The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-01

come to see her. Nobody has told her
Of his death and she does not appear
TO know 1t. l have just telegraphed
to her father about the shooting.
know 1t will nearly kill him. She
comes OF a good family" Continuing,
she said her friend came to Memphis |
from Cincinnati about two years ago,
stopping with Madam Lou Sholee. |
Soon after her arrival she met Ben
nett; they
CONCEIVED AN ATTACHMENT
for each other, and after a short resi-
dence at the mansion" on Gayoso
street they removed, about year ago,
to No 32 Causey street, where the
tragedy occurred. They got along
very we'll together until few weeks
ago, when their quarrels became al
most OF daily occurrence. They were
Jealous Of each other, and spent good
deal of time in cIOss-accusations OF
faithlessness, with how much justice
cannot be said"
AS she finished her story Zoe turned
her face to q woman dressed in the
hight of fashion, who had entered by
the back door. Looking Zoe fall in
the face full minute, without speak
ing word, she said "Poor thing" the
FIRST TENDER SENTENCE
which the reporter had heard. Zoe
turned, sobbing, TO the wall, and a
food OF tears poured from her eyes
the sole mourner 10 that house OF
death. The girl calls herself the sister
of the wounded woman, but no one
believes in their relationship, though
they came here about the same time
and from the same place. The mar.
rage license to which she alluded
hung in big gilt frame on the wall,
and was filled out in Benefits own
handwriting, the date January %,
1885, the names OF
THE CONTRACTING PARTIES,
A. j. Bennett aud Laura May Porter.
1t was signed "Sam B. Cullen, clerk,
by ]. Clark, deputy clerk" the cere-
mony as being performed by "B. l.
Anderson, Justice OF the Peace"
There are no such officials.
The servant, Fannie Willie, colored,
was also questioned. 81 did not work
for Mrs. Bennett all the time" she
said. 81 live back there in that cabin
and have been doing her washing.
When she was sick used to come
over and cook and clean up for her,
but she did
ALL HER OWN WORK
as usual thing. She was kind and
good, and liked Mr.. Bennett, too II
they fused any they did it in the
house with the doors shut. l never
heard them. Last night was in her
room at IL o'clock, aud when got up
to 90 / asked her what kept Ny Ben
nett 80 late and she answered that she
did not think he would be home at
all that night, and that she intended
to undres5 and go to bed as she
HAD A HEADACHE.
At this juncture the woman, whose
black skin was filed with whisky,
and Whose wits, the little she had,
were badly jumbled up from frigat
and whisky together, went off into a
rumbling TRADE about how badly
frightened she was, and it was diff
cult to get her down to the point
At last she resumed: 81 never
saw Mrs. Bennett again until this
morning. was out at the wood-pile
yopder paying for some wood, when |
heard a noise like a iire-cfacker, but
paid no attention to it, because they
are always playing around in the
house. Pretty soon | heard
THE SAME NOISE
again and Mr.. Benefits voice groan-
ing ugh! Ugh ughp l ran to the
| back kitchen door, which was wide
open, aud, good Lord there lay Mr..
Bennett fiat on his back, close to the
door. In the other room, right in the
door, was Mrs. Bennett, lying fiat on
her side. Fanny she said my old
man shot me and then shot himself.
II you had been here this would not
have happened Trying plainly to
attach some OF the Importance OF the
event to herself | did not put my
foot in the door, but ran to the near
est telephone and gave the alarm to
the police. That's all know about
it,"
MRS. CALLAHAN,
who owns the house in which the
coupls lived, said it was rented about
q year ago by a woman whom che be
lieved to be Mrs. Bennett. The rent
was paid regularly every month by Mr.
Bennett. "rhey were quiet, ;" che said
"or should not have allowed them tc
remain. have never heard them quar-
reIing and did not hear the shots, The
first / knew was the crowd running
across the street and into the from
gate.
CAPT. GEORGE o'HAvER,
who was taking a survey OF the ii cid
was asked what conclusion he had ar
rived at. 81 am convinced that Ben
nett was killed by his mistress, wht
then committed, or attempted to com
NIT, suicide. Everything goes to shoV
it. Bennett was shot through thu
heart, the pistol found sixteen fee
away from him, around the door-iac
ing in the next room. Had he hell
the pistol in his own hand, stretches
his arm to its full length, his Goa
would have been powder burned
The woma1's dress and breast wert
badly scorched, and her hand, toe
was powder-burned. Nine out OF tel
women hold a pistol in both hand
when presenting ii. II she had hell
hers go, it would have been burne,
by the
> FLASH or POWDER
from the chambers, just as you hav
seen it. Again, the ball which pierce
,, Benefits breast went straightforward
that which entered hers ranged down
ward. She fred both shots, whic
! were about three seconds apart. H
is dead with a ball through his hear
she lives. Her aim was stesdier whe
: she fred at him than when the pui
! zle Of the weapon was directed tOwa1
! her own heart. The negro woman, s
you see, had been drinking. / plaC
no confidence in the story she tells.
No direct attempt was made to o
Q tain a statement from Ida Bennett
a / Che vvaa asked nv one of the women