SHOT HOMSELF
Wm Benson, a Seventeen-Year-Old Youth, Shoots Himself Near Sublimity - No Particulars
This morning J. M. Mead received a telegram from West Stayton, stating that Wm. Benson, the seventeen-year-old son of Chas. Benson, living two miles and a half above Sublimity, had shot himself, and would be buried to-morrow.
No further particulars were in the telegram and all efforts to obtain an account of the affair were futile. It is the supposition that the shooting was accidental, as the young man was bright and of good character. He was a cousin of Mr. Mead. Mr. Mead's father and brother will go to the scene at once. Chas. Benson, the father of the boy, is well known in this city, but is not related to the Bensons residing here.
Evening Capital Journal 22 Mar 1890, 1:6

A Terrible Tragedy
Will Benson, of Sublimity Kills Himself
No cause known
Willard, March 26. Willie Benson, son of Charles Benson, who resided 4 miles east of Sublimity, 18 years of age, committed suicide by blowing out his brains on Friday evening. Nothing previous to the shooting caused anyone to suspicion [sic] anything wrong with the young man's mind. He left school Friday evening as usual and started for home. Willie went on down through the field where his father was plowing. His father told him to go to the house and build a fire in the stove, that his mother had gone up to Mr. Lake's and would be back soon. Willie turned and started on in great haste. In the meantime his father spoke to him a second time, Willie stopped, turned around and his father said, "as soon as you can, come to the barn and we will haul some hay to that sick cow of yours." As Willie started toward the house his favorite dog met him, but instead of stopping to play with his dog, as he was accustomed to he kicked it out of the way and passed on to the house. In a few minutes Mt. Benson heard a loud, dull report, but paid no attention to it, as he thought is was men blasting on the O. P. as they had been a day or so before. Mrs. Benson returned later and stopped at the barn to hunt eggs and as soon as she had them all gathered she went to the house and on entering was horrified to find her son with the top of his head blown off. At the sight she turned and fled to the door and screamed for her husband who came running to her. She told him and they both entered the house together to find that life was extinct and the young man was lying in a pool of blood, dead. When the neighbor gathered in and made a careful examination they found a slate leaning against the wall with the initials of all the family excepting his father whose name was in full at the bottom, then the words, "Good Bye, go to hell." Further investigation showed that in his left hand he grasped a little broom, with which he had evidently discharged the gun. The community is at a loss to know what made him commit the deed.
Woodburn Independent 26 Mar 1890