New-York tribune., 1920-01-12
Mrs. Bennett Saws
Divine Psychologist
Worked by Prayer
Widow Charged With Large
Frauds Knows She Would
Die in Prison, as She
Couldn't Eat the Food

held in the Tombs on charge of feec-
ing clergymen. social and political
leaders of Washington Heights Of
many thousands of dollars, gave a
reporter Of The Tribune yesterday
further details Of the cause of her
plight, which she attributes to a
divine psychologist"
She is specifically indicted on
four charges of defrauding Mrs. Jo-
sephinc B. Cordero of No. 10 North
Eighth Street. Mount Vernon. and Mrs.
Carmine' L. de Marchena, an aunt Of
Mrs Cordero. of thc same place, of
$1,000 in novel "get rich quick" real
estate scheme.
"My troubles" said Mrs. Bennett,
"began about eight years ago when
saw the advert sement Of this 'psy-
chologist,' who had studio near
Central Park. At that time I was OBJ
sessed with the idea of accommodating
q large sum Of money, and I thought
would see if he could help me.
Teacher worked by Prayer"
cat first I went to him only at long
intervals, but during the last year l
attended his classes regularly. He had
regular classes Sunday mornings.
Tuesday afternoons and Thursday
evenings, which were attended by hun
dreds of wellto-do women of middle
age and some men. And then one
could have private consultations.
II was told that if l wanted things
hard enough and willed to have them
! could get them, but that must have
faith and believe that would get
them. Whatever our hobby was he
would harp on to every Individual.
He knew l was bent on getting large
sums of money, and so he harped on
gan to dominate my mind and soon
l was getting money from varied
sources, mainly church people and So
cial friends Of mine.
HE told me | was a good demon
strator,' and that he was working with
me, and that l should continue get
ting the money, or demonstrating, as
he called it. His work consisted of
praying. l was at first sincere and in
tended to pay back all the money
had borrowed, but under his influence
l became morally dead to all my OBJ
legations. l think about $4,000 passed
through my hands, of which the! psy-
chologist got the greater portion.
He said that the more we paid him
for sessions and private consultations
strations.' I'm sure there were hun
dreds of women attending his classes
who We're doing things they should not
have done. AS for me, I was COM
pletely under his spell for a year. 1t
was just like being drunk. When l
went to him with my troubles and
asked him for some Of the money I
gave him to meet my debts he told me
to continue demonstrating and that
everything would turn out right.
Couldn't Eat Prison Food
"Of course, when my troubles piled
up and | was hailed into court | awoke
and realized the enormity of my offense.
l didn't think that my running away
would cause the bonding company who
went my bail to forfeit its bond.
When my case was called for trial on
december l9 was down in Maryland.
where | went to strange minister and
told him my whole story. He advised
that ! go back to New York and give
m. self up.
= When got to New York / called up
my attorney, Collin C. 'MacLoud, who
met me and went with me to Hendouar
ters. l realize now that was a men
ace to myself and the public. hone
Will get suspended sentence so I
can get out for year and obtain funds
to repay those who trusted me. If 7
nave to stay in Jail I know I'll die. be-
cause can't eat the food they serve
here. And if die l will not be able
to repay my friends"
Mrs. Bennett said she had a nlan
to obtain money if she were Given PAN an
opportunity to try it. 1t was no bus;-
ness scheme and had nothing to do
with the "divine Psychologists" sugees-
tons. With him, she said, she was
through. '"' was
Mrs. Bennett, who saws she 10 Z.
v!ce-prcsident of the Women's F,r-
elgn Missionary Society of the New
rork fresoytery, and formerly it's sec
retary' was held under $500 bail
pe1ore magistrate Corrigan on June 9
Ca ~; oco cnarseo with having obtained
s 1,oo4 from Mrs Cordero and Mrs. de
Marchena under false Representations
She claimed she possessed leaseho old.
on nine horses, when the records
showed that she had a leasehold on
When her case came up before .1udco
Kosalsky in General Sessions. Octoher
~, two clergymen told the court that
they believed a great mistake had been
made and that Mrs. Bennett was a
woman OF fine character and refine
hn,1 ue1e' Desplte their protests, she was
AAe.u uHueA @o,UUU ball.
her case was called for trial before
Judge Mcintyre, in General Sessions
december 10, and when she failed to-
appear ne ordered the bail forfeited
ne.ectlves employed by the surety
company traced her to several cities
IN Competent where she is said to
nave wealthy relatives, and Massachu.
Sctts, and were still on her trail
when she came to New York and SIR.
rendered herself Saturday.