Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1904-02-05
Convict BENTLEY Killed.

Convict James Bentley, nIias Teddy
smith. attempted q prison break at Tie
Nevada penitentisry a: $50 ThuIsi lay
morning and Was killed by Guard
Walter Gamble.
The Carson N"v= r:ve= the 'o,,ox'rr
accoupt - the lta:f:
The prisoners all we're in tie yard
near them main buildings. when Bentley
left the bunch and ran toward tie sonth
Sau, clear across the ya.I. Guard
Gamble at, Post ! vas the nearest o.
ticer and be called to the running con
Wet 10 stop. Bentley paid no mi
IN the command and continued, sserr
ina from his cnu, Se at the rear OF the
old shop, when Gamble fired, the bull.
let entering the conrict's body at the
left side and passing through.
Tie wounded man was QUICKLY car.
ned 10 the hospital. as ne vas still IiY
Inr. and hi cl ia ny removed. etc. in AN
effort I" max him comfortable but in
three ~ four minutes after being shot.
be VAS dead. without having been con.
scious apparently.
Il other prisoners were very much
excited Toy The Incident and it required
trnrness 20 get them !" form ID line. 10
be locked W, until the excitement had
sIn!rnered down. Later in the day Cor.
oner Stone vent down and the Official
investigation resulted in finding that
Alr. Gamble had merely done his duty.
and. Of course, he WAS completely exon.
Grated
Bentley was "ne ~ the most desperate
cnminhI- IL ,h- pri-Un. HIS career or
cEule IN Nevada began ~hen If. and
two other men broke into Manzanita
Hall at the University and stole wn.che.
Ie"elry and money belonging to the
young ladios, fe wa caught IN Hum.
boldt county, while trying . o pawn he
J'aelIy and vas taken back 10 Rc.o.
tined, convicted and given two years in
the pen. Shortly after his reiease he
was arrested for robbing CoDdy's
Je|elry store in Wadsworth. While in
the Renp jail awaiting trial, he secured
a plstol and, waiting Tor a favorable
opportunity. be ran ont ~ the j4jI door
whs opened. hit Sheriff Hayes over tho
head with his gun, tired a shot tina.
g'azed the Sheriff. shoulder. jumped
through window and made his esrape.
lie ~as located in Old Mexico and WA
entIced across the river, arrested and
taken I" Reno. He vas convicted OH
tire" .ndlc;meuts and sentenced Ia
twenty-five. years imprisonment, ten Tor
onfR!aty. ten for assault with intent 10
Kill and live Tor Jail breaking.
BENTLEY gave the prison officials a
great dcnl Of trouble. He broke the
PRISON rules and melted the other prison.
erH =" do The sama. i few mouths ago
he began imnnellinp through the w.IIa
"f his cell and the front walls IT the
main bnilitnR t. The outside nj n point
where b" would l." rBdcr the electric
lights at night - rInin view Of tho
guardF. tie covered NJ his work we'll
and was d"t"c'ed by a guard passing
along ~ The on Idle who heard the
sc-ntchrDn and pcckiuV through the
siona
Failing i'll tint attempt he began toe1.
h'it s!mp'' nrs Of insanity. the prison
officials bcIi-v"i ho was shammung and
bad him examined hv phyaican4 who
pronounced him u Ills attempt ut
cscan" mny n'wa,s remain n puzzle, IA
h" News snJP. hc could not lIr 30
seriously in,erdei to 90 over the wnll=.
the only ava,lnhl" POINT being several
hnu1r"d feet distant and covered with
three rifles at least II the other prison.
era were IN The plot lh'y weakened at ,n,
crti"HItim".