Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-05-26
REGINALD BARR, OF CHICAGO
B MAKES FOURTH ATTEMPT
TO KILL HIMSELF.
KILLED sWEErHEART az
TOO VIGOROUS cAREss
Mysterious Murder Of Miss Florsnes
Bentley Cleared When Girls Lover
Commits Suicide BY Throwing Him.
self Under Train-Took Poison Twice
and Jumped Into Quarry.

Lisle, ILL.,, May 26.-Reginald A. Barr.
leaving behind him a note declaring
that his Staying OF his sweetheart.
Florence Bentley. at Downer's Grove,
three miles from here. last Saturday
night, was accidental, jumped beneath
a moving train here early today and
was killed.
1t was his fourth attempt at suicide.
In q note found on his person he de-
clared he took drug twice in an effort
to die beside the body Of his sweet
heart but both times failed
He next jumped into a quarry pit
but he lit In the stagnant water and
Il couldn't sink" said the note.
The clothing on his body was wet
when taken from the track.
Killed During Struggle.
The note said Miss Bentley was killed
when he tried to kess her. She
screamed and he placed his hand on
her throat. She became quiet all Of
sudden" said the note
In remorse and fear he sat beside her
for some time seeking to fnd spark
OF life remaining In her. Finally he
gave up nope and jumped into the
quarry pit When this attempt to die
failed he went to Aurora. where he
purchased an anesthetic. He returned
and. prostrating himself by the girls
body. swallowed the poison.
After while he woke up. The girl
still lay very quiet beside him. Again
he male a trip to Aurora, says the note
and again returned with poison to die
beside the girl he had slain. This At.
tempt atso was failure. Then hi
ssandersds{or hours thru the woods be.
fore jumping m front Of the train. Y
Body, Found IN Bushes.
Florence Bentley. 81 years old wal
found dead In a clump Of bushes soutf
Of town. Several bruises on the girls
head led the sheriff to believe that she
was beaten to DEATH
Miss Bentley disappeared Saturday
night. She went to visit at the home
Of Mrs. Harry Walker, her sister
About 8 o'clock, she started home. es-
corted by Reginald Barr. young friend
who lives with the Walker family
When Barr did not return to the
Walker house and Miss Bentley did not
Z each home, friends thought they might
have eloped as they were employed in
the same office In Chicago and they
rode to and from the city frequently in
the same train.
DR.. w. c. Bebb and Coroner's Physi-
sian Prutt were unable to tell the
cause OF Miss Bentley's death by a
post -morten examination. The bruises
on her head 1t was stated, were not
thought sufficient to cause death and 8
further investiga ton will be made 10
determine II poison can be found In
the body.
The spot where the body was found
was almost. on the extreme south end
OF town, far from Miss Bentley's home
Tells Story to Boys.
That Miss Bentley tainted In his
arms while he was carressing her and
believing he had broken her neck. he
became fri sntened and ran away, Is the
story young Barr is reported to have
told four boy friends who came across
him in the woods south Of town yes
terday morning, according to the story
they brought back to the police. He
slept at stone quarry at Naperville
on Saturday night and spent Sunday ir
Aurora, at the home of a friend. he
said.
Barr. the hoys said. promised to sur
render to the police if they would pro
tect him. They returned to town and
in a few minutes started back to the
woods with Marshall White. but Barr
had fled.