Person Page 2,131

Emma S. Waggott was born on 4 March 1877 in Bellevue, Eaton, Michigan.¹ She and Thomas M. Stewart were married on 21 March 1900 in Lenn, Lapeer, Michigan.² She and Earl Amos Zonker were married on 3 June 1916 in Elkhart, Elkhart, Indiana.² She died on 10 July 1940, at age 63, in Lansing, Ingham, Michigan.³ She was buried on 13 July 1940 in Mount Hope Cemetery, Lansing, Ingham, Michigan.^3,4

Mrs. Emma S. Zonker, 63, wife of Earl A. Zonker of 217 East Elm street, died Wednesday night at the residence. Mrs. Zonker was a member of the Methodist church at Corunna, Ind., where she had lived previous to coming to Lansing four years ago. She is survived by the husband, Earl A.; a sister, Mrs. Ila Thomas of Lansing; a brother, Daniel Waggott of Grand Ledge, and her step-father, Charles Karcher of Lansing. Funeral services will be held at the Estes-Leadley funeral home at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon, with the Rev. Mr. Joseph Dibley officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Hope cemetery.

Minnie Waggott was born in 1879 in Michigan.¹ She and Clarence Elias Benjamin were married on 20 October 1896 in Lapeer, Lapeer, Michigan.^2,3 She died on 1 October 1898, at age ~19, in Lapeer County, Michigan.⁴ She was buried in Arcadia Township Cemetery, Lum, Lapeer, Michigan.

Cruel Murder- clarence Benjamin Shoots and Kills his Wife, Minnie Waggott

Bang! Bang!! Bang !!!

A young woman falls from her carriage-dead in the road.

Clarence Benjamin is in jail for murder.
The city of Lapeer was thrown into a fever of great excitement on Saturday just at dusk, by the commission of a cruel murder within its limits.

Clarence Benjamin, a young man of 24 years, who lived with his parents Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Benjamin, on Saginaw street diagonally opposite Hungerford's carriage factory, in a fit of jealosy, killed Minnie Waggott, his wife, aged about 18, on the road east of town; then shot at himself, inflicting a slight flesh wound.

Two years ago the couple were married and at once set up housekeeping. It has been known for some time that things were not running smoothly with young Benjamin. Recently his wife left, going to her mother's home, near Lum

Benjamin had made several attempts to get his wife back, and when his efforts proved unavailing, he advertised her as having let his "bed and board." Saturday Mrs. Benjamin came with her younger sister, Ila, to Lapeer to do some shopping. The husband and wife met on the streets once or twice, and about 6:30 p.m. when the two women started for home in their carriage, Benjamin, who was watching their movements, drove behind them. As they reached the residence of Duane Sculley, east of the city, Benjamin whipped up his horse and passed their buggy in front, turned his own conveyance around facing the women soliciting a word of converstaion with Mrs. Benjamin privately. She refused to leave the carriage, saying it was late, that she did not care to talk, and must be going home. This enraged him and he drew a revolver, aiming the weapon at his wife, he fired the deadly shot, the bullet entering the heart. Both women screamed, but the victim of cruel jealousy, clasping both hands to her bosum whither the messenger of death had entered, lunged forward from the seat and then with a moan fell from the buggy to the ground, dead. The crazed murderer fired the second shot which took effect in the fleshy part of the hip; the third shot went wild. The screams and reports of the revolver brought Judge Stickney, Mrs. Elmer Mix and others to the spot, while Miss Hatherly, who ws riding by, was an eye witness to the awful scene. Minnie lived but a few moments after having struck the ground.. Drs. Frazier and Hathaway were promptly on hand, but alas life was soon extinct. A crowd slowly gathered about the murdered woman, and in a short time Undertaker S. D. Brown moved the body to his rooms, where the inquest was held. Sunday the remains,enshrouded in a white robe and laid in a beautiful casket, were taken to her mother's Mrs. Alonzo Conant, near Lum.

After firing the shots at his wife, Clarence Benjamin attempted to take his own life with the same weapon that had played the deamon act in sending the soul of his wife into eternity. He only made a flesh wound, however, as the revolver, being s 22 caliber, this is not to be wondered at. He then returned to his home and was soon after taken into the county jail, where he will await his preliminary hearing and trial

The affair is most deplorable, Benjamin had been an industious, saving, sober young man. He was employed for six years by Dr. Hugh McColl, who speaks well of him, and as far as he knows, says he was an exempliary young man. Clarence married his wife two years since, when she was a chit of a girl, but 17 years of age, irresponsible, thoughtless and immature. It is one of the sad fruits of early marriage.

The coroner's jury rendered a verdict on Monday that Minnie Waggott came to her death by a shot from a revolver in the hands of Clarence Benjamin.

The unfortunate young woman was buried from her mother's on Tuesday afternoon, Rev. Geo. W. Durkee, officiating. The community bears sympathy with all parties concerned. Benjamin realizes the gravity of his crime and expresses a regret that his own wound did not prove fatal. Says he was driven to the deed by the love of his wife. That he understands she went to the fair with another young man wnich was more than he could bear. He has engaged the service of Attorney J.A. Maclennan, who will set up the plea of temporary insanity.

The funeral of Mrs. Minnie Benjamin was held in the Lum church Tuesday and it was the largest one ever held in Lum. She leaves a mother, stepfather, two sisters, one brother, a stepbrother, a stepsister and a host ot friends to mourn.

Before Justice BArber last Wednesdy, Clarence Benjamin charged with murdering his wife, Minne Waggott Benjamin waived examination, pleaded guilty and was bound over to the circuit Court for sentence at the November session. Judgement of murder; first degree; sentenced to hard labor and solitary confinement at Jackson for life.

Ila Beatrice Waggott was born on 26 May 1883 in Oxford, Oakland, Michigan.^2,4 She and George J. Thomas were married on 2 July 1904 in Lapeer, Lapeer, Michigan.^5,6 She and George J. Thomas were divorced on 23 August 1920 in Ingham County, Michigan.^7,8 She died on 30 January 1969, at age 85, in Michigan.⁴ She was buried in Arcadia Township Cemetery, Lum, Lapeer, Michigan.⁴

Daniel Dericus Waggott was born on 25 January 1887 in Clarkston, Oakland, Michigan.^2,3,4 He died in July 1963, at age 76.⁴ He was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery (Section S), Lansing, Ingham, Michigan.⁵

Daniel Dericus Waggott was an Auto Factory Master Mechanic.⁶

Alena A.. Snover was born about 1866 in Michigan.^1,2 She died on 9 June 1886 in Macomb County, Michigan.¹

Edith Scorah was born on 22 May 1879 in Richmond, Macomb, Michigan.¹ She died in December 1969, at age 90, in Lynchburg, Virginia.²

Jessie Edna Scorah was born on 15 February 1883 in Richmond, Macomb, Michigan.^1,2

Alena (Lena) Lizzie Scorah was born on 29 September 1886 in Richmond, Macomb, Michigan.¹ She and Roy Harris were married about 1905.² She died in 1963, at age ~77.³

Charles William Scorah was born on 22 August 1890 in Richmond, Macomb, Michigan.^1,2 He died on 25 March 1952, at age 61.^3,2 He was buried in Pleasant View Cemetery, Burley, Cassia, Idaho.²

Levinia (Lena) Irene Pratt was born on 25 October 1892 in Addison, Lenawee, Michigan.^3,2,4 She and Louis Dockery Snover were married on 20 March 1911.³ She was married in 1958.⁴ She died on 12 May 1961, at age 68, in Lapeer, Lapeer, Michigan.^3,4 She was buried in Lakeview Cemetery (Block 12, Lot 66, Grave 3), Clarkston, Oakland, Michigan.⁴

Roy Gilbert Milton was born on 19 July 1882 in Chesterfield Township, Macomb, Michigan.^1,4,2 He and Hazel Louise Snover were married on 14 October 1915 in Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan.^1,3 He died after 26 April 1940.³