The herald., 1896-05-08
A Hitch in Bentley's Latest Mat.
rimOniaI Venture
DIFFERENCES OF RELIGION
The Obstacle in the Way of Consummat-
ing the Marriage
The Fellow Pursued Identicnlly the Same
Tactics In Securing Bride That He
Did In Los Angeles

There has been hitch in the matri-
monlal arrangements of Henry Bently,
tEe man who was once tried and convict
ed of Wife-murder in this city, a review
Oh whose case was published inThe Her.
AID yesterday morning in connection
with press dispatch from Oakland, say
ing that he was about to marry another
widow in that city. The following dis
patch from San Francisco, received yes
terday afternoon gives additional de-
tails of Bentleys methods, which will be
recognized as the same pursued by him
while wife hunting in Arizona and Los
Angeles.
There was to have been a marriage in
berkeley last night, but it did not take
place, and there are several reasons
given why the knot was not tied.
According to story told by an Oak
land attorney the would be groom, Hen
ry Bentley, is confirmed seeker after
wealthy widows, and has met with
much success in the past.
About year ago" said the attorney,
I was eating in San Francisco restau-
rant and Bentley spoke to NE. After
learning that I was from Oakland he
said that he, too, lived over there. and
would like to marry some elderly lady.
He said that he had once married an
elderly widow in the southern part of
the state. at Los Angeles, and had in
herited from her fortune of many thou
sands of dollars. He told me his gradu-
ated scale of values. IF the widow had
only $4,000 she must not be over 30 years
of age; If she has 100000 I don't care
how old she Is The man went off and
Gid not see him again until yesterday.
"He came into the county clerks office
while I was there and took out mar
riage license. was considerably inter-
ested to know who the lady was, and
was informed that she was wealthy
widow. I know no more about him.
Mpes 1Na 1nI l,<
Bentley wishes to wed. is resident OF
Berkeley and a widow with means. In
fact, she is thought to be moderately
wealthy. The wedding was to have TAX
en- place last night, but there was a
hitch.
Mrs. Townsend was asked today why
the ceremony did not take place. "Well.
it was partly because of difference Of
religion" she said. II am Catholic
and Mr.. Bentley is Protestant. and
Rev. Father Phillips of st. Joseph's
church refused to marry us. We expect
to get married soon. however"
A later dispatch, dated Berkeley. was
also received. from which 1t appears
that matters have been arranged, and
that the wedding will take place. The
dispatch is as follows:
Henry Bentley has succeeded in ar
ranging the preliminaries with Father
Phillips, which will launch him upon his
Honora Townsend of Berkeley.
Father Philips says that Bentley has
made a general statement that he is free
to marry and that he expects the cere-
mony to be performed this evening.
"Widow Townsend descredits the
stories regarding her intended spouse,
which come from Los Angeles, and
maintains Bentley's former wife died
from dropsy, and further that he is not
marrying her for her money.
"I have known Mr.. Bentley for
year. she said, and he is worth con-
siderable property himself. He told me
he had a box of gold in the safe deposit
in San Francisco. and I don't see what
all this fuss is about. We will be mar
ried probably tonight
Mrs Townsend is about 65 years of
age and owns considerable property in
West Berkeley"
If Bentley has money, as he says, he
is a shrewder man than he was given
credit for in Los Angeles. When he left
this city he stated that he was practi-
cally penniless. and if he has a box of
gold, or any other funds, he must have
got the money from Mrs. Nordholt, and
"planted" it in San Francisco or some
other city. 1t is probable that the chill
dren of Mrs. Bentley, by her first hus-
band, will warn the Berkeley widow of
the character Of the man she Is about
to marry, and at least induce her to
postpone the wedding until she can be
put in possession of all the facts from
this city.