The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-10-14
JOHN SCHWENTON MURDERS
DELLA BENTZ LAST THURS
DAY; COMMITS SUICIDE
BOTH DIE INSTANTLY
COLD-BLOODED CRIME COMMIT
TED IN HEART OF CITY
UNREQUITED LOVE

UNREQUITED LOVE
During a period of mental aberra-
ton resultant of mad infatuation ana
unrequited love, John Schwenton, late
last Thursday afternoon shot and Kill
led Miss Della Bentz and then ended
his life by sending a bullet into his
head.
The double tragedy was enacted in
the Bentz family home on Second
street. near Elm and was witnessed in
its entirety by Mrs. Sophie Bentz,
mother of the slain girl. Both vic
Tins died instantly, according to ply
sicians who examined the remains.
Police investigation proved clearly
and conclusively that Schwenton's act
was cody premediated. The opinion
of coroner and doctors was unani-
NOUS that when he fired the shots
which snuffed out two lives he was
temporarily insane. Brooding over
his unsuccessful love affair with Miss
Bentz had brought on brainstorm, the
physicians say.
Schwenton carried out his plans me-
thodically after he had been told be-
yond equivocation by Miss Bentz that
she would not marry him and that she
no longer desired his company at
home or elsewhere, - @ .
Early in September he went to the
Wedge Hardware Company and ex-
pressed desire to purchase a revolv-'
er. He was waited on by Everett
Jameson and asked to be allowed to
look at some cheap guns. Jameson
noted that the man did not know how
to break the gun or how to load the
chambers. He finally purchased 81
cahbre u. S. nickle firearm OF the
cheapest make, containing a five
chamber cartridge cylinder and cost
ing $3.50. He also purchased box
of cartridges containing so shells.
At the time Jameson became sus-
picious and notified Chief of Police
Fish of the sale of the gun. Chief
Fish states that he watched Schwen-
ton for time but became convinced
that he simply purchased the gun in
conformance with the usual custom
of bartenders who are compelled to
conduct saloons at night. At that time
Schwenton was employed in the Allen
saloon on Third street.
Perhaps Schwenton suspected that
he was being watched. At any rate he
cleverly threw off suspicious as were
aroused. One of the first sights
which met the view of callers to his
lodgings was the bright nickled re-
volver lying on the table in the CEN
ter of his room and beside it box of
cartridges with seal unbroken. Re-
volver and cartridges were still on the
little table the day before the shoot
ing and were then seen by George
Rice. The next appearance of the
murderous contrivances was In the
Bentz home. 1t was the same gun
when picked up from the kitchen floor
where the tragedy occurred and three
of the five shells in the cylinder were
exploded. When investigation by the
police was made it was ascertained
that five cartridges had been removed
from the box in Schwenton's room
and, the box and remaining shells
left behind. The revolver was gone.
1t had served The purpose for which
Schwenton had purchased it.
The motive for the shooting is an
old, old story; in truth the. irreconci-
libility of Summer and Winter.
Schwenton was past the meridian Of
life, 53 years of age; Della Bentz was
10, and the world was just beginning
to, unfold before her. j., She had been
brought up in limited surroundings;
her horizon was short and narrow
one. ii,
Schwenton flashed on that horizon
about year ago when he first came
to Sank Centre He established him
self in the graces of the elder Bentz'
and was frequent visitor at the fam
lily. home. He busted himself at var
ious occupations and little presents
were graciously received in the, Bentz
household. ..sgezs,.sg zts..ys. i.
In the natural course of events
Miss Della associated more and more
with Schwenton. He became daily
visitor at the home. There were bug.
gy rides, summer night strolls, thea
ters. and other diversions: ~ -.
Suddenly the young Woman found
herself face to face with a delicate
probisn-. She suddenly OWNED that
Schwenten was madly. infatuated with
her. 8zle sounded her own feelings
and s uss convinced. that she did nos
1--we - Sck.senton and could not marry
In but, following the line Of least
resistance. she gave her consent to,
marriage when Schwenton proposeds