead.
The .38 caliber gun was found near her
hand.
Officers said the couple, parents of five
children, had been estranged for several
months. One son, William, 14, told officers
he and a sister-in-law ate lunch with his
mother and that she informed them she
was going to have a talk with Benge and
for them to come for her in an hour.
The bodies were found in a small room in
the taxi company building in which Benge
had been living.
Sheriff Cleveland said the gun would be
examined for finger prints to ascertain
definitely whether the couple might have
been killed by a third party.
He said the weapon had not yet been
broken to determine the number of shots
fired, but it appeared each had been shot
once. One .38 caliber bullet was found in
Mrs. Benge's purse.
Coroner W. B. Newton said he was not
certain whether he would call an inquest,
adding he would wait until after the finger-
print examination.
The bodies were found by William and his
sister-in-law shortly before noon. The boy
said they did not wait an hour, as his mother
had suggested.
Mr. and Mrs. Benge had lived in Concordia
about 15 years.
Contributed by FAG MBR.# 46831367
[email protected]
Emporia Gazette (Emporia, KS), 1 Dec 1941
Concordia Couple Dead; Apparently Murder,
Suicide
Concordia, Dec 1 -- Jesse Benge, 50, taxi
company operator, and his wife, Clarissa,
48, were found shot to death today in
Benge's room, an apparent murder and
suicide.
Sheriff Jack Cleveland and Police Chief
James Bowman said it appeared that Mrs.
Benge had shot her husband once in the
chest and herself through the forehead.
The .38 caliber gun was found near her
hand.
Officers said the couple, parents of five
children, had been estranged for several
months. One son, William, 14, told officers
he and a sister-in-law ate lunch with his
mother and that she informed them she
was going to have a talk with Benge and
for them to come for her in an hour.
The bodies were found in a small room in
the taxi company building in which Benge
had been living.
Sheriff Cleveland said the gun would be
examined for finger prints to ascertain
definitely whether the couple might have
been killed by a third party.
He said the weapon had not yet been
broken to determine the number of shots
fired, but it appeared each had been shot
once. One .38 caliber bullet was found in
Mrs. Benge's purse.
Coroner W. B. Newton said he was not
certain whether he would call an inquest,
adding he would wait until after the finger-
print examination.
The bodies were found by William and his
sister-in-law shortly before noon. The boy
said they did not wait an hour, as his mother
had suggested.
Mr. and Mrs. Benge had lived in Concordia
about 15 years.
Contributed by FAG MBR.# 46831367
[email protected]
Concordia Couple Dead; Apparently Murder,
Suicide
Concordia, Dec 1 -- Jesse Benge, 50, taxi
company operator, and his wife, Clarissa,
48, were found shot to death today in
Benge's room, an apparent murder and
suicide.
Sheriff Jack Cleveland and Police Chief
James Bowman said it appeared that Mrs.
Benge had shot her husband once in the
chest and herself through the forehead.
The .38 caliber gun was found near her
hand.
Officers said the couple, parents of five
children, had been estranged for several
months. One son, William, 14, told officers
he and a sister-in-law ate lunch with his
mother and that she informed them she
was going to have a talk with Benge and
for them to come for her in an hour.
The bodies were found in a small room in
the taxi company building in which Benge
had been living.
Sheriff Cleveland said the gun would be
examined for finger prints to ascertain
definitely whether the couple might have
been killed by a third party.
He said the weapon had not yet been
broken to determine the number of shots
fired, but it appeared each had been shot
once. One .38 caliber bullet was found in
Mrs. Benge's purse.
Coroner W. B. Newton said he was not
certain whether he would call an inquest,
adding he would wait until after the finger-
print examination.
The bodies were found by William and his
sister-in-law shortly before noon. The boy
said they did not wait an hour, as his mother
had suggested.
Mr. and Mrs. Benge had lived in Concordia
about 15 years.
Contributed by FAG MBR.# 46831367
[email protected]
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