BENTSORD

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Monday, December 15, 2008 at 03:49:36 :

Marin Journal
Thursday, June 25, 1925
Page 8

Convict Stabs His Cellmate to Death on Way to Jute Mill

A quarrel between two negro cellmates at San Quentin prison, lasting over two days, culminated Saturday morning in the fatal stabbing of George Bentsord. William Keating is in solitary confinement charged with the murder.

For the sixth time this year murder has been committed in the State prison at San Quentin. Previous killings have been largely the result of race feeling.

On Friday Bentsord approached the captain of the yard and asked to be changed to another cell, saying that he could not get along with Keating. The latter is thought to have seen Bentsord speaking to the yard official and became suspicious that Bentsord was “squealing” on him.

Both prisoners worked in the jute mill and about 6:30 Saturday morning as they were going to the mill the murderous attack took place. None of the prison guards saw the attack, but the commotion attracted their attention. Running to the alley behind the kitchen, they found Bentsord lying on the ground with several deep cuts about his neck and throat. Bentsord was taken to the prison hospital, where he made a statement charging Keating with the attack. He died in about forty-five minutes.

Keating denied all knowledge of the affair.

Bentsord was brought from Monterey in June, 1925, for burglary in the second degree under a one to fifteen year sentence.

Keating is serving a six months to ten-year sentence for assault with a deadly weapon, being sent up from Sacramento. The prison records show that he once served time in the Government prison at Leavenworth, Kas., and that he was discharged as insane.