A historic tragedy, which took place in Kansas City KS in 1921. The victim was John S. Bennett, a prosperous perfume salesman, who met his death as a result of a game of contract in which he played with his wife against another married couple. His wife became so infuriated at her husband's play that she shot him following a bitter quarrel. She was tried for murder later the same year, and acquitted.
The following account of the episode appeared in the New York Evening Journal:
"As the game went on." Mrs. Hoffman said, "The Bennetts' criticism of each other grew more and more caustic. Finally a spade hand was bought by them in the following manner: Bennett bid a spade. My husband overcalled with 2 diamond. Mrs Bennett promptly boosted the original spade bid to four. I passed. Mrs. Bennett, as dummy, laid down a rather good hand. But her husband was set. This seemed to infuriate his wife and she began goading him with remarks about 'bum bridge players.' He came right back at her. I don't remember the exact words. This kept up for several minutes. We tried to stop the arguments by demanding cards, but by this time the row had become so pronounced that Bennett, reaching across the table, grabbed Myrtle's arm and slapped her several times. We tried to intervene, but it was futile. While Mrs. Bennett repeated over and over in a strained singsong tone, 'Nobody but a bum would hit a woman,' her husband jumped up and shouted, 'I am going to spend the night in a hotel. And tomorrow I am leaving the town.' His wife said to us: "I think you folks had better go. Of course, we started to do so."
While the Hoffmans were putting on their things Mrs. Bennett dashed into the bedroom of her mother, Mrs. Alice B. Adkins, and snatched the family automatic from a dresser drawer.
While Mrs. Hoffman waited in the doorway, her husband advanced toward Bennett, hoping to say a word or two that would dispel this angry depression. The two men were in conversation as Mrs. Bennett darted in, piston in hand. Bennett saw her, ran to the bathroom, slammed the door just as two bullets pierced the wooden paneling. Hoffman, rigid with astonishment, remained in the den. His wife, hearing the shots, ran down the hall and began pounding on the door of the next apartment. It is thought Bennett died from two bullets fired as he neared the door leading to the street. He staggered to a chair the Hoffmans agree - moaning. "She got me". Then he slumped, unconscious, to the floor. Mrs. Bennett was standing at the other side of the living room, the gun dangling loosely from her fingers. As Bennett fell, her daze broke. She ran toward him. Police found her bent over him, giving vent to wild sobs.
The alleged hand was as follows:
Bennett opened the bidding without sufficient values for an opening bid, and suffered an unusually heavy penalty. However, 4 spades was not an impossible contract, and Ely Culbertson analyzed the deal and suggested the line of play for making the contract. Had Bennett attained the capability of Culbertson in bridge, perhaps his life would have been saved.
Courtesy ACBL Bridge Encyclopaedia
Golden Tips: Bridges is a game like any other games in which there are possibilities of making mistakes and even blunders, but it should be taken in sportsman spirit and not allow intense hard feelings to take away the pleasure of playing. Those who ignore the lapses of partner enjoy the game best.
North
S A1063
H 1085
D 4
C A9842
West
S Q72
H AJ3
D AQ1092
C J6
South
S KJ985
H K762
D 85
C K10
East
S 4
H Q94
D KJ763
C Q753
The bidding:
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South West North East
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1S 2D 4S Pass
Pass Pass
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