Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-26
STORY OF THE CRIME.
That Told in the Written Con.
fession of Mrs. Chris.
tina Behrens.
THE QUARREL WITH HER HUSBAND

H. Life With Her ~ Bendt ana h IN
to Her Subsequent Meeting
with the south Rock lsIsndor when
He 10 Alsgsd to Have Given Her the
Poison.
The complete confession of Mrs.
Christina Behrens, of Davenport,
who with Henry Bendt, the South
Rock Island gardener. is on prelimi-
nary trial in Davenport. charged
with Claus Behrens' murder. was
made public late yesterday. While
the substance Of it appeared in
last nights ARGUS. the document
in full is appended:
Estate Of Iowa, Scott county, SO.
l, Christina Behrens. being duly
sworn. on oath soy: That I married
Claus Behrens April 20, 1878. We
had two children, Hulda Bendt, wife
of Otto Bendt. residing in Rock ISL
and, and Paula Behrens. IL years
old. / left my husband in Decem.
Der. 1896. We had quarreled on ac-
count OF the purchase of q pair of
slippers. Thereafter We quarreled
frequently about that, and we
parted. My daughter suggested that
Henry Bendt, of South Rock Island,
her future father-in-law. needed a
housekeeper, and l made arrange.
ments to keep house for HIM. While
there my husband called frequently
and wanted me to return home. He
told me he had made his insurance
ayable to my two daughters, and
that il l would return he would
change it to my favor. Henry Bendt
told me at various times to return
to my husband and have the insur-
ance transferred to me. July 6
1897. l returned to my husband
and he had the insurance transferred
to me. l saw Henry Bendt to speak
to him Saturday, July II. 1897. In
the afternoon on the bridge. 1 was
on my way to notify my daughter of
her fathers sickness. I received q
letter from Henry Beuds asking me
to write to him a nice letter and
asking me to meet him on the bridge
at 2 O'Clock Saturday. did not 20
because he asked me to, but at the
request Of my husband. He wanted
to see his daughter. started to 90
to Rock Island and met Heary Bendt
tod Henry Bsndt that l was going
tc tell my daughter that her father
was sick and wanted to see her
Henry Bendt said it was not neces-
sary, as he wou d tell her when he
returned. He asked me IL nv hus.
band was very sick, and said YES.
says B.nds Gave X. tho Poison.
HE said: Here is a little bottle
OF medicine; let him drink it out o
the bottle; it will do him good The
contents WAS q fluid and looked
green. l left him aud went to nv
home. told my husband had me
Mr.. Bendt and he gave me . bottle
OF medicine that he said would d.
you good He drank about half OF
it. This was about 8 O'Clock Sstur.
day afternoon. The medicine mad.
him very thirsty and he drank d
good deal Of ice water and beer. H.
took the balance OF the con
tents Of the bottle between
$50 and 4 o'clock. H, sent for beer
and drank a great deal Of beer, ice
water and whisky. During the con-
versation on the brioge MIR. Bend,
said that il my husband died, be
would get hold Of the insurance.
said he won't die and the insurance
was nothing to him. He said b.
would talk about that afterward
told my husband that Mr. Bendt had
given me bottle OF medicine. H.
said give me some.' and l gave him
the bottle and he drank from IL
While l was staying with Mr.. Bend,
he said that when went home
must write to him. ! must writ,
Dear Henry 'or else.I will not thinI
you love me. and we must be friend,
as his son married my daughter II.
told me several times that when nv
husband died would get the insur.
ance and we would have q good time
and get married. After he took the
medicine he got worse and pounded
his breast and screamed and was il
terrible pain.
"(Signed) CHRISTINA BEHRESs."
Subscribed in my presence and
sworn to before me by said Christins
hehrens, this. the Path day of July,
1897. HENRY THUENEN. JR.,
Notary Public, Scott County.
The state rested its case at noon.
The defense will seek to prove tina,
Behrens committed suicide and to ths,
end produced letter today purport.
ing to have been written oy hren.
and which mentions suicide, a revolt
yer, paris green. etc but is hardly
legible in most respects. Attorney
Ely. Of the counsel for the defense.
received an anonymous letter signed
by ''Justice" this morning. in which
reference is made to TIE ARGUS &C.
count Of the police in Davenport put
ting Mrs. Beorens through the sweat
box, and protesting against such o
sourse as deriving tho priaonep NJ