The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-10-12
WAS KILLED BY GAS
John Bentz, Well Known German
Citizen, Was Asphyxiated
Sunday Morning.
HAD LIVED HERE MANY YEARS.

Mr.. Bentz Went to the Newell Home on
Saturday Evening and When he Did Not
Return on Sunday Search for Him was
Made and Resulted in Finding His Body
in Room Filled With Illuminating
Gas.-verdict of Accidental Death
John Bentz, one of the best known
German residents of the city, was
found dead at 10 O'Clock Sunday morn
ing at the residence of O. S. Newell,
on Prairie avenue.
The death was accidental, resulting
from asphyxiation. The deceased had
been a great friend of the Newell fam
lily and when Mrs. Newell and her
daughters left for trip abroad a few
months ago Miss Augusta Bentz, a
daughter Of the deceased, was left in
charge of the Newell home.
Saturday afternoon Miss Bentz went
away for a visit with friends in another
at the house Saturday night. Mr..
Bentz left his home on Grand avenue
early in the evening, stating that he
desired to go over to the house and read
awhile before retiring. AS he was not
accustomed TO the use of illuminating
gas he was cautioned by his daughter
to be very careful and use a kerosene
lamp.
Mr.. Bentz was seen to enter the
house and the light in his room burned
until late in the evening. Then it is
supposed he blew out the gas and re-
tired. Sunday morning the family at
home waited for his coming and the
morning meal was delayed until the
father should arrive. When 10 o'clock
came and he was still absent his
daughter Title sent a man over to the
Newell home to wake him. When the
man reached the house he could not
awaken the old man and he went to
the residence of Mrs. Charles Matthews
in the neighbOrhood to secure a key to
the house. He explained his mission
to Mrs. Matthews and she returned to
the house with him. When the door
was opened the gas rushed out and the
two went to an upper room and found
Mr.. Bentz lying dead upon the bed.
He had been dead for several hours.
Every indication went to show that
death had been accidental. The one
gas Jet in the room was turned on full
and the entire house had been filed
with the fumes of the gas. The under
taker was at once summoned and
Justice ]. C. Slater called to hold an
inquest Later in the day the remains
were removed to the stricken home on
Grand avenue.
The deceased was well known in this
city. He was II years old, German
by birth, but had come to Kenosha in
the early ffties after short residence
in the northern part Of the state.
Since then he has made his home in
this city and was honored and respect
ed by all his friends and neighbors.
He was a member Of the Fred S. Lowell
Post, G.. A. r., and was always active
in the work of the Post. At the time
of the breaking out of the war he was
one of the first German citizens in the
state to volunteer and he served with
honor to the close of the war as a
member of the 10Th Wisconsin. His
death has caused profound sorrow
among the German people of the city.
He leaves a wife and six children all
grown. The children are as follows:
John Bentz and Mrs. Caroline Watson,
of Chicago; Albert, Frank, Augusta
and Title Bentz, of this city.
The coroner's inquest was held on
Sunday afternoon and returned YER
dict of accidental death.