Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-29
THINK SLAYER
IS BIGAMIST
ESTELLE CORWELL MAY FACE
TWO CHARGES
MOTHER COMES TO LEND HER
DAUGHTER SUPPORT
Detectives Learn Woman Was Twice
Married Before She Met
Bennett, Whom She
Shot

Will Estelle Corwell be charged with
bigamy when her trial for the murder of
George T. Bennett is taken up in the
superior court?
This question is troubling the attorneys
for the woman greatly, as information
which Detectives Hosick and Zegler, who
are working on the case, consider authen-
tic was given them yesterday which
makes such a charge possible, they say.
This information is that Estelle Cor
well, as she is generally known, or Mrs.
Bennett, as she was known to those who
met her while she was living with the
man she killed, was married in Arizona
in 1899 to a man of the name of Corwell,
and has never been divorced from him.
The man Is said to be still living in
Arizona, and the woman's mother who
arrived in Los Angeles yesterday for the
purpose of giving support to her daugh-
ter knows his present address and all
facts concerning the marriage.
In July, 1901, Mrs Corwell was married
to William X. Schofield in Los Angeles,
and so far the detectives have been un-
able to learn that she was ever divorced
from this man. They claim he is still
living, and efforts are being made to
learn his whereabouts, so he can be
called as witness at the coming trial
Efforts will be made to learn the address
of the first husband, and it is probable
the woman will be faced by these two
men when placed on trial for the murder
of Bennett.
Parents Mexican
According to the detectives the woman
is the daughter of Mexican parents who
live a short distance from Phoenix. At
present they refuse to give out her maid
en- name, but say they have all the in
formation they wish concerning her early
life. Her parents are said to be possessed
of considerable wealth and to have given
their daughter a good education.
When but girl she met Corwell and
became infatuated with him. For sew
eral months the couple went together and
then announced their intention of marry
ing. A few weeks later the wedding was
celebrated and was attended by the girls
parents and a number of friends.
Within a month Of her marriage Mrs.
Corwell is said to have tired of marital
ties and deserted her husband. Accom-
panied by her younger sister, the woman
came to Los Angeles and has since lived
here.
Soon after coming to this city Mrs. Cor
| we'll met William K. Schofield. He be-
| came devoted to her and for more thar
| a year they were looked upon as an en-
gagged couple. EARLY in April Mrs Cor.
| we'll informed friends that she would soon
be married to Schofield. A few months
later the wedding was celebrated and for
some time the woman lived with Scho"
field as his wife.
According to those who knew the wo-
man previous to her marriage to Scho-
field, she never told him that she had
been married previously, but was known
to him by the name of Miss Corwell,
while her sister was introduced to Scho-
field as a cousin of his wife.
infatuated with Bennett
A few months after being married to
Schofield the woman met Bennett. She
is said to have at once shown great af-
fection for the man. which he appeared
to reciprocate. Within month of meet
ing him she is said to have deserted
Schofield and gone to live with Bennett
Schofeld is said to have learned that
the woman he had married was in reality
a bigamist, and to have left Los Angeles
soon after gaining this information. The
police are doing all in their power to
gain trace of him, but even without his
testimony they claim to have proof Of all
facts mentioned.
Soon after Estelle Corwell was arrested
word of her deed was taken to her moth
er in Arizona. The woman at once made
arrangements to come to Los Angeles
and arrived In this city yesterday morn
ing. She will be questioned by detec-
tives today, and 1t is thought will be able
to throw some light on her daughters
life after the woman came to Los An
geles.
1t is said the money for the defense
will be furnished by her parents, who
have announced their intention of stand
ing by their daughter to the end.
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