The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-09
TIE "YILLAIN" WON
An Act in the Bentley Com
edy-Drama Enacted Yes
terday.
sCENE-CoUNTY COURT HOUSE.
The william Accused = Filings
Back the Accusation Heroine
to the Rescue.
jCENE-COUNTY COURT HOUSE.


which is being played by the widow and
children of the late Peter Bentley and George
p. Wheeden, young man well known in
club circles.
The scene yesterday was at the old Court
House on the Hill. It was in the DOM of
the Court of General Quarter Sessions, the
place where justice is meeted out to thieves,
forgers, incendiaries and other criminals of
every known degree and description. While
the drama proceeded, to the intense am use
ment Of these outcasts of society, who filed
the front rows of seats while waiting to have
the Court dispose of their cases, the actors in
it were seated within the sacred precincts Of
the bar, space supposed to be devoted TO
lawyers and court officials.
These actors were George T. Wheeden,
well built athlete, who wore light spring
suit of clothing and white rose for a
bouttoniere. Wheeden has a brown mus
tache and close cropped whiskers, blue eyes,
a nose inclined to be pug and he combs his
hair back from his forehead. He was very
nervous He was the villain in the drama
and was charged with Eaving threatened to
shoot Peter Bentley, the hero. Peter is
slight built smooth faced young man, who,
like his late father, is below the average
height There is nothing of the athlete in his
appearance The heroine in this play was
Mrs Peter Bentley, handsome and well
preserved woman of about forty five, whose
dark hair and eyes were greatly admired.
She was attired in black and white check
suit, and wore bunch of red jack roses at
her corsage. a black lace hat surmounted
her Psyche knot and enhanced her natural
beauty. She was the particular friend of
Wheeden, and, like all true heroines Of the
drama she did not believe him to be the vii
lain her son Peter charged him with being,
and she fought a noble battle to have him
vindicated and the stain removed from his
character. Other who took part in this so
ciety drama were Mrs Wheeden, mother OF
the accused; John Bentley, a brother of
Peter and Maggie Collins, a demure servant
girl who has excellent control of her tongue,
and who knows how to prevent 1T from wag-
ging too much.
THE CURTAIN RUNG UP.
District Attorney Winfield informed the
Jury that Wheeden had been indicted for as
sault and battery, but that there had been
no battery. He should be tried simply for
assault, which was caused by his drawing q
revolver and threatening the life of Peter
Bentley He then placed Peter on the wit
ness stand to tell his story.
~ live at Harrison and West Side ave-
nues,n said the witness. ION February 10
Wheeden came to our house at about five
o'clock in the afternoon"
''Did any difficulty take place there!' Mr.
Winfield asked.
.fYes, in the parlor Wheeden was lying
on a sofa, and when 1 saw hrn l said, It's a
wonder to me that you wouldn't take your
feet down; if you don't take your feet down
I will take them down for YOU"
"What else was said" !" inquired the Prose
cutor smoothly.
II told him he had broken up our family" !"
witness replied.
what them"
"Wheeden Strengthened himself up and
drew revolver and said, III fix you now
| then left the room and went in search of
Warren Dixon. L had Wheeden arrested
two days later.
said that the family were at dinner when
the alteration took place, but that Mrs.
Bentley had left the dining room and had
gone to the library.
John Bentley, younger brother of the
complainant, corroborated what Peter had
testified to and said that he had heard
Wheeden say:
s'Pve taken all 1 intend to and I'll fix
you"
This closed the case for the State.
Counsellor Grouse next put Wheeden on
the stand to testify in his own defense. He
said
81 have been acquainted with the Bentley
family for six or seven years, and have been
q frequent visitor to the house
ssWhose guest were you 7" the lawyer
asked.
Mrs. Bentleys. On the day in question
I went to her house and was in the parlor
while the family were at dinner Twas ly-
ing on sofa. The dining room adjoins the
parlor, and is separated from it by fold
ing door.
Mrs Bentley left the dining room and en-
tered the parlor. She spoke to me for few
seconds and then went into the library.
Peter came into the parlor and said to me,
take your feet down from that sofa; I won't
have you wearing out my furniture said
to him, See here, I've taken all that intend
to take from you There was nothing else
said did not draw a revolver; did not
attempt to shoot him. He went out. l don't
know where he went, but suppose it was
to see Dixon
care YOU In the habit of carrying re-
volver" asked Mr.. Winfield on cross-examin-
alton.
mo sir.''
sDidnt you have a revolver with you at
the time in question:
Eyes, had one then"
t'Why did you carry a revolver at that
timer asked Mr.. Grouse on redirect.
because Peter told me in the presence OF
his mother, brother and sister that if ever
stepped across his door step he would shoot
me like dog. l told Police Sergeant Cox
of this and he suggested. that should get a
permit to carry pistol from superintendent
Smith and did so.n
A smile was visible on almost every face
when they heard the athlete admit he feared
the little Peter.
Mrs. Emily Bentley was next called for the
defense. The handsome woman took the
oath in an impatient manner and said:
ION the day in question Mr.. Wheeden
was guest at my house.
Whom did he visits" asked Counsellor
Grouse,
The sharp witted widow took advantage Of
this opening and replied serenely:
'sHe was friend of the family. He called
about six O'Clock; he was on the sofa in the
parlor while we were at dinner. left the
dining room and went co the library. l LETT
Peter at the table, When returned L heard
him say, Take your feet down. MIR. Whee-
den said; I've taken more from you than |
intend and, = added the charming Widow
earnestly, "mercy knows, he has takss'
enough
II object to that last part of the answer"
exclaimed the Prosecutor.
The objection was sustained, and it was
stricken out, but not until Mrs. Bentley ex-
claimed sharply
s'Well, Mr. Winfield, you object to every
thing Quiet laughter by the audlence.)
Richard Bentley and Maggie Collins, the
servant girl, corroborated Wheeden's story,
and said they saw and heard all of the trou-
ble and did not see Wheeden draw a revol-
YER That closed tine case, and Counsellor
Grouse made an excellent plea to the jury
for his client. Prosecutor Winheldis
summing up was full of whitening
sarcasm, in which he said that he never
knew it to be one of the duties of guest to
put his feet on the furniture, or to spit on
the oil paintings, OF to do any similar act.
He asked the jury to convict Wheeden
y, o1,o, &l,o%