Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-15
BENNETT TELLS
STORY OF WIFE'S
DEATH ON STAND
BLAMES MRS. C. H. CARPENTER
FOR PRESENT TROUBLE
SAYS SHE ENGINEERED MEETING
WITH MlDeE MoLsTER
At Close of Examination Witness De-
cIares Wife Might Have Put
Strychnine In Bottle
of Beer
N HE principal witness in the Har-

! HI HE principal witness in the Har-
per Z. Bennett murder trial yes
II terday was Bennett himself. Ner-
vously and apparently apprehensive of
the ordeal through which he was called
upon to go, Bennett took the stana as
| the first witness called by his leading
! counsel, e. b. Drake. His face which
| has lost it's darker hue, due to conf1ne-
ment in the county Jail, was pallid and
drawn, in striking contrast with his
dark hair and jet black eyes. His ner-
vousness was noticeable throughout tne
| forenoon session in the manner In
which he moved about in the large wit
ness chair and fingered its arms. His
replies to questions were Ell her short
and jerky or given with an accom-
panying ampliication of detail as If to
gain time in which to consider his an
swers to later queries.
Then like magic his whole appe r.
ance and actions changed when he was
called to the stand at the beginning of
the afternoon session. His bearing and
words carried assurance and changed
the view of many who believed his at
torneys had injured their case by
placing the defendant on the stand.
On Stand Four Hours
Benefits testimony lasted nearly
four nours and during that time nearly
every point In the evidence produced
by the prosecution was touched upon.
The facts surrounding the death OF
his wife, whom he is accused of kill
ing, occupied only q small portion OF
his testimony, the one rising inf iaction
of his voice being noted when he de-
clared positively he did not administer
4 poison to her. For the greater part
Benefits statements concerned the
testimony of Mrs M. E. Walker, his
mother-in-law, and Mrs. Cora H. Car
penter, stating that the latter was re-
sponsible for his present trouble and
that she was actuated by mercenary
motives when she appeared against
him as a witness.
Mrs. Carpenter watched Benefits
face intently throughout his testimony
smiling as if unperturbed by his accu-
satory statements.
Mrs. Walker, dressed in deep mourn
ing, sat near Mrs. Carpenter. She re-
garded her son-in-laW angrily, and on
one occasion created a small sensation
when she voiced an objection to Attor-
ney brakes line of questioning, which
brought from the witness the state
ment that Mrs. Walker and her chill
/ dren worried him so much about his
wife's property that he would be glad
when they returned to their home in
| Texas.
Tells of Fatal Night
Speaking of the circumstances oc-
curing the night of his wife's DEATH
Benefits testimony suggested the idea
that she had taken her own life and
that she also had tried to kill him. The
poison, he said, if any was adminis-
tered, must have been placed in bottle
of beer, opened by Mrs. Bennett con-
trary to her usual custom
With reference to "Midge' Molster,
Benefits alleged affinity, the witness
! declared there was nothing criminal in
his association with the woman, and
that the trouble between Mrs. Moster
and her husband and between Mrs.
Bennett and himself was all due to
the Vaccinations of Mrs. Carpenter.
One witness was called by the de-
fense yesterday, Mrs. Marie ], Tai
helm, who was prevented by Mr..
brakes objections from testifying con-
cerning telephone conversations be-
tween Mrs. Molster and Bennett
Bennett was then called to the stand
by Mr.. Drake. He gave his age as 3S
and his occupation as that of broker.
He married Eugenia Thompson in De-
cember, 1904.
The first questions propounded by Mr..
Drake related to Benefits acquaint-
ance with Mrs. Molster.
introduced to Mrs. Moster
"I first met Mrs. Molster some time
in January" he said. 81 was intro
duced to her by Mrs. Leatherwood on
the street, and they accompanied me to
my office, where transacted some bus
mess for Mrs. Leatherwood. The fol-
lowing day Mrs. Cora H. Carpenter
telephoned me asking me to come to her
home as she wanted to discuss loan
on her property. She told me she had
heard of me through Mrs. Molster.
examined the property on which she
wanted a loan of S2000 and told her
would try to raise the money. | did
not meet Mrs. Molster during that visit,
although Mrs. Carpenter told me Mol
ster had abused his wife and that she
was trying to prevail upon her to leave
him.
"She said: I know how to get women
to leave their husbands; have left two
of mine and may leave the present one.
"She showed me a number of photo
graphs of herself, one of which, she
said was for a young man living IN
Pasadena. Three days later 1 again
called at the Carpenter house in re-
sponse to telephone message from
Mrs. Carpenter. 1 told her 1 was un-
successful in raising the money for the
loan.
Woman Had Left Husband
"She asked me to come into the
house to see another party who wanted
toNmake a smaller loan. l found Mrs.
Molster in the front room, and Mrs.
Carpenter declined to talk business.
Mrs Molster. she said, had left her
husband and he had threatened to kill
her. she advised Mrs. Molster to leave
town, and finally she suggested put
ting an advertisement in a paper ask
ing for companion for an old couple.
Mrs. Carpenter wrote the advertise
ment and at her request took 1t with
me to my office and sent it for inser-
ton with some of my own material.
.'The Following day. Sunday, l again
went to Mrs. Carpenters house in re-
sponse to telephone message. She
met me with suitcase and asked me
(Coltinued Page Five)