The Cairo bulletin., 1906-09-25
FEARED TO FACE CHARGES
or ROBBERY AND FORGERY
Swallowed Poison as Sergeant CoweII Started to
Arrest Him--Was Former Manager of
Memphis Realty System

Desperate from tue itdl u IL lt7J
and consequent disgrace, A. y. Wa
rendoff, alias Charles W. Bentzan +
Memphis Tenn, former manager of
the Memphis Realty System and
editor Of the Real Estate Bnllsriu.
drank carboic acid on Commercial
avenue near the Hotel Illinois last
evening about $3.50 O'Clock from thc
effect. of which he died ten minutes
later in a room at tfat hoslaleE
Last evening about 1880 o'clock
Chief Of Police Egan received 'ong
distance telephone message from The
chief Of police al Memphis asking him
to arrest Warrend0if who was wanted
fer forgery and robbery in thu. cily
No details We're given but a full de-
scr.ption Of the man wanted was told
the the Chief. 1t was stated hat the
man had been seen around the Hotel
Illinois where he was supposed 10 be
stopping Chief Egan depiled Ser
geant Cowel on the case and the
policeman went at once to the hotel
and interviewed Il. G. Allen, the pro-
prietor, regardin the arrest. lt
was learned that Waredorf had
excited suspicion at the hotel by
having regi. tered under Two or thIea
different names, he evidently having
made trips away from Cairo within
the past four days and on his return
each lime he assumed a new name.
While Officer Cowel and Mr. Alien
were talking, Warr2ndorff who mad
been outside the hotel. looked in al
the door and saw tue policeman scan
ming the register. Realizing thar tho
game was up for kim he started doVn
the street, the officer following
closely in pursuit Officer CoweliI
shouted to him to halt ana as thc|
fugitive did 90. he drew from MIS-
pocket an ounce vial of ca"boF" aci
and swallowed the contents. The
policeman took him back 20 ne hotel
and every effort was made % 'oheNe
the dying man. He was placed in
chair in the office but later was ca
red to his room where he dicd IN
few minutes.
The empty bottle whicn hai con
tanned the acid bore the label of
well known Cairo druggl5. m,i il wa
asceItained that Warrendocf nac pu.
chased it two days ago. 1t is cytd-pt
that he contemplated suicide ana ti1t
the certainty of arrest iaadcd his
unhappy fate.
The remains wore taken 20 Fcilh
undertaking establishment where 'he
coroner's inquest will be neid lnis
morning.
The decedent was about 2S years
Of age. five feet ten inches in height |
ana weighed about $50 1oanis }e
had light hair aud blue eyes; was |
smooth shaycn aud wei dressed. !
wearing good clothes, a gold watch
and chain and a diamond watca-
charm He is said to have been a Ger
man Jew.
In his pockets were several lusi-
ness letters. enc of which vas from n
Memphis attorney addressed to
Charles W Bentzan In whic1 the at
torney represented client who was
indebted to WarrendoIf an who evi
IDENTITY had a claim against the client
Chief of Police Egsn tolepnoncd 10
Memphis last night and ,carne1 THAT
Warrendorf was connected with "a
trust company of that city and that
he had fed with $4,000 to 5000 of
other peoples money Chief E1sn
notified the chief Of police there hat
the coroner had charge Of Warren
DORIS body and asked hin, % notify
his relatives.
Message From Mmephis.
The Bulletin wired TO Memphis
last night and received the following
regarding Warrandorf. =
Indictments charging A. E War
reBdorf with larceny and forgery
we1e found by the eran1 jury two \
week ago Warrendorf fed before pro- /
res was served and a reward was
1He. ed for his appr ehension. The IT,
lictments charge him wi appr0
pr.ating a check for g. drawn by c.
p. Fitzgerald on the North Memphis
Savings bank - favO- of the Realty
syztem and with inlorsing another /
check on the same bank with the }
name Of c. P. Fitzgerald II is al o j
claimed that WarrendoTf hoatea I
numerous numerous o her checks !