Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-30
BENNETT
HELD FOR
MURDER
Affinity's Appearance
ComplicateS Case
Domestic Troubles Give
Rise to Suspicious
Man Against Whom Killing of Wife Is
Charged Takes Arrest Calmly
Refusing to Make a
Statement


TNOLLOWING the discovery of pos
sible motive for the killing of Mrs.
u Harper E. Bennett, whose body
was exhumed May 10 on suspicion
that she had been poisoned, in the ap-
pearance of an affinity in the case
Harper E. Bennett the husband, real
estate dealer and broker, was arrested
at 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon on
a charge of murder. The arrest Was
made after evidence had been gathered
by Sergt. e. w. Carpenter of the Uni
versjty district, giving rise to sus-
picion that Mrs. Benefits death was
caused by her husband, with the motlye
an AFFINITY" in the person of Mrs. H.
c. Molster the wife of conductor en-
Moved bv the Los Angeles railway.
BENNETT is said to have been accom-
panied to San Diego soon after MS
Wife's death by Mrs. Molster, who went
with him as housekeeper and COM
panion. ,.,,.,,,,,
The warrant for the arrest was sworn
out in Justice r. A. Lings court py
Sergt. Carpenter. Detectives HaWley
and Mckenzie had no difficulty in max
ing the arrest of the man, VINO IS
charged with having poisoned MS Wlfe
on the night of February 13 last. Wheh
they arrived at the offices used py Ben
nett in the Johnson building the man
they wanted was not there, but busl-
naes associate who was in the office
stated that he could get him there
within a few minutes, and he walked TO
the telephone and called up Bennett at
a rooming house and told him TO come
right down to the office, as there We're
two officers there with a warrant Tor
-l,.,a #
Makes No Statement
Rennett appeared at the office within
a few minutes and was taken into GUS
todv. He refused to make any state
ment other than saying that he was not
at all surprised and that ne "oulo ii.e
no trouble in making his innocence ap-
The accused man was taken to the
notice station. and in Capt Paul h.
Planners office was closely ques-
toned by the detectives. he was tneIl
taken inside the jail and placed IN
cell in the upper tanks, but later was
removed from there and given COT IN
The "bull pen" where he now is.
The arrest of Bennett. While creating
a sensation because of the unnatural
crime of which he is accused. caused no
surprise, as such a move has been fore
shadowed ever since the body OF MRS
Eugenia Bennett was eXhumed nearly
two weeks ago and the organs of the
body removed for chemical eXamina-
ton by order of the district attorney.
Mrs. Eugenia Bennett died on sat
urday night February 13, in conVul-
sions shortly after having partaken or
a lunch with her husband of canned
chile con carne at their home, 227 West
Forty-fifth street
II was believed at the time, and 50
NV A
called to attend her, that the woman
died of ptomaine poisoning from eating
the canned food.
On the afternoon of that day Mrs.
Bennett had been downtown shopping,
and, according to the story told by her
husband aftsgward, she came to his
office about 5 o'clock to get him to ac-
company her home.
Two Meet Death
On the way home Bennett said that
his wife suggested that they have Il
luncheon for their evening meal IN
stead of the regular dinner, as she was
tired and did not want to cook any
thing He agreed to this and asked
what she desired She replied that she
would like some chile con carne, and
he stated that he had stopped at the
Royston grocery, 450 South Main street.
of which w. B. Kemper, jr, is the
proprietor, ana puICndSSu lWO
cans of chile con carne packed by the
Armour Packing company of Kansas
City, Mo.
This, he stated had been carried
home by them and prepared for the
evening meal. Both he and Mrs Ben
nett had eaten heartily of the food.
Their daughters, Lallah, aged IL years,
and Grace, aged 6 years. had eaten
none of the stuff because it was too
peppery, and had partaken of some
canned sardines. Besides the chile con
carne Bennett said he and his wife had
eaten nothing but bread, butter and
coffee.
Soon after eating Bennett had gone
out for a walk, but beginning to feel
dizzy he had returned to his home, and
as he entered the front door fell un-
conscious at the feet of his wife, who
had come to meet him.
Both Are. Poisoned
Mrs. Bennett ran for help and Sc
cured the assistance of Dr. A. G. Pratt,
who lived next door. DR.. Pratt came
to the house at once and began work
on Mr. Bennett. who was unconscious.
While the physician and Mrs. Bennett
were ministering to him Mrs. Bennett
was attacked with convusions and fell
to the floor. DR.. Pratt got her to bed
and began administering emetics and
such remedies and antidotes as the
case apparently called for, but while
Bennett recovered from his attack the
next morning the woman passed away
within two hours after she was seized.
From the statements made to Dr..
Pratt by Mrs. Bennett of what they
had eaten and from the symptoms
shown the physician had no hesitancy
i'm saying that the death of Mrs. Ben
nett and the attack of Bennett himself
was caused by ptomaine poisoning, and
on an investigation by the coroner a
,,ardicS IN that effect was returned and