New-York tribune., 1912-01-02
.STEPFATHER STAYS GIRL
Child Is Shot Down as She Tries
to Save Mother.
MAN FLEES, BUT is CAUGHT
Shooting in Streets of Glendale,
Long Island, in Midst of New
Years Celebration.

Bertha Elizabeth Reinen, fourteen years
old. while shielding her mother was shot
to death by her stepfather, George Benz
fifty.two years old, OF No. 1910 Gates ave-
nue., Brooklyn. In the streets OF GiendaIe'
Long Island, as she was returning from
New Years party about o'clock yeSter-
day morning Three shots were fired Ihe
first went wild. In the pause that foIiowed
the girl sprang between her mother ana
the pistoI Two shots then followed in
quick succession and both bullets struck
her in the forehead She reeled ana fel
uDon the snow covered sidewalk.
Putting his weapon In his pocket Benz
started away. first at a brisk walk ana
then at q run. The pistol shots had failed
! 20 attract attention, as there was spas
modio shooting by hidden celebrators since
midnight. vet the frantic screams of the
mother Of the girl and her companions
drowned the sounds Of nearby merrymak-
| ing. Kneeling in the snow Mrs. Benz TOOK
tbe head of the dying girl in her lap.
| As Benz started to run stephen Mefara'
eighteen years old, and William scior, sew
enteen years old, who were with Bertha
and her mother, started In pursuit II
J was q short chase, for Benz easily eluded
! them Ill tlC udIhlltSS anu ect %'N-S' 80
the mean time the neighborhood was
aroused. Word was sent TO the police ana
telephone message TO the German Iios-
pital, a short distance away, brought Lr'
Miles to the scene. The girl was placed in
tho ambulance. but She died on the way 20
the hospital.
The tragedy was the elimination Of an
/ ilI-advised marriage which took place
eighteen months ago. Benz was wldoWer
with five children. lie was employed as a
salesman in a drygoods store IN Brooklyn
Mrs. Benz had three children by her hrst
husband. who died year before she mar
ried Benz. The couple quarreIed from the
first day of their marriage according 10
Mrs Benzs story told the police yester-
day Three months after their marriage ne
left her and she had him arrested on q
charge Of abandonment, when, she says ne
threatened 10 Kill her and, fearful OF her
life, she withdrew the action. In juno last
she had him arrested again and he was
put under $500 bonds 10 keep the peace.
They have lived apart since, and she said
she was daily in fear that he would kill her.
After leaving him this last time she took
her three childTen-Arnod, eighteen years
old; Mamie, sixteen, and Bertha, fourteen
! and went to live at No. 2s3 Grove street,
/ Glendale Benz has a married daughter
named Mrs Snyder living in Newark,
y. J. Two Of his children lived with her
and Benz took the other two-Marguerite'
seventeen years old, and Annie, fifteen
and went 10 1--we al the Gates avenue ad-
dress.
New Years Eve, accompanied by her
children. Mrs. Benz attended party a
short distance from her home, and when
the party broke up, as was her CUSTOM She
sent Bertha on ahead TO see II Benz was
lurking around the house. Bertha was ac-
companled by her brother Arnold and
young Mefara and Scor. and they surprised
Benz walking up and down in the shadow
near her home, and when she fastened
back 10 tell her mother she was followed
at distance by Benz.
Hearing that Benz was IN the vicinity
Mrs. Benz decided not 10 so home but TO
make another call, and II was while they
were discussing the question on the street
corner that Benz came up and. elbowtns
his way into the group, spoke harshly Il
HIS wife Taking her mothers part, Berthe
pushed Benz away and told him he ought
10 be ashamed Of himself for using such
language to her mother. Benz slipped on the
sidewalk and as he regained his footing nc
pulled his pistol and began shooting
The police found Benz about o'clock al
home alone. Tho day before he had sen'
his two children TO visit In New Jersey. lie
was in bed fully dressed and was partly
stupefed from liquor, the police say
When informed that he had killed Bertha
and not her mother, it was said Benz eX-
pressed great sorrow. He said he wanted
to kill MS wife.
Magistrate Fitch, in the Flushing police
court. held him without bail for examina
ton to-day. Benz trembled and wept all
the time he was in court, and said he
didn't care what became OF him.