The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-07-24
HUNG ON TIME.
HANGING AT TORONTO, CANADA,
YESTERDAY.
The Murderer Meets Death Calmly, but
Pleads lie was Not Responsible
for the Aet-His speech on
the GaIIows.

TORONTO, July 23.-George Bennett ALA,
Dixon, formerly night engineer on the
GIObe newspaper OF this city, was executed
in the Jail to-day at seven minutes before
eight o'clock, for the murder OF ex-senator
George Brown, managing editor OF said
paper. He died almost without strug'
gle. He passed his last night on earth
quietly and WIS maryelouSly cool and col
lected when the last preparations were
being made. In his dying speech he said
"6ENrLENEN: / am going to die and |
am innocent OF the crime. BY no words
that can possibly say can | clear mvseli
and cannot say any more than that am
innocent, as the act was beyond my con-
troll. The act by which Hon. George
Brown met his death was done in an ex-
cited moment. suppose he could not
foresee the consequence. He thought
was going to use the revolver when
drew 1t from my pocket and he grasped at
1t, and 1t caused the act which caused his
death. His hand must have struck the
trigger, as the'shot was fired Instantaneous.
ly with his catching 1t. | am going to
meet my God now aud it would be
a foolish thing for me to die with lie on
my lips. What l say here you may
accept as fact, would not
be likely to speak falsely when am abou
to die. am possessed OF spirit enough to
have acknowledged the crime II did it.
The blood does not trinkle in my veins
that would let me do such an act, l am
not false at heart or coward; it would
have been ashameinl thing to have done
such an act, as Mr.. Brown did not deserve
1t. He was the most popular man
throughout the world, and II he deserved
| I, he went 10 his death through an over
sight on my part. went to him for a
very simple reason, and not to commit
crime. Icould not control the event;
liquor was in me and the accident occur.
red, and the result was fatal.
Bennett then turned his back to the
spectators, and motioned with his right
hand, in which he held a crucifx, and re-
marked quite coolly: ~ am prepared to
die, and all have to say now Is, may God
have mercy on my soul"
The crime for which Bennett died was
committed in revenge for being discharged
from his position for drunkenness, and
when he was under the influence OF liquor,
he entered the office OF the Globe and
started quarrel with Brown. The latter
raising from his chair Bennett fired on
him, the ball taking effect IN Browns
thigh. Badly wounded as he was, Brown
seized Bennett, threw him to the floor and
disarmed him. The noise OF the shot at
tracing the attention OF others in the
office, Bennett was put under arrest to
await the result OF the injury he had in
hiCted. The wouud itself was not mortal,
but death ensued from the shock which it
and the struggle with Bennett gave TO
Browns nervous system. Bennett was
convicted OF murder in the first degree,
but new trial was at once demanded on
the ground that one Of the jurors was
asleep during the taking OF some testimony.
The demand was overruled and Bennett
soon sentenced. Brown was one OF the
ablest public men in the Dominion apd
one Of undoubted integrity and wide inau-
anCe