The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1900-12-19


les Of Clara Schneider and
Frank p. Bennett. side by side.
Only few feet of earth beparate fhe
pair whose mysterious Deaths have
puzzled press and police. ana the in
vestisation Of which promises small
results. q
AZ the coroner's inquest yesterday
In the case OF the dead woman. IL
was shown that she had worried for
many days over failure to get back
from Bennett the money she had loan
ed him. and that she had in a vague
way threatened to kill herself II It
was not returned.
W. J. c. ottmann. who testified. said
that Bennett often aeted queerly. ott-
mann said he thought the man was
not Just right In his head as the result
OF old bullet wounds This is the first
OF any insanity theory. and most of
Benefits familiars would ridicule IL.
Bennett. by sworn testimony. was
proved to have been a frequent and
heavy drinker. and a user OF NOR
phine. A witness under oath said that
he had often caroused with Bennett.
and that the latter for months past
had been in the habit almost night
ly Of leaving his quarters at Camp
Mckinley and spending the nights in
dissipation.
Despite the statements OF the Off
GERS st the camp. men who esteemed
the army trainmaster highly. and who
resent any cloud on his character
Bennett was a past master in decep-
tion. A man who claimed on the wit
ness stand yesterday to have been 4
close Intimate Of Bennett. told tn,
coroner's jury that Bennett coulj
drink a great quantity OF whisky oi
champagne. and though drunk. Civ,
but triHing signs Of his condition {,
those who did not know his peculiari
ties.
That Miss Schneider anticipated
tragedy was made plain by the testi
mony OF Nanny Wilder. a fellov
servant az tie Neumann home at Wal
kiki. who said that when the womai
; left on Tuesday evening to go to he
tryst with Bennett. she bade he
> good-by In words that portended
possible separation forever.
The unfolding OF the financial trans
: actions between Miss Schneider an
\ Bennett showed the remarkable credr
- Iousness OF the dead woman. or els
J, the implicit faith she placed in IN
J. scout.
Bennett had told one man that sh
4 was his sweetheart. and Miss Seine
' der had said that Bennett asked he
20 marry him. Bennett received h.
= money. something over $500. on th
~ understanding that he was to pay h.
per cent per month. and the men
orandum found In her purse aft'
r death had the principle and intere
n at that rate figured out for septen
Der and October.
> All the witnesses who are though
to be able 10 throw any light on eith'
. the death Of Miss Schneider of tn
= Of Bennett were before the coroner
Jury yesterday save one. Mr.. Cam
!. bell. lie. u Is said. handled her fun'
N az one time. but cleared the debt In
y mediately upon her request Fro
~ Campbell she transferred her lit
savings 20 Bennett. likely because
the alluring profits offered by him.
D. According 20 the witnesses. MI
Schneider wanted TO leave Honolu
for either Seattle or Manilar-the test
mony dlfers-and lacked only q
a. money Bennett had. TO start her
- her journey.
- When she was found dying on h
bed a shawl was about her shoulder
,t and on this Deputy Sheriff Chillin
worth noticed whitish powder. II
- shawl r. In the hands of Chemi
shorey. who will analyze the powd'
rl proves 10 be morphine pois'
~ which killed the woman-it will be
To- strong point against the murd
N theory.
se n she took the poison voluntarily
is quite probable she was In such