The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-05-25
LOrenzin, Quarter-Breed Indian, Tells
How He Pounded Boy in
Senseless Rage

Bingham county authorities, with
the aid of ]. G. Sellers, of the Inter-
national Secret Service agency, OBJ
tanned a confession Monday from AL
win Alfred Lorenzin which fixes up
on him the guilt of having murder
ously assaulted Malcom Bentley,
Monday, May IA, beating him on the
head with a hammer, and leaving
him for dead. Lorenzin is a quarter
breed Indian.
The detective and Sheriff Simmons
went out to the scene of the trouble,
which is south of Big Butte, where
the road crosses into the lavas. They
took Lorenzin's shoes to compare
them with foot marks, and were gone
from oaturday~to Sunday evening.
When they returned they were In
possession of quite conclusive proof
against the accused man. They had
the hammer, the boys hat and Lo-
renzin's hat and some clothes.
The confession was obtained Mon
day evening. by Prosecutor Adair and
Detective Sellers, after skilful grill
ling of the culprit by cross -examina-
tion which lasted several hours. Lo-
renzin persisted in his story until the
very last. He looked the attorney
straight in the eyes and did not con-
tradict himself, except in detail or
two.
At length the story was complete
and at a dramatic climax Lorenzin
was confronted with the evidence
gathered out in the lavas. They did
not ask him If he committed the
crime, but why he did it, and he told
them.
1t appears that Lorenzin wanted to
quit herding sheep for a while, and
in order not to leave his employer
short handed he sought to persuade
Bentley to take his job during his
absence. Bentley had a good job
with Louis Eyraud, and would not
leave it. This talk was had out in
the rough lava country where Eyraud
and Bentley were moving their
sheep. Eyraud had left Bentley and
was out of sight, when at the boy s
obduracy Lorenzin became so en-
ragged he struck him down with a
hammer and continued to beat him
until he thought he was dead. They
had been sitting on a low lava BLUM
Il was insanely mad" said Loren
zin, 81 hit him with the hammer.
don't know how many times. He fell
off of the ledge and l went down
and hit him some more
Then he commenced to think OF
escape. He threw away various pieces
of his clothing, hat, cuffs, coat, and
got to Blackfoot. where he was ar
rested after the boy was found.
It was Oliver Mcbride, of Keever
the boys step-father, who found
Bentley, Thursday morning, after he
had crawled more than a mile from
the scene of the assault, with botf
legs paralyzed, and his head bleed
ing. Mcbride had with him Franz
Farnsworth, two men by the name
of Hall, Robert Frazer and Mr.
Esbey. They started out from th'
sheep camp at 6 in the morning, ar
rived at the place described to then
by the Frenchman, Eyraud, at 8, ant
at about $50 Mcbride came upon tn
boy. They carried him in make
shift stretcher Of coats and guns u
the road where they could put him II
a car.
At the Blackfoot hospital where HI
was Immediately taken, County Ply
sician Patrie and DR.. Mitchell per
formed an operation on his head, re
moving several pieces Of the skull
His two legs are paralyzed, but NJ
is making a strong fight for life. Tit
physicians say he has slight chance
of recovery.
Lorenzin waived his priliminar!
hearing and will be charged with as
sault with intent to somml
murder. Eyraud, the Frenchman
is also being held in connection Will
the case, as he has not been abl'
to satisfy the authorities of his hav
ing had nothing to do with the al
fair.