The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-07-24
Extraordinary Statement of
the Family Relations
at the Bentley
Homestead.
DAUGHTER AGAINST MOTHER
Miss Emily Says Her Maternal
Parents Actions Were
Shocking in the
Extreme.
Starved Her Children, Was often
intoxicated, and Made Love
to By Many Men.

The application made before Chancellor
McGill yesterday afternoon by the children
of the late lawyer Peter Bentley for the ap-
poinument of guardian of the two young
est children brought out an extraordinary
statement of the family relations at the
Bentley homestead.
Half of the children are arrayed against
the mother, and she refuses to eat with her
children or supply them with food, at least
one of them so testified yesterday.
This application is but another phase of
the troubles which began some months ago,
when the two oldest daughters of Airs. Peter
Bentley commenced suit to prevent their
mother squandering the estate, of which she
is the executrix.
In the Chancery Chambers yesterday Mrs.
Rosaline Towers only sister of the late Mr..
Bentley, had with her Eugenia Bentley, for
whom q guardian was asked, while on the
seat opposite sat Mrs. Bentley with Parker
Bentley aetat 10, whom also the elder chill
dren sought to place under guardians care.
Near to Mrs. BENTLEY sat young man whose
connection with the family has brought him
unenviable notoriety. This was George T.
Weldon, whom rumor says Mrs. Bentley
is desirous of marrying. The remaining
children, Miss Emily Bentley and Peter
Bentley, sat apart from their mother, scorn-
upon as an inteFloper.
When the case was called Mrs Bentley left
her seat and sat near to Governor Bedle, her
counsel; while Miss Emily Bentley, Eugenia
and Mrs Towers with Mr. Warren Dixon.
who married the eldest daughter of the dead
lawyer sat near to ex-Mayor Gilbert Collins.
THE MOTHER AN UNFIT GUARDIAN.
Mr.. Collins opened the proceedings by
reading a petition filed by the two eldest
daughters asking for guardian ad Item
for Eugenia, aged IA and Parker Bentley,
aged TO- The distinguished lawyer ex planned
that this step is necessary TO protec the
children. Naturally, he said, the IN other is
the best guardian but in this ca Sc Mrs
Bentley is unfit for that trust. She re-
ceives the income of the estate as ordered by
the court when the receivership was estab-
lished, but this money is not spent for the
cnildren. They are not properly provided
fer. He, therefore, asked that guardian
should be appointed.
Ex-Governor Bedle then read Mrs. Bent
ley's answer, which denied all the allegations
in the petition Mrs. Bentley admitted that
she received a moderate income, but 1t was
insufficient to keep her children, as they had
been accustomed TO live, and she did the best
under the circumstances. As for Eugenia,
Mrs. Bentley answered that owing to the
influence of her elder sisters, she has be-
come disobedient and defiant She denied,
further, that Parker was taught to drink,
and was allowed to associate with bad COM
panious She has dismissed her servants
for economy. and provides as well as she
knows how for her children.
Mrs. Bentley, in conclusion, answered
that Emily Bentley took Eugenia out with
her at night for company, and kept her out
too late, and induced her to rebel against
her mothers authority Miss Bentley re-
ferred to laughed at the statement, while her
mother audibly whispered across the room,
s.You know you did ;"
Mr.. Collins because Governor Bedle had
IN his answer denied charges made in Miss
Bentley's affidavit read that young lady's
statement. It set out that young Parker
Be ltley was not sent to school, but was
taught to drink and keep bad company.
A wrangle between counsel here ensued as
to the testimony to be offered and as to the
time when that should be put in. Governor
Bedle pleaded for delay, but the Chancellor
b lde them go on and finish the next day to
day.
WBEEDoN THE CAUSE OF TROUBLE.
Mr.. Collins then went on and called Miss
Emily Bentley to the stand. She is young,
pretty and graceful girl of twenty-one sum
liners. Her evidence was given in a clear
and convincing manner. When speaking of
her mother she felt her painful position, but
in referring to Wheedon she cast wlthering
glances at that individual, and threw as
much scorn in her words as she could COM
mand.
..Please, Miss Bentley" began counsel,
after preliminary question of age, ETC., tell
MS the troubles in the household prior to the
beginning of the suitsn
ssWell sir, it was all occasioned by that
man, George Wheedon, said the witness.
'sWho sits in the rear OF the courts. asked
Mr.. Collins directing all eyes towards Whee-
don, who turned scarlet, shifted in his seat.
tried to look at ease and made pitiful
spectacle of himself generally.
'sYes, sir; that's the man." was the an
swer.
Ex-Governor Bedle interposed here and
wanted to know where this sort Of testimony
was to lead. He had not objected before,
but if the Court was going to listen to irrel-
evant matter, it would cloud the issue and
lengthen the case.
The Chancellor permitted the testimony
to continue, adding that he would prune later
SHE ANNOUNCED HER ENGAGEMENT.
Continuing Miss Bentley said that Vince
don is about twenty-eight and her mother
about forty seven years of age, and that hcr
mother told her last New Year that she was
going to marry Wheedon.
AZ asked her if she realized what she was
going to do.n and she replied she did. Ny
brother Peter tried to reason with ner but to
no purpose. After that she wouldn't con-
verse with me- She told my cousins, dfs.
French and Miss Oracle Green the SAME
thing and often repeated it before the
childl en-"
Now tell u.s." asked Mr.. Collins some
thing Of your mode OF life in the home
.Befole the arrival Of Wheedon, the
fa,niir,r replied Hiss Bentley, always ate
at the same table" But when that individual
came between the children the elder chill
dren ate in the dining room, and Mrs Bent
lay with Parker and Wheedon who, it APP
pears, took his meals there daily, ate in the
kitchen. 1.-The servants wouldn't obey us, /"
ssia the witness, neither would they pass
ANYTHING to US at table, and refused to do
the mending or c.eaning for The cliildren bo-
cause my mother had ordered them rot TO
do So"
ON one occasion Miss Bentley said that
there was no butter. for their scauty meal
and the servants refused to give her any
thing else and she was obliged to so into
the kitchen and steal some eggs for her
brothers, which Peter Bentley cooked over
tie dining room gas.
While the elder children vent with scanb5
food Mrs. Bentley, Wheedon aad Parker
;,,}ss,sss s;l,nptuodsly every Gay
Ss-Nliy Mrs Bentley, said witness,
ths dining room and went with