THE LONG TRAIL

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 122, 22 May 1920, Page 19

THE LONG TRAIL

THE LAST "LETTERS OF _ WIDOW.

Remarkable lettrfs in which she cursed tbe man whom she alleged had betrayed her was left by a guardsman's widow, who committed suicide. The woman, Rebecca Bentley, of (Liverpool, was the mother of four children.

Her husband, who served In the Grenadier Guards, was killed in 1917, and after his death she took in lodgers. It was stated In evidence that after she discovered .that she was in a certain condition, she rtold a neighbour that she could not bear the disgrace.

(She afterwards sent her son for some spirits of salts which she drank, dying shortly afterwards.

The coroner read two remarkable letters which had 'been left behind .by the dead woman. The first letter was addressed to Hill, who had lodged with Mrs. Bentley, and ran:—

"When I am gone I hope your conscience will prick you when you think of the mother you have murdered. My four children will thrive and curse the man who made them orphans. Your conscience will ■be your own accuser. I go to my grave cursing you, and I hope my presence will haunt you when you think of mc, the good mother you have ruined."

The second letter was addressed "To all lit may concern," and ix contained the following passages:

"I am leaving this world with a broken heart. I was left a widow through the war, and I thought the sunshine trad gone out, I brightened up with the thought that my husband had done his duty bravely for his country.

"So my duty -was to my children. ;When I think of the many hosbands who have given their lives to keep the Germansaway, and we bare as many -Germans here, such people as , who go about from door to door saying all sorts of wicked things."

After referring to allegations which had been made as to her morality, Mrs. ißentley wrote that she was "good and true" until she met -Hlil, to whose attentions she said she fell a victim. The letter continued:—

"I 'have been more sinned against than I have sinned. I have been made a fallen woman through lies being told about an honourable- woman. ... 1 know widow* don't stand a chance left without protection, hut 'i am going to my husband. He has beckoned to ~e in my dreams. With, open arms be awaits. I have —is—raced his name, but he still smiles that sweet smile for mc. "I close my life, a short and sweet one up to the last four months. It ia a long, long trail. *ut at last it has ended. Do all you can for tbe children when 1 am gone. The great red dawn is shining, andmy waiting hours are now over. CoodIbye!" Leonard "Hill, a young hotel waiter, gave evidence that he had only 'been in thehouse for three weeks, and denied on oath, that any familiarity had taken place between them. The coroner said that Mrs. ißentley must have been mere or Jess unstrung in mind, judging from tlie letters, and the Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane."