The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-06
Suicide of a Destitute, Friend
less Woman at Tacoma.
A BULLET ENDS HER TROUBLE.
Weaver Seems Likely to Get One
Electoral Vote From Oregon.
The Steamer WiImington's Condition
Pullman to Retain the College-The
Union Pacific Boycott-Our Militia at
the Worlds Fair.

TACOMA, Dec Especial. Mrs E. A. Bentley
ieit her husband recently at san Francisco, and
after drifting about aimlessly Tor time found
herself penniless in this city. She had never
been accustomed to work. and accepted small
charities in the shape of meal tickets and meas
until her room rent became due Then she
went to see Seattle cousin, hoping as a last re-
sort to obtain money
Before doing this, however. Mrs Bentley, when
she had 81 left, called ut Ray Roberts house
OF Prostitution, known as "Thc Chicago" Opera
alley, and opened negotiations to become
an inmate. She visited the house twice. and
eech time upon returning she became disgusted
and melancholy at the prospect 1t was after
the second visit that she decided to go to Seattle.
Harry W. Clarke, Of Butte. Mont, whom she
Claimed to have known in better days, settled
for some OF her meals, and to him she went for
money to pay her iare 10 Seattle. At that time
she had not a cent.
When she left Tacoma Saturday night she had
not reconciled herself TO entering house of
prostitution. She was of small, delicate figure.
with u pleasant face, olive compile xon ani dark
hair. The proprietress of the bagnio advised
her to enter her place. She was sure she would
no; then lack for money
With this advice Mrs. Bentley left for Seattle
Saturday night. She had barely enough money
to pay her iare. and IL IS probable che did not
have much to eat after she left and until she
returned here at a. m. and went to the Con
doifo hotel. where she had been staying, and
snot herself through the heart with "A revolver
which she found IN Harry ". Clarke's apart
ment.
She found her own room, the one she had been
occupying, locked At her request, and with
the consent OF the proprietor of the place aud
Mr.. Clarke her trunk had been placed in a store
room adjoining Mr.. Ciarke's room. She found
the door of Clarke's room open, and entered.
Without removing her shoes or stockings, she
attired herself III a clean and new nighrdress.
Clarke's revolver lay at the head of the bed,
partially concealed by the pillow. She held the
muzzle over her heart and pulled the trigger.
She died in five minutes. without making a
statement
Mrs. Bentley had friends at Seattle, Portland,
San Francisco. Los Angeles aud Butte City,
Mont, and at other smaller cities and towns on
the Pacific coast.
Mrs. Bentley came here November II via Los
Angeles, san Francisco and Portland. She did
not talk much, except TO say that she had
known Clarke before. He does not say much
about her, however. He befriended her, aud
because his friendship was not strong enough
for her she was dispieased. In her dresses and
satchei were found the following addresses:
Mr.. William Terhune. southeast corner Stark
street. Portland
Mr.. II. w. Clarke. Tacoma, Wash.
Mrs. Mary a. Clarke, SaI4,Francisco (this letter
was signed v. Pepper. San Ftancisco.l
Mrs. A. p. Bentley, San Francisco.
Mrs. Mildred Cormick, Minneapolis.
+. II. Knapp. Tacoma hotel Tacoma.
The remains are at Hoska's undertaking rooms
awaiting Identification.
At Portland Mrs. Bentley gave the name OF
Miss Clark to Terhume, an ocean steamer bag
gageman, who conversed with her while check
ing hec baggage. Beside her destitute condi-
ton, it appears some friends beside Clarke did
not befriend her to her liking. Clarke says:
met her in the corridor and she was crying
Naturally, l asked her what was the trouble.
She told me she was penniess, had no friends
and nothing to eat / told her that ii she would
go down to the restaurant would pay for her
meals until she could do better. She refused,
saying that she not acquainted
i then suggested that / would 20 with
her, to which proposition she consented.
and went down and ate together
When We came to the pay counter told the
landlord to charge up her meals TO me there
after until further orders and after passing into
the hallway gave her s., as l believed her to
be an honest woman and honest in her story.
She said she wanted me to send her trunk to
Seattle when she wrote for il. promising that if
she ever got money she would pay u e back.
The body OF the suicide was identified by Eu-
gene Burlingame, who used to go to school with
her. Her husband is postmaster at Compton,