Monday, 18th August 1913: Dies Dreaming Of Little Phagan Girl, The Atlanta Journal

Mary Phagan's Grandmother Dies at Family Residence After Dream of Mary

Just a few hours after she had dreamed that little Mary Phagan was alive and in the room with her, Mrs. A. E. Benton, the grandmother of the murdered girl, died at 9:40 o'clock Sunday night of old age infirmities, aggravated by grief over Mary's fate.

Saturday night she dreamed that Mary was alive and well and at her bedside. It may have been the illusion of delirium preceding the final collapse of her faculties. At any rate, when she waked Sunday morning, she told her daughter, Mrs. J. W. Coleman, mother of the murdered child, that Mary had been with her in her dreams. She described vividly how Mary looked, and seemed happy over her dream.

"My mother's eyes were bright when she told me of this, and I thought she was better," said Mrs. Coleman. "Later I learned the cruel cause of their brightness. My mother's one hope and prayer was that she might live until the end of the trial now going on."

Mrs. Benton had been grieving profoundly ever since the first shock of Mary Phagan's murder prostrated her last April. She was then unable to attend her granddaughter's funeral. But she rallied gradually, and was strong enough to attend the opening of the trial. The first two days of the ordeal were too much for her, however, and she was forced to go to bed. From then until the end she did not arise again.

Mrs. Benton was 73 years old. She died at the home of Mrs. Coleman, 704 Ashby street, Atlanta. She had been living with her other daughter, Mrs. J. F. Barmore, in Marietta, but came to Atlanta to attend the trial. Besides those two daughters, she is survived by four sons, Mr. Jack Benton, of Riverside, and Messrs. Hardy, Thomas, and Durell Benton, of Atlanta. All of her children were at her bedside when death came, and she was able to recognize them until her eyes closed.

Mrs. Benton will be buried in the old family cemetery in Sardis churchyard, near Marietta.

The body was taken to Bloomfield's chapel and will be sent to Marietta Monday afternoon about 5 o'clock. The funeral services will be held at Sardis church, near Marietta and the interment will follow in the church yard.