Benjamin H. "Benny" Klatt
Marriages
Esther L. Wellington Klatt - January 4, 1928
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 8 - April 28, 1954
Benjamin H. KLATT was born in Ammadale, Minnesota August 6, 1892 to Louisa and Herman KLATT.
At the age of nine, he moved with his parents to Colorado, settling at Paonia on the Western Slope.
Following a tour of duty during World War I, Mr. KLATT came to Eagle valley in 1923, where he was employed as a produce commissioner.
In 1928 he was married to Miss Esther WELLINGTON, and the couple had lived at Edwards since.
Mr. KLATT died April 20 at Edwards.
A large crowd of friends gathered at the Edwards school house Friday afternoon when funeral services were conducted by Rev. Delbert PAULSON.
The remains were taken by the Bowman Funeral home of Eagle, to Olinger Mortuary in Denver, and interment services were conducted Saturday at Fairmount, Denver.
Eagle Valley Enterprise - April 1954
BILL WELLINGTON HELD IN DEATH OF BENNY KLATT.
Murder charges have been filed by District Attorney Harold A. GRANT, against Wm. WELLINGTON, 69, of Edwards, following the shotgun slaying of WELLINGTON's brother-in-law, Benny H. KLATT Tuesday afternoon.
The shooting took place in the Edwards postoffice and store, and was witnessed by Mrs. Frank BROCK, who with her husband owns the store. Mrs. BROCK stated Mr. KLATT was seated on an end of a counter when his brother-in-law came in the store. The two engaged in a conversation for a while, until an argument over property developed. According to Mrs. BROCK's statement before a coroner's jury Wednesday afternoon, KLATT ordered WELLINGTON to be moved out of the small cabin he has been living in near the Edwards store for several months, and owned by KLATT. WELLINGTON stated KLATT didn't own the cabin, that it belonged to his sister, Mrs. KLATT, and that WELLINGTON wouldn't move.
WELLINGTON left for his cabin. When he returned Mrs. BROCK was in the postoffice section of the building and stepped back into the store just as WELLINGTON fired on KLATT, still seated on the counter, at close range, hitting him in the left cheek with a .410 shell.
WELLINGTON apologized to Mrs. BROCK for "having done it in her presence," and returned to his cabin where he put away his gun
Mrs. BROCK called for help to Chet RUMINSKI at the Edwards cafe, near the store, who notified Sheriff W. M. WILSON's office in Eagle.
A six-man coroner's jury called Wednesday, found the shot had been fired with felonious intent, and the murder charge was filed late the same afternoon by District Attorney GRANT.
Mrs. KLATT teaches school at Pando, and was at school at the time of the shooting. The KLATTs live on the north side of Eagle river, across the river from the cabin occupied by WELLINGTON.
