The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-05-01
DEATH OF PROMINENT LAWYER
B. Stuart Bentley Died at His Will
Transport Home Last Tuesday
Well Known Here-Was a
Cousin of Mrs. w. ii. Stone.


b. Stuart Bentley died at his resi-
dence, 337 Mifflin place, at 1880
o'clock Tuesday afternoon, aged 10
years and one month. He had been
confined to the house only for the
past two weeks but the seriousness
of his condition had been recognized
almost from the first. He is sur
vived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs.
II. A. Gibson, of this city, one sis
ter, Mrs. G.. G. Waller, of German
town, and one brother, p. w. Bent
ley, of this city.
Benjamin Stuart Bentley was born
in Montrose, Susquehanna county,
and was educated in Branklin, n.
Y. Returning from school he studied
law with the firm of Bentley & Fish,
which was composed of his father
and an uncle. He was admitted to
the bar of Susquehanna county in
1860.
He practiced law in Montrose un-
til October 20, 1866, when he took
up his residence in Williamsport and
continued the practice of law. There
are only two men living today who
were members of the Lycoming
county bar when he was admitted
and neither of them is in active praC-
| tice. He had served in both the
school board and Common council
with credit to the ward which chose
! him.
He served for a number of years
as clerk of the circuit court of the
/ United States for the western dis
trict of Pennsylvania and still held
! the office of United States Commits
| sioner.
Was First Prothonotary.
When the Superior court was
created, in June, 1895, Mr.. Bentley
was appointed prothonotary for the
! Williamsport district and continued
! to hold that office until death remov-
ed him.
When, in 1888, the Republican
party looked about for a strong man
whom it felt could be elected judge
of this county, it's choice fell upon
Mr.. Bentley and, after a campaign OF
unusual warmth, he was defeated by
Hon. John J. Metzgar by only A
votes in a poll of nearly $4,000
votes. Then followed the famous
judicial contest which lasted more
than a year before Judges Mayer
Rockefeller and Burcher decided Mr.
Metzgar elected by a plurality o.
129 votes.
An Excellent Musician.
Mr.. Bentley was very fond of mu
sic and in his younger days no con
cert or home musical entertainment
was complete without him. HI
played Dick Deaaeye in the famous
Wi1liamsport ''Pinafore" eompan.
which made the Williamsport hospi
tai possible by its performances, AM
Sam Trusty, the boatman, in 9Th
Naiad Queen" He was membe
of the Handel and Haydn societ,
and in it's palmy days sang promi
nent parts in it's cantatas, one o
which was The lawmakers"
For many years ne was organis
of Trinity Episcopal church and whe'
, the chimes were first placed in Trim
, ity's steeple and when they wer
used for more than striking tn
2 quarter hour, it was his hand tha
q pealed out the hymns and othe
. sweet music on its bells.
Mr.. Bentley was also a vestryma
9 of Trinity church for a number @
J years. -Williamsport Gazette ans
Bulletin.
, The following obituary notice of T
= S. Bentley appeared in last Wednes
:. days Williamsport Gazette and Blu
letin Mr.. Bentley was cousin c
: Mrs. w. H. Stone of Court stree
q The deceased was in the law office {
: G. G. Waller, Honesdale, one year.