The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-09-15

J
new convert when the meeting
was over; his salary was enlarged
the next day; he was the talk of
the town, and its hero. An &C
count of it was published.
George Benton fell regularly eve
ry three months, but was faithfully
rescued and wrought with every
time, and good situations were
found for him. Finally he was
taken around the country lectur-
ing as a reformed druukard, and
ho had great houses and did an
immense amount of good.
He was so popular at home, aud
so trusted-during his sober inter-
vals-that be was enabled to use
the name Of a principal citizen,
and get a large sum of money at
the bank. A mighty pressure was
brought to bear to save him from
the consequences Of his forgery,
and it was partially successful
be was "sent up" for only two
years. When at the end Of year,
the tireless efforts of the benevo-
lent were crowned with success,
and be emerged from the peniten-
tiary with q pardon in his pocket,
the Prisoners Friend Society met
him at the door with a situation
and a comfortable salary, and all
the other benevolent people came
forward and gave him advice,
encouragement and help. Enward
Mills had once applied to the
Prisoners Friend Society for
situation, when in dire need, but
the question, "Have you been a
prisoner made brief work Of
his case.
While all tbAce things were
going on, Edward Mills had been
quietly making head against ad-
versity. he was still poor, but
was IN receipt of a steady and
sufficient salary, as the respected
and trusted cashier of 9 bank.
George Benton never came near
him, and was never heard to in
quire about him George got to
indulging in long absences from
the town; there were ill reports
about him, but nothing definite.
One winters night some masked
burglars forced their way into the
bank, and found Edward Mills
there alone. They commanded
him to reveal the "combination,"
so that they could get into the
safe. He refused. They threat
ened his life. He said his employ
ers trusted him, and he could not
be traitor TO that trust. He could
die, if he must; but while he lived
he would be faithful. He would
not yield up the "combination."
The burglars killed him.
The detectives hunted down the
criminals; the chief one proved to
be George Benton. A wide sym
pathy was felt for the widow and
orphans Of the dead man, and all
the newspapers in the land begged
that all the banks in the land
would testify their appreciation
of the fidelity and heroism of the
murdered cashier by coming for
ward with numerous contribution
of money in aid Of his family, now
bereft of support. The result was
a mass Of solid cash, amounting to
upwards of S500-an average Of
nearly three-eighths of q cent for
each bank in the Union. The cash
ier's OVID bank testified its graft
tude by endeavoripg to show (but
humiliatingly failed in it) that
the peerless servants accounts
were not square, and that he
himself had knocked his brains
out with bludgeon to escape
detection and punishment.
George Benton was arraigned
for trial. Then everybody seemed
to forget the widow and orphans
in their solicitude for poor George.
Everything that money and infu-
ence could do was done to save
him, but it all failed; be was SEN
fenced to death. Stralghtway the
Governor was besieged with petit
tions for Communication or pardon
they we're brought by fearful
young girls; by sorrowful old
maids; by deputations of pathetic
widows; by shoals of impressive
orphans. But no, the Governor
for once, would not yield.
Now George Benton experience
| "A ol;.;o, Tho oloH naws flew