The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-02-18
IS SLAIN BY HER
FORMER LOVER
THE MAN THEN TAKES
HIS OWN
LIFE.
Daughter of Woman Heaps
Curses on Cause of the
Tragedy.

While preparing breakfast for
her two children and herself in
her apartments 81 the home of
George Stark, a. 131 Second az.
~, this morning, Mrs. Minnie
Colviile, who had been living
here for three years with Frank
biabee, local produce dealer,
and posing as hia wife, vas shot
and Instantly killed By Frank ~.
Bennett, . switchnan Of Eureka,
Cal, her former lover, and tho
father Of her 6-year-old son Jo-
Eeph.
Bennett then turned the aun
against himself and blew out his
brains, dying this morning ct
the Pacific hospital without re-
gaining consciousness.
The story 81 Mrs. Colvllle and heY
Sappho-iike changes Of affection
reads Ike "a cheap novel Seventeen
years ago. when O giri % IS. she
was married 60 Thomas y. Colyiilo
IN San Francisco. where u r. thought
Colville atiil resides
Daughter ls Born.
For seven years they lived happily
together. and 10 them was born a
daughter Neya. who was living here
with her mother az the time OF the
murder this morning
After a Few years o. married life
the couple became eEgranRed. and
Mrs. EOivllle deserted her husband
and went 20 Eureka to live with
Frank ~ Bennett. the man who killed
her this morning who az that time
was sWitchmhn In Eureka To
them was born a son. Joseph. whose
winning ways and fast hold upon the
heart % biz father are directly re-
sponsibis FOR t0days tragedy.
With Hennet the woman lived for
four years. but firing 81 him. and
thinking that be was mistreatlpE her,
she deserted him In turn and carnt
20 Seattle. where she met and lived
with az his wife. Frank Bisbes. a
produce dealer Of this city.
swesrs BY Her Mother.
For three years the couple roomed
together at various places. accom-
panied by the womans daughter
Neva. "a beautiful and innocent girl
who even now swears by her mothef
and VOWS that she did no wrong.
Even in the presence Of death
this girl embraced the still warm
body Of her mother, srovslling
on the floor and weeping, and
when told after the body OF Ben
net had been removed to the
hospital that he still lived hut
could not last long, she cried,
with tears In her eyes ard
elsnehed teeths ~ hope he svf-
fers all the tortures Of the
damned before he diea, and ali
the fires Of he'll after"
Meanwhile the little boy. born Of
this first unlawful union. lived vita
his father and his fathers parents
a. Eureka lie called continually
Where is mamag" he used to beg
Of his father
Il want 20 see my mama"
The father also had not by any
means forgotten the woman who fer
years he had called wife. and many
time he wrUte her asking that she
obtain a divorce from her former
husband. Colville. that he might
bring her back and marry her and
'legiiimatize the child.
Hoped Cor a Reunion.
To this end, after vain correxpon-
denCe. he came 20 Seattle last Nom
day, bringing with him their little
son. thinking that his Influence
might have weight on the mothers
heart For three days he visited her
constantly az her rooms. begging and
pleading with her that she clear herA
self ~ her former marriage ia ordkf
that they might wed They even
went 50 far az TO ask the advice q
counsel. and Special Humane Officf
Kent was asked 10 reason with the
" AL q L. 81
agreed 10 get the divorce and later
marry Bennett. and Bennett agreed to
return ssouth this morning. taking
the boy with him. saying last night
as he left the stark home. apparent-
~ In the best OF moods. We'll 20
back 60 grandma. 10. and plant wall
nut trees I'm the morning"
Al the same time AIRS stark rer
marked 90 Mrs. ColNilie. = am afraid
Of that man" Mrs Coiviiie laughed
heartily and answered. "He wouldn't
harm hair on my head
His Mind Went Wrong.
Between his departure last night
and his return this morning some
thing Is thought 10 have set him %
brooding, and TO have unbalanced his
mind. AZ the appointed time he
came out TO the house. and after
telling pretty Mesa 60 dress her lit
tie brother. and kissing both OF them,
he stepped into the kitchen and fired
two bullets into the woman's breast,
then with smile he put the GLIB
20 his head, and the next instant
fell almost upon the body OF hik
little son, who. astonished at the
shots. rushed into the kitchen crying
Mama papa" and pulling az hiA
fathers arm, while Neva with
scream of terror fell 20 the floor IN
a deadly swoon.
Thus u was that the Starks found
them when they opened the door 10
answer the boys crying. The moth
or dead, the father dying, the daugh-
ter In swoon. and upon the floof
the 6-year-old infant trying manful.
~ TO wipe the blood from his fathers
face. and calling Papa" to ears that
could not hear.
Bennett was 81 years Of age. a steady
worker. and with the reputation Of
an industrious man. He lived with
his mother In Eureka. Humboldt
county California, whore ho was en-
gagged In the railway yards Mrs.
Colville was SS years Of age and a
remarkably presentable woman. The
hoy Joseph win be taken care OF by
his grandmother
The l5-year-old girl Is alone IN