Amador ledger., 1907-11-29
TRAGEDY AND
ROMANCE
AmadOr Involved in Another
Big Sensation
The AIleaed Bellows Murder In
Berkeley.


the press and courts of the state DUR
ing the past few years.
1t has furnished the Staples case,
the Ledoux affair, the Williams muir
der in Lanrha Plana, all within the
past three years. And now comes
the alleged Bellows murder in
Oakland, IN which young lady of
Suffer Creek is mixed up, as the
most important witness.
The facts of this mysterious affair,
as Cleaned from the mass of matter
contained in the city papers, are
about as follows:
Miss Blanche Kerfoot, a progresses
ing damsel of Suffer Creek, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs j. H. Kerfoot of that
town, the latter being an engineer
employed at the Central Eureka
mine, was sent by her parents to the
Berkeley high school to impart the
finishing touches to her education.
She attended school there for three
ortour years. During this time she
became acquainted with one Harry
who was a student in
the chemical department of the state
university, and whose home was in
Berkeley He became enamored of
the charming and attractive girl from
the foothills of Amador county, and
the two became engaged. Blanche
kerfoot tired of school life, and re-
turned to her home in Suffer Greek.
She is about 20 years of age. In
June last she went to Berkeley as
guest at the kIeinschmidt home. as
the betrothed of Harry, who is about
- years of age. The Kleinschmidts
are welI-to-do people, occupying a
handsome residence, and moved in
the social swim of the college town.
In July last she was introduced to
Frank Bellows, another college stud
ent. who at once became madly at
tached to her. She preferred Bellows
to Kleinschmidt,, and the engagement
with the latter was broken off, at the
same time she left the Kleinschmidt
home and went to live with another
friend. A bitter feeling was aroused
in the breast of the discarded lover.
Before she left Kleinschmidt's letters
received by her were seized by Klein
schmidt. He says they we're left
around the house by her. She claims
they are forgeries. However, the
possession of these letters was
to Miss kerfoot; and accord
ing to her story she prevailed upon
her lover Bellows to interview Klein
schmidt for the purpose of their re-
covery. On the evening of the 26th
of July, he, IN company with friend,
and taking pistol which he borrow
ed for protection, proceeded to the
kleinschmidt place by appointment,
it appears, with Harry. The friend
did not go to the rendevouz, but kept
within hearing distant. to he ready
to render aid at any outory raised by
Bellows. He saw Bellows repair
down lane, about block from the
home. He waited
al ound for about an hour, and then
departed, under the impression that
the two had settled their differences
amicably
The following morning the dead
body of Bellows was found by the
gate in the rear of the kieinschmidt
residence. No marks of violence
were observed about the body But
small vial containingaprussic acid was
found either grasped in one hand, or
lying close to his hand. His lips
and mouth bore evidence of the effect
of the acid.
AT the request of Kleinschmidt and
under the plea of avoiding a scandal
the coroner held slipshod inquest
over the body. 1t was believed at
the time to be clear case of suicide.
The bottle of poison and the acid.
stained clothing were destroyed. No
autopsy was made, Notwithstanding
as it now turns out there were some
very suspicious circumstances .about
the affair." A verdict of suicide was
returned, and the body, after en-
balming, was sent to the parents of
deceased in Narysville, Missouri. for
Nothing more was heard
of the matter until the lapse of three
when reports got around that
some circumstances pointed strongly
to N urder.
Blanche Kerfoot heard of the death
of her lover on the dav after it