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Notes for CHARLES E. BENTLEY:
"Charles Bentley, 42 years of age, a former resident of Angus and Perry, was found dead at a spot on the White Pole road on the northeast outskirts of Des Moines yesterday morning. The presumption is that he was murdered and robbed and his body taken there in an automobile and left in the road, although so many conflicting stories are afloat that the whole affair is shrouded in mystery. The first reports received in Perry yesterday were those contained in an Associated Press story carried in the Chief, but it was not until last evening that it was known Bentley was from this community. He was a coal miner by occupation and something of a wanderer. His mother and other relatives here had not heard from him for about three years until this week. Tuesday a letter was received by Mrs. Frank Reynolds, a sister. It was written from a town in Oklahoma and stated that he was on his way to Perry and would be here in a few days. The joy which was occasioned by the letter was turned to grief for the aged mother, brothers and sisters last night when it was learned he had been killed. Mr and Mrs. Reynolds went to Des Moines this morning and made arrangements for the removal of the body to Perry. It will be brought here tonight at 8:30 and taken to the T.R. Phillips undertaking rooms. The funeral services will be held at the Reynolds home on Third street Monday afternoon at 2:30. Bentley is survived by his mother, Mrs. William Bentley, who makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Reynolds, two brothers, W. E. Bentley of Perry and R. Bentley of Kansas City and six sisters. The latter are: Mrs. C. Salzgeber of Paton; Mrs. A. Jameson of Chicago; Mrs. G. Alywood of Perry; Mrs. F. Reynolds, Perry; Mrs. F. Peters, Albany, N.Y.; Mrs. C. Hegwood of Paton. Bentley was married about eight years ago, but he and his wife had been separated for a number of years. She is now living in Des Moines and the authorities are holding her in an effort to learn more about the death of her husband. He called at her home late Thursday afternoon. Another woman, Mrs. Elizabeth Beghtol, of Eldon, Iowa, to whom he had been engaged for a number of years, arrived in Des Moines yesterday only to find that he had been killed. The generally accepted theory is that Bentley was slugged and robbed and taken in an automobile to the spot where the body was found. It was stated that he had a big roll of money on his person when he arrived in Des Moines, but only $80 was found by the officers. This was concealed in a secret pocket of his underclothing. (The Perry Daily Chief, 15 Apr 1922)
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