Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-03

WOMAN HELD
FOR MURDER
MRS. EsTELLE coRWELL HELD
WITHOUT BAIL
FATHER OF DEAD MAN GIVES
EVIDENCE
Defense May Be Accidental Shooting
and Prosecution Fears UnWritten
LaW-Former Governor
Gage in Case

Held without bail on a charge of muir
der in the first degree, Mrs. Estelle Cor
we'll passed last night in the county Jail
after passing through a day filled with
terrifying experiences while facing the
eyes of her accusers.
All yesterday the woman sat in the
little court room occupied by Police JUS
tice Chambers in the city jail building.
Around her sat the friends and rela-
tives of George T. Bennett, the man with
whom Mrs Corwell admits having lived
for five years, and whom she killed in
jealous rage.
At the little table in the center of the
room. and but few feet from the ac-
cused woman, sat MAZE Bennett, the
woman to whom George Bennett was
engaged and in whose presence the bull
let which cost his life was fired.
BY the side of MAZE Bennett sat Mrs
George w. Bennett, mother of the dead
man, while Mr.. Bennett sat few feet
to the rear.
BY the side of Mrs. Corwell sat Mrs
Welch, mother of the accused woman,
who hurried from Arizona to her daugh-
ter's side the moment she was informed
of the shooting and who has since la
bored day and night to assist her child
Gage Appears IN case
All yesterday witnesses to the shoot
ing were examined by the lawyers, At
torneys Fleming Ford and Pearson ap-
pearing for the people and Davis, Rush
and Willis for the defendant.
When the case is taken up in the su-
perior court these attorneys will be aided
by former Governor Henry T. Gage, who
has been engaged to assist in the de-
fense.
From the questions asked by these
attorneys it Is evident they are pre-
pairing to fight for Mrs CorwelPs Tree
dom on the grounds that the shooting
was accidental and that she had taken
the revolver with her for the sole pur-
pose of frightening Bennett.
1t is evident they will also be prepared
to bring in a plea on the unwritten law
should the occasion arise.
This is the plea the members of the
prosecuting attorneys staff fear Will be
brought forward and they are leaving
no stone unturned to combat 1t.
Detectives working out of Captain
Planners Office but under instructions
from Attorney Fleming, have carefully
run down every year of Mrs. CorWell S
past life, until today Fleming has in
his possession information of every i'm
portant event in the woman's past.
George w. Bennett, father of the dead
man, was the first witness on the stand
yesterday.
While giving his testimony he was
frequently prompted by his wife.
Judge Chambers at last told the woman
that if she did not keep quiet she would
be compelled to leave the court room and
during the remainder of the trial Mrs.
Bennett maintained silence.
Father Testifies
Mr.. Bennett testified that his son was
40 years of age at the time of his death.
He said his son had lived in Los An
geles nearly Is years and previous 10
that had resided in Texas.
John Bennett brother of MAZE Bennett
and a witness to the incidents leading
up to the shooting, was the next wit
ness.
George Bennett used to call at our
home nearly every night" he said. "On
the night when he was shot he and my
sister came home about o'clock. l
sat down there.
I'VE had been talking for nearly an
hour when two women came up the
walk. One of them, Mrs. Corwell, called
to George and said, George, come with
me-
"Mr Bennett did not get up and the
woman showed him revolver and asked
him if he saw it. My sister then told
Mr.. Bennett he had better go with the
woman, and he arose from the step AS
he did so Mrs. Corwell said:
"Maie, you will never see George
again
Heard Revolver Shot
George Joined Mrs. Corwell and
walked down the sidewalk with her. A
few seconds later 1 heard the report of
a revolver and with my sister ran to
where Mr.. Bennett was lying on the
sidewalk"
Detective Jim Hosick, the officer who
investigated the case at the time of the
shooting, was the next witness.
Hosick told of a confession made by
the woman to himself and Detective Ser
geant Kelly IN Captain Hammers office
shortly after the shooting.
According to Hosick the woman ad-
mitted taking a loaded receiver from the
bureau at the house where she lived with
Bennett and placing 1t in a hand bag
when she went out to look for him.
"She told us that she had unloaded
the revolver at the request of Miss de
Silva, the woman who was with her,
but afterward loaded it again, said
Hosick.
Since the arrest of Mrs. Corwell Miss
de Silva has disappeared and all efforts
made by the police TO lind her have
been fruitless.
Miss de Silva is looked upon as one of
the most important witnesses for the
prosecution and detectives are endeavor-
ing to find some trace of her where
abouts.