Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-23
MURDERED BY
SWEETHEART
GEORGE T. BENNETT SHOT BY
WOMAN
is KILLED IN SIGHT OF HIS
FRIENDS
Jealousy Causes Estell CorWell to Slay
Man She LoVed-Drives to
Police Station and
Surrenders


lost his love and that he intended to de-
sert me for another woman. l have lived
with him as his wife during the last five
years loved him and could not bear 10
lose him"
This is the confession of Estell Corwell,
a beautiful young woman, who last night
surrendered to Lieut.. William Murray at
the central police station a half hour after
firing the shots which cost the life OF
George r. Bennett, owner of the Bennett
Electrical company, Ala German building.
George T. Bennett, prominent business
man and Elk and well known throughout
Los Angeles as a prince of good fellows
was shot and almost instantly killed while
visiting his sweetheart, Miss MAZE Ben
nett, proprietress of the Bennett Toilet
Parlors, 400 South Spring street, at her
home, 709 North Figueroa street. shortly
after o'clock last night.
Estell Corwell, the woman who, accord
ing to the detectives, has admitted shoot
ing Bennett, has lived during the last five
years as the wife of Bennett. She is
about 80 years of age and, according to
the story she told the police, has known
the dead man during the last seven years.
For five years they have lived at 1923
South Hill street, and during the time
passed as man and wife.
Fires Several Shots =
Several months ago Bennett met Miss
MAZE Bennett and her sister, Lucy N.
Bennett. The man at once became in
faturatcd with the young women, but did
not seem to show any preference for
either of the sisters.
According to the story told the police by
Maia 10 Gt nj no
man has been a frequent caller at her
home.
Last night she and her sister Lucy met
Mr.. Bennett and a friend down town.
They boarded Mr.. Benefits automobile
which he was driving at the time and
went to her home, where they alighted.
Mr. Bennett left his automobile standing
in front of the house and went up with
Miss Bennett.
Together they sat on the veranda and
for nearly an hour conversed together.
About this time John Bennett, brother of
the young woman, came from the house
and Joined them.
while we were sitting there together
and talking a cab drove up and stopped a
short distance from the front of the
house." said Miss Bennett. "A woman
alighted from the cab and came toward
us She called to Mr.. Bennett, but he evi"
" Come here, George, or L will kill you
both! cried the woman, and Mr.. Bennett
then arose from the steps and went to-
ward the woman.
Together they walked as far as the
automobile, when we heard scuffe, and
a second later a revolver shot, closely fol-
lowed by several others,
Witness Awful Tragedy
nett fall to the ground, while the woman
turned and ran toward the cab. We
rushed to the scene of the shooting and
then followed the woman. We reached
her before she gained the cab and a short
Scuffie ensued, but she succeeded in
breaking from our grasps and entered the
cab, which was at once driven away.
when we returned we found Mr.. Ben
nett was unconscious and Immediately
notified the police.
II have known Mr.. Bennett a short
time and always understood him to say
he was unmarried. 1 did not know who
the woman when she appeared and did
not dream there was any one who in
tended to take his life"
Miss Estell Corwell the young woman
who is said to have admitted killing
Bennett arrived at the police station
shortly before 10 o'clock. She went at
oliCe " the OlHCe VI lIleutelldlI murray,
the officer in command.
In her hand she carried a revolver,
which she held toward him with the
words:
well, 1 guesaI have killed him."
Lieutenant Murray took the weapon
and then escorted her to the detectives
office, where she is said to have con-
fessed to the murder.
According to the police the woman
q IN chn
but claimed she feared he intended to
desert her for another woman.
Confesses to Police
The woman confessed that she had
followed Bennett to the house and then
called him to the sidewalk, where she
shot him, according to the police
Miss Corwell had been standing at
Hill and Third streets about o'clock
and had seen Bennett and his companions
pass in Benefits automobile During
the last week she has suspected the man
with whom she had been living was in
love with some other woman, and had
gained information that Mrie Bennett
was that woman. Fastening to the home
she occupied in company with Bennett
the enraged woman secured revolver
owned by the dead man. She then re-
quested Mrs. Selma de Silva. an ac-
quaintance living in the same house. to
accompany her while she got her hus-
band.
Together the two women entered a cab
and were driven to the heme of Miss
Bennett. short distance from the
house Miss Corwell ordered the driver to
stop the cab and she alighted.
Going toward the house she called Ben
nett, who was sitting on the front steps.
and who arose and accompanied her
toward his automobile, which stood a
short distance away.
Was Well Known Citizen
when they reached the automobile
they stopped" said Mrs. de Silva, "and
a moment later 1 heard the report of
revolver This was followed by several
more reports, and when 1 looked from the
door of the cab 1 saw my companion
running toward me.
'I know absolutely nothing about the
case but have always believed the wo-
man who was with me was married to
Mr.. Bennett
Bennett was one of the best known
business men in Los Angeles. He had
lived here a number Of years and had
many friends in the city and Southern
California.
According to papers found in his pocket
on July he had his life insured in favor
[N-x.