THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, February 13, 1920. R. BENTON ABANDONS SICK WIFE AND CHILDREN. If the story told this week by Mrs. Richard Benton is entirely true, her husband ought to be kicked for leaving his family in the plight in which they were found by neighbors. Benton and his family have been living in the neighborhood back of the Miners Lumber Company yards here. The wife and children became ill a few days ago with influenza. There was only four dollars in money in the house and Benton is alleged to have taken this and went to Oran, leaving the wife and children ill and without money or food. The youngest child, Ruth, aged 16 months, died Saturday. The sad case had been brtought to the attention of neighbors who gave aid. The Lead Belt Womans' Club also provided food and other necessities. The little one was buried Sunday afternoon. It is alleged that Benton had not only been shiftless, refusing to support his family, but has been actually brutal in his treatment of them. The wife tells that he has repeatedly choked and beaten both herself and the little children. She has made a brave effort to support both the children and herself having secured the little furniture they have. She tells of having at different times secured employment for her husband and trying to induce him to work. He would work a few days and quit. Mrs. Benton is a hard-working deserving woman and says she is confident she can make a comfortable living for herself and remaining child if her husband will leave them alone.