I stumbled across the name “Lawman” Bentley while searching for the name Ella Bentley. He was listed as Ella’s father on her 1919, Iowa marriage license to Pleas Carr. (Bob Ella Bentley Carr (1883 – 1923) was her full name.) Her mother was Martha “Mattie” “Matt” White who was my Great Grandfather, Isaac Blakey’s sister.
At first, I thought “Lawman” had to be his nickname. And with a name like this, he could have been a law man. Or he may have had a reputation with the law. For years. I couldn’t discover anything about “Lawman”. I wondered. Whatever become of him?
Then I began to google. I discovered that “Lawman” Bentley and his brothers had encounters with the law. And it appears that “Lawman” took some matters into his own hands.
As I began to explore the newspapers (and other sources,) I discovered more about “Lawman”. He was reported as being in crap games, stealing and fights. He was charged with assault with intent to kill Sidney “Sid” Cason who was shot and wounded seriously in the head. “Lawman” was sentenced to five years in the Missouri penitentiary
His first name was either Laramie, Larmon or Lorman. I did locate a Lorman Bently at age 15 on the the 1880 Missouri census. He was working on a farm in Chariton County. Other sources list his first name as “Lawman”. He had half brothers. One was named Frank Bentley. And another was John Crop who was hung in 1880 for killing a white man.
Description of Lorman “Lawman” Bentley: source prison record
His trade was a houseboy.
He was 28 years old and born in Missouri.
His hair was black and eyes brown,
He had no whiskers, no education, no religion, no former imprisonment
He had a wife and father in Forest Green, Missouri. (It’s more like he was a father.)
He was 5 foot 7 and 3/4 ”
His foot length was 10 1/2″
His skin complexion was cooper
Scars on this body.
Left side of forehead
Eye brawl
Between the eye brawl
Right side of cheek
Left thigh
Calf right leg
“Lawman” Bentley (1866 – 1899)
Lorman Bentley was regarded as a “bad man”. And “he is said to have a disliked for manual labor.”
About three months after being released from prison on Jan 25, 1899.
“Lawman”…”kicked up a rumpus with his wife and daughter , and attempted to kill them with a knife. ”
James Jackson interfered… shot and killed “Lawman” Bentley in self defense.
“Lawman” was about 33 years old when he was killed.
(I’m wondering if that James Jackson had some family connections with the White Family.)
I’m not for sure who “Lawman’s” wife was in the article. I have not located a marriage record of “Lawman” / Lorman Bentley and Martha “Mattie” White in Chariton County, Missouri. Mattie did have four children living at this time. Pat, Alice, Ella and Jane White. Ella was the only one known who carried the Bentley surname.
As for Martha “Mattie” White, she was listed as a widow on the 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and the 1940 censuses in Missouri. I can’t locate her death record. She was said to had passed in April of 1947 in Forest Green, Missouri.
I came across this article in April of 2017.
Source from the Chariton Courier , Keytesville, Missouri 05 May 1899, Fri • Page 4
Other interesting facts about Sidney “Sid” Cason: family connections:
Sidney had a son, Leon Moline CASON by Lee Berta White, who was the niece of “Mattie” White. Sidney’s sister Dora (Cason ) White Craig had a daughter, Obenatta “Bennett” (Craig ) Pearl by Spencer White, who was Mattie White’s brother.
Thanks for reading.
“Lawman” Bentley: On The Wrong Side Of The Law ~ Week 47 In 2022
November 25, 2022
S.A. Blakley
“Wrong Side Of The Law” Theme
Amy Johnson Crow ~ Generations Café #52Ancestors 52 Weeks facebook group
This week’s theme is “Wrong Side of the Law.” Scoundrels. Ne’er-do-wells. Criminals. Every family has them. This week, explore someone like that in your family tree.
