The New York herald., 1920-01-12
HE LENT 5000 TO
MRS. BENNETT; GOT
It BACK ON PLATE
Clergyman in Fifty-Eighth
Street Says He Often Advised
Woman to Live Honestly.

nay JcuulHSS DcHUGtL, WHO pidIuCS u
career Of crime ON psychic divine" in
fluence exerted over her by a one-time
Presbyterian clergyman. were disclosed
yesterday.
Mrs. Bennett. an attractive widow,
about thirty-five years old, is in the
Tombs on four charges Of defrauding
, Mrs. Josephine Cordero, OF No. 10 North
Eighth street, Mount Vernon. N. Y. and
Mrs. Cordero's aunt. Mrs. Carmine de
Marchena, also Of Mount Vernon, of 81 7.0G)
in scheme to get control OF chain of
furnished room houses in this city.
Mrs. Bennett had said that her various
schemes to obtain money had been started
as result of the control OF the ''di-
yine," who had "studio" near Central
Park. and held mystic ceremonies at
tended by many women. all of whom had
been induced, she believed, to take up a
life of crime to obtain riches.
Clergyman Lent Heer $500.
The Rev. Ellis Williams, of No. 80 West
Fifty-eighth street. where he has a studio
apartment, and whose name appears in
the minutes of the Presbyterian General
Assembly for 1919 as a regularly ordained
the Presbytery Of Binghamton. N. Y, said
yesterday that he knew Mrs. May Jen-
nings Bennett, and that six or seven years
ago when he first met her she persuaded
him to lend her 800 to invest in motion
picture venture. Ho said that this loan,
for which he still possesses Mrs. Benefits S
note, has never been paid.
The Rev. Mr.. Williams said he was or
dained Presbyterian minister in Troy.
". Y. In 1903. when he came to this city,
he was pastor Of a Presbyterian church at
Nichols, NJ Y. In that year he opened a
studio at No. West Fifty-eighth street
where ne gave lectures on psychology, the
secrets of success and also discoursed on
mental healing and tho efficacy of prayer.
When he moved to his present studio five
or six years ago he said he made the ac-
duaintance Of Mrs. Bennett, who. ne said
was among those who attended his lect-
ures.
Through this acquaintance, the Rev. Mr..
Williams declared. Mrs. Bennett induced
him to lend her the 500. lie said she told
him her father-in-law owned large share
in the Murray Hill Hotel and during the
regotiatons he said he saw her there
many times. Finally, he declared, she
confessed to him that the scheme had been
n failure: that dishonest theatre employees
had defrauded her of a large amount of
money, and that she was unable to repay
his loan.
From that time until about year ago,
Ybe clergyman said, he had rarely seen
Mrs. Bennett She then began reappear-
ing at his lectures, he asserted. and fre-
oucntly asked his advice concerning finan-
c,al schemes she had. Recalling his own
experience, the Rev. Mr.. Williams said
he was reluctant to advance additional
funds, although he said she often cntreat-
cd him to help her out of monetary diff
fhcuitiee
Called at Weird Hours.
Mr.. Williams said that last summer her
visits became frequent. sometimes four and
five times q week. and that she often
called him on the telephone in the early
morning hours, and had even gone to his
studio at three and four O'Clock in the
morning TO demand his advice. He said
that he always told her that she should
lead an honest life and pay whatever debts
she contracted. Often, he sa d, her $ ster'
Miss Sarah Jennings, n school teacher IN
Mount Vernon accompanied her to the
studio. Mr.. Williams said that whatever
control he might have had over Mrs. Ben
nett was exerted to have her live honest
Jy and make her money legitimately.
The clergyman declared Mrs. Bennett
told him that her father-inlaw owned q
large share of Breton Hall. where she
her mother and sister lived for time In
an elaborate apartment.
Mr. williams said that the last time he
had seen Mrs Bennett was on December
IS, when she went to his studio at three
o'clock In the morning. He knew ot her
arrest. he said. and was aware that<her
trial came up on December ~. and had
strongly urged upon her the Importance
of appearina there. because he said she
told him that she would not go to court
10 face the charges. When she left his
studio she assured him she would 20 70
court he said. and he thought no more
about it until he learned she had disap-
peared.
Gave Him About $500.
Tn common with other persons who at
tended the lectures his studio. the Rev.
Mr.. Williams said that Mrs. Bennett con-
tributed voluntarily whatever amount she
feit like giving. He kept no record OF
these contributions, he declared. but
thought they might aggregate 1890. He
said II he had charged her fee for all
the services he performed for her she
would owe him $1,000
Many Of the woTnan's schemes for maxi
ing money were confided 20 him, the
clergyman said. and he he'd also learned
the names OF many of the persons from
whom she obtained money. In every in
stance, he said. his advice 20 her was to
pay back this money.
No. 33s West Eighty-sixth street. and pas
tor of the West Park Presbyterian Church
Amsterdam avenue and Eighty sixth
street, who said he had known Mrs. Ben
nett for several years. declined TO dis
cuss the case. The Rev. Mr.. Evans de-
cIared she had attended his church q
few times while living at the Breton
-yail although he said sho retained her
ynor,bersh'r in the Fort Washington Pres
bytcrlan Church.
TIE Rev. Waiter ~. sample, assistant
pastor Of tho Fort Washington Church,
said that he knew Of no one In his con-
greeation who had been pursuaded to
lend money to Mrs Bennett. He declared
however that few years ago the late
REV. Daniel IT. Martin, formerly the pas
tor of the church. had made small
loan 20 her. which she later repaid.
LOCKS ENEMY IN ICEBOX