The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10
James G. Bennett, the Wo .ld-Bs
Murderer, and His Victim.

"
some friends there and met Bennett
They came to this city and Bennett
worked at his trade of a machinist He
has been recently employed at tn. eIeva-
tor works of W. F. Holman 2I2 Fremont
street.
They did not live happily together.
owing to Benefits jealous disposition.
He used to beat her and threatened to
kill her. She left him on three different
occasions, but returned to him on his
premise TO behave himself.
About two years ago, while she was
living at 704 OFarrell street, away from
| him. he engaged a room IN the house, en-
| tered her room and ripped up all her
dresses. Then he chased her out of the
| hou>e With razor in his hand. He was
| arrested for threats against her life, but
| the case was dismissed on his agreement
| not to mo est her again.
In February last she obtained a divorce
! from him and resumed her former name
OF Mrs. Villa White. He continued to
| persecute her and she had several times
| to change her place of residence.
About three weeks ago she engaged
room 81. on the fifth floor of the building.
| IA McAIiister street, and started a mani
| cure and cosmetic business. Her am BIZ
| ton was to become q member of the medi-
| cal profession and she WAS studying with
| DR.. Brown.
She imagined she had eluded Bennett 8
vigilance, but she was mistaken. Friday
night, between and O. clock, he went TO
| her room and tried 10 break in the door,
| threatening to kill her. The janltor' )
wife ordered him away and Mrs. Bennett
| went to The Central police station and told
| Lieutenant Birdsall that she was afraid of
her life, The lieutenant etailed an off Ger
| 30 guard the house all night.
tlxu of 81 oincty 70 do
| ing Bennett returned to the house and
! went straight to her room. The door was
| open and she was talking with Mrs.
| Slim pson, q dressmaker, who occupies the
adjoining room. He pu: his arms around
| her and asked her 10 live with him again.
She refused, and remarking: I'm a few
! minutes We shall be ont of all suffering 4"
he drew the big blade of pocket-k nife
across her throat.
She screamed, and Mrs. Slim ps on thre W
| open the window and also screamed for
help Mrs. Bennett struggled TO get
away from him and got into the passage.
| She tried 10 reach the elevator, and
| grasped the knife in her hand, cutting it
| severely. Bennett again drew the knife
| across her throat and tried to plunge the
| blade into her heart several times, but sue
protected it with her hands, which were
| badly cut.
They both fell close to the elevator, and
| lust tneQ OIIlcer L. J. OOlcman, VINO IS al
! tached to the PacIhc Coast Society for the
| Suppression OF Vice and has an office on
the second floor, dragged Bennett away
| from his victim. Coleman fought des-
perateIy to get possession of the knife,
but Bennett, who is powerful man, was
too much for him, and he ran ths knife
| into his own throat. Several men stood
looking on, and appeared TO be too fright
ened TO give the officer any assistance.
The ambulance was summoned and
Bennett and his wife were taken to
the Receiving Hospital. DR.. ]. F. Kear-
ney stitched and dressed their wounds.
The doctor stated that if Mrs. Bennett's s
| wound had been slightly extended the
iugular vein would have been severed and
nothing could have saved her. AS 1t was
several blood vessels had been cut, and
she was in a serious condition from loss OF
blood. Benefits wound is not serious.
A charge of assault to murder was
booked at the City Prison against Bennett,
| who expressed his regret that he was not
in the Morgue instead Of the Receiving
Hospital.
Mrs. Bennett denied absolutely that
Bennett ever had any cause to be jealous
OF her. She is about 30 years of age and
he IS six years her senior.