The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-09-24

ana aIter some fOuslnB speecheS nau
been made the Chairman said, impress
sively, eve are now about to call for
signers and think there is spectacle
in store for you which not many in this
house will be able to view with dry eyes"
There was an eloquent pause, and then
George Benton, escorted by a detach-
ment Of the ladies of the Refuge, stepped
forward upon the platform and signed
the pledge. The air was rent with ap-
plause, and everybody cried for Joy.
Everybody wrung the hand Of the new
convert when the meeting was over his
salary was enlarged next day; he was
the talk of the town. and its hero. An
account Of it was published.
George Benton fell, regularly, every
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 drunkard, and he had
great houses and did an immense amount
OF good.
He was SO popular at home, and so
trusted-during his sober intervals
that he was enabled to use the name Of
principal citizen and get large sum
of money at the bank. A mighty pres
sure was brought to bear to save him
from the consequences of his forgery,
and it was partially successful-he was
"sent up" for only two years. When,
at the end Of year, the tireless efforts
of the benevolent were crowned with
success, and he emerged from the peni-
tentiary with pardon in his pocket, Che
Prisoners Friend Society met him at
the door with situation and comfort
able salary, and all the other benevolent
people came forward and gave him adj
vice, encouragement and help. Edward
Mills had once applied TO the Prisoners
Friend Society for situation, when in
dire need, but the question, Have you
been prisoner ?" made brief work of
his case.
While al these things were going on,
Edward Mills had been quietly making
head against adversely. He was still
poor, but was in receipt Of q steady and
sufficient salary, as the respected and
trusted cashier Of bank. George Ben
ton never came near him, and was never
heard to inquire about him. George got
to indulging in long absences from the
town; there were i'll reports about him,
but nothing definite.
One winters night some masked bur
glars forced their way into the bank and
found Edward Mills there alone. They
commanded him to reveal the "com-
bination,' so that they could get into
the safe. Herefused. They threatened
his life. He said his employers 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 "combina'
tion." The burglars killed him.
The detectives hunted down the crimi
nails the chief one proved to be George
Benton. Awide sympathy was felt fol
the widow and orphans Of the dead man
and all the newspapers in the lant
begged that all the banks in the lant
would testify their appreciation of thu
fidelity and heroism of the murdered
cashier by coming forward with gen
erous contribution of money in aid o
his family, now bereft of support. TIL
result was mass Of solid cash amount
ing to upward Of $50O-an average Q
nearly three-eighths Of cent for eacl
/ bank in the Union. The cashiers owl
bank testified its gratitude by endeayol
ing to show (but huniliatingly failed i
it) that the peerless servants account
. were not square, and that he himself ha
. knocked his brains out with a bludgeo
a to escape detection and punishment.
: George Benton was arraigned for tria
! Then everybody seemed to forget th
widow and orphans in their solicitud
) for poor George. Everything that none
r and influence could do was done to say
: him, but it all failed he was sentence
! to death. Straightway the GovernC
: was besieged with petitions for comm
n tation or pardon; they were brought b
fearful young girls, by sorrowful ol
4 maids, by deputations of pathet
S widows, by shoals of impressive o
phans But no, the Governor-f'
q onee-would not yield.
Ia Now George Benton experienced r
a. ligion. The glad news flew all aroun
A. From that time forth his cell was alwa.
u full Of girls and women and fresh io'
"a ers all the day long there was praye
q and hymn-singing, and thanksgiving
!, and homilies, and tears, with never I
:" interruption, except an occasional fiv