Madison County Times (Chittenengo, NY)

"Card of Thanks
We wish to thank our friends and neighbors for their help and kindness at the time of the death of our beloved husband and father, and especially those who sent flowers and loaned automobiles.
(Signed) MRS ANNA MANTELL AND FAMILY."

"George Mantell Shot to Death
Prop. Bridenbecker and Others Detained — Facts of Shooting Meager
Called to Chittenango Station Monday morning to investigate a case of lost automobile license plates, State Troopers Palmer and Williams were tipped off that something was wrong at the hotel there conducted by Herman Bridenbecker, and on investigating found George Mantell of Chittenango unconscious in a chair and apparently suffering from a contusion on the head. Efforts to revive Mantell at the hotel by the troopers failing, they took him before Justice of the Peace Randall S. Carl at Chittenango, who ordered his examination by Dr. W. E. Deuel. Dr. Deuel found the man in a serious condition, and ordered him to the Canastota Hospital, where close examination showed that the apparent wound in the head was a bullet hole. At once the troopers returned to the hotel and took into custody Herman Bridenbeck, and later his housekeeper, Mrs. Sadie Gardner, and Thomas Heffron, Frank Fitzpatrick, George Meyers and others who were in the place or had been during the day.
A target pistol was found of 22 caliber, and later it developed that the bullet in Mantell's head was also a 22. In the pistol was an empty 22 shell. The bullet entered Mantell's head above the left eye and was finally removed from his cheek, lodging on his upper jab bone. Mantell died Tuesday. He is survived by his wife, Anna Chisman Mantell, and nine children. Mantell was a farmer and general laborer. All persons in the hotel at the time Mantell was found or who had been there later, were questioned, and are being held for further examination. It is alleged that the housekeeper later admitted that she heard a shot fired during the morning, but know nothing else about it. An autopsy was held Tuesday by Coroner Barton at the Tyler undertaking rooms in Chittenango, where the body was taken after Mr. Mantell died. The Bridenbecker hotel has been involved in trouble before. Herman Bridenbecker has several times been involved in excise violations and is now out on bail pending a hearing on a charge of Volsted violation... In searching the hotel after the shooting the troopers found containers with alleged super-Volsted liquid therein. Herman Bridenbecker is now being held by the troopers pending further investigation."

"Frank Mantell, thirteen, year old son of the late Mrs. George Mantell Tuller, died Tuesday morning at the Good Shepherd Hospital in Syracuse from tetanus poisoning and lockjaw, the result of an injury to his left hand the Tuesday before July 4.
The boy was injured when a blank cartridge exploded in the palm of his left hand. He was treated for his injury and given anti-tetanus serum and everything was done to aid him, but infection developed to such an extant that death resulted.
Frank Mantell was born August 28, 1915, his parents being Mr. and Mrs. George mantell, both deceased. He was a first-year student in Chittenango High School. Surviving are three sisters, Mrs. Benjamin Robbins, Mrs. Brown Bettinger and Miss Grace Mantell and five brothers, Harold, Burt, George, Ralph and Gerald, all of Chittenango. Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the home of his sister, Mrs. Brown Bettinger, and at 2:30 from the Methodist Church, with Rev. Ralph Wyrick officiating. Burial in Oakwood."

"Rufus Benjamin Robbins
The remains of Rufus Benjamin Robbins, former resident here, and shell-shocked first world-war veteran, were brought here last week for burial in Oakwood ... Mr. Robbins served two years over-seas during the first world war with the 77th division of the U.S. Army. He operated an ammunition truck much of the time and also served as an ambulance driver. He was severely shell shocked and never fully recovered. He died Friday night, Oct. 3 at Fredonia where he was employed in the canning factory. Death was due to a heart attack.
Rufus Benjamin Robbins was born at Coxsackie Oct. 13, 1894. His parents John and Ida Robbins. The family moved to Chittenango in 1905. Mr. Robbins attended school here and in 1918 married Bertha Mantell. A few years ago Mr. and Mrs. Robbins went to Cleveland, Ohio, to live. He is survived by his wife, also by his father, John Robbins, of Rome; by three sons, Rufus Benjamin jr., Harold and Robert; and one daughter, Mrs. Rudolph Hamm, all of Cleveland, also by a sister, Mrs. Claude Goodfellow of this village and one brother, William. kiving at Rome."