The herald., 1893-02-01
JUMPED THROUGH THE WINDOW.
How Bentley Tried to Avoid
the Detectives.
He Was Captured Yesterday Morning
at the st. Elmo.
Review of the Sensational Case
In Which the Prisoner Is Charged
With Playing VIII
1an's Role.

the main topic OF conversation, on ac-
count of the startling developments that
were made public in yesterday morn
ing's HERALD. While it has been known
for week past in the sheriff's Office
that Capt. A. B. Lawson and several of
his detectives were working up the case
in the interest of the heirs, who en-
ployed Hon. Stephen M. White, George
J. Denis and H. B. Harmon to straighten
out the estate, it was not believed that
the Hawkshaws would be able to fasten
the murder of the poor old lady on her
husband, Henry Bentley; but the old
saying, murder will out" has again
been illustrated, and at 930 O'Clock
yesterday morning the Bluebeard OF Los
Angeles was lodged in a steel cell in the
county Jail, and the jailer was instructed
by Sheriff Cline to admit no one to his
cell and not allow him to 60 out on bail.
The case from it's first inception has
been sensational and the attorneys have
taken deep interest in it. When they
were employed it was the intention OF
the four heirs to show that their aged
mother had been influenced by her
young husband to sign her property to
him without knowing what she was do
ing. They believed that they could re-
cover the property that che decided to
Bentley just after she married him, but
it was not until come days after the de-
tectiveH were set to work on the case
that foul play was suspected. William
Nordholdt, who returned from Arizona
only few days ago and was informed
as to how the case stood and that his
stepfather, Bentley, was suspected of
having taken hand in his mothers
death, had no idea at the time of his
mothers death that there was anything
wrong, but he signifed his desire to go
ahead with the case and at once in
structed his attorneys to make the most
thorough investigation. In fact he ex-
pressed wish to have the husband OF
his late mother exonerated, if possible,
as he can hardly believe. even now,
that Bentley is the black-hearted
wretch he has been painted.
This stand on the part of William
Nordholdt put new life in the breasts of
the investigators, and mountain of
work has been accomplished during the
past few days.
Every move made by Bentley since his
arrival in this city from Tucson, Ariz.,
y
out. He was janitor in the Tucson court
house just before he started for Los
Angeles, and even during his stay in
that city he was considered a strange
being by his companions. He was al
ways talking about rich women, and
declared that he would never rest until
he had married woman possessed OF
large wealth.
When he reached Los Angeles he had
but $50 in his pocket, and after few
weeks he had to seek employment, not
= withstanding the fact that he informed
his Arizona friends that he would never
do another stroke of work after leaving
that place.
He engaged himself as coachman to
Mrs. ]. w. Robinson, who was widow
ct that time, but he did not remain IN
her service long. He next hired out to
Maj. E. w. Jones ae stableman and
coachman.
During all of this time and for long
time prior to his coming to Los Angeles
he spent his spare time corresponding
with women who were foolish enough to
answer his matrimonial advertisements.
This will seem strange to the reader
when it is stated that Bentley is an ig-
norant German, who can hardly write
his own name, but he is naturally
smart, and as soon as he found himself
among strangers he at once set about to
make friends, and as soon as he secured
the confidence of some unprincipled
person of education he would unfold his
matrimonial plans, and engage the new
friend to carry on his correspondence
with his intended victim.
He had been in this city but short
time when he met a man and his wife
who agreed to do his writing, and letters
were sent out by the dozen.
During his first few months residence
here he had four or five women on
string, but one seemed to suit him
until he met the Widow Nordholdt. A
friendship sprung up between the singu-
lar couple at once, and in short space
of time they became engaged. The
and did everything in their power to
break the engagement off, but the old
lady would not listen to them.
Bentley was smart enough to see that
must strike while the iron was hot,
30 he talked the old lady into making a
visit to San Jose.
While there the two were married by
q justice OF the peace, and before the
wedding baked meats were cold he had
induced his bride to deed to him all of
her property, valued at $75, 900. AS soon
as he got the document in his hands he
boarded the next train for Los Angeles,
leaving his bride of few hours in the
fourth story of San Francisco building.
He rushed down here for the purpose
of getting the deeds recorded before his
wife could change her mind. She had
no idea what had become of him, and
telegraphed to her children, asking about
her new husband.
The story OF the marriage leaked out
at this time, and quite little sensation
was created, but Bentley hurried back
to his bride and matters auieted down
for time, and nothing more was heard
of the strange couple until the sudden
death Of Mrs. Nordholdt-B Bentley was
announced on New Years day, just
month ago.
Even the suddenness of her death on
the morning of the first of this year did
not create suspicion in the breast of
her children.
William Nordholdt WAS living at home
In the family residence on the corner of
Seventh and Wall streets, and he rose
1T $3.50 that morning to take drive
into the country.
In passing his mothers bed room he
Knocked at the door and wished her
'happy new year." She replied in the
best of spirits, go far as he could Judge
from her voice, and told him to return
for dinner.
At s O'Clock that same morning, as he