Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-07-25
WOMAN HELD
FOR MURDER
BENNETT INQUEST HAS FINALE
EXPECTED
DEAD MANS MOTHER ATTENDS
THE HEARING
CIubwomen May Raise Defense Fund
for Mrs. corwell, Whom They
Say the Dead Man
Abused

OlILluB WIFI IedT-SLdlilcu ldCG anu
grief-marked brow, Mrs. George w. Ben
nett, mother of the man slain by Estelle
Corwell before the eyes Of his sweetheart,
Male Bennett, Monday night, was an in
terested spectator at the inquest held
over her sons body at Bresee Brothers
morgue yesterday Afternoon.
Each word spoken by the witnesses was
| received with rapt attention by the gray
haired old woman, who frequently sank
back in her chair and choked back sobs
as some detail of the shooting which
caused Benefits death was uttered.
Scarcely an hour before her son met
his death at the hands of the woman who
realized his affection for her had grown
cold Mrs. Bennett had hidden the young
man farewell and started on an eastern
journey. Even before she had crossed
the borders of California news of her.
sons death was carried to her and she
alighted from the train and returned to
Los Angeles
By her side sat George w. Bennett,
her husband, of Delmar. Mr. Bennett
was notified early Tuesday of his sons
death and came to Los Angeles. He also
was an interested spectator at the inquest.
Woman Is Held
At the close of the inquest it was an
nounced that Estelle Corwe:l had been
der She will be taken to police court
today to answer the charge
Miss MAZE Bennett, the sweetheart of
the dead man and the woman at whose
home he was visiting when shot, was the
principal witness at the inquest.
Miss Benefits recital of the events
which led up to the killing and her de-
scription of the incident were highly dra-
matte.
nj II Of
porch when the murderess approached"
she said. "She called to Mr.. Bennett and
said George, 1 want to see you; do you
see this? and she flourished a revolver
in the air.
II turned to go into the house, and as
l did so 1 heard her say Yes, MAZE, go in,
for you will rever see George again
George arose and went toward her.
Together they walked few feet down
the sidewalk. Suddenly 1 heard a revol-
yer shot and turned to look. George was
just falling to the sidewalk. l sprang
down the steps and ran toward him. AS
I did SO the woman turned and ran
tried to grapple with her but she broke
my hold and ran toward the cab.
Police Are Notified
my brother John Joined me and then
we notified the police"
AS the woman spoke a gray-haired wo-
man sitting in the center of the room
leaned forward in her chair and breath
lessly listened to the recital.
Speak louder" she said, and then
placed her hand behind her ear as If
anxious to catch every word uttered by
the witness.
The woman was Mrs. Bennett, mother
of the dead man.
Estelle Corwell, the woman charged
with the murder of Bennett was also
present at the inquest Surrounded by
several friends who knew her when Ben
nett was alive as his wife, the woman sat
gowned in black and wearing a heavy
veil.
Her eyes, red with weeping, frequently
dropped during the proceedings and when
the word "murderess' was uttered by
Miss Bennett she started as if a great
shock had passed through her body
1t was said yesterday that George Ben
nett and MAZE Bennett were to be mar
ried next February and that all arrange
ments for the wedding had been COM
pleted. They intended taking a wedding
journey to Buffalo and were to be accom-
panied by Miss Benefits sister
At the close of the inquest Mrs. Cor
we'll was taken back to the police station,
where she was placed in the matron's de-
partment
Last night it was said that members
of women's clubs in Los Angeles had de-
cided to see Mrs. Corwell and arrange
for an attorney to defend her in her
coming trial.
Many of these women believe that the
woman charged with the murder suffered
wrongs at the hand of Bennett and in
tend to do all in their power to aid her.