The morning call., 1892-08-28
IT SINGHD HIS WHISPERS.
Vice Suppresser Bennett
Smells Powder.
SHOT AT BY GEORGE GRAY.
al Oakland Is in the Thross Over Another
Striking Feature Of the Well
Known Scandal.

If George Gray's eyeslQht had been good
last night. Clarence E. Bennett would no
longer have been secretary of the California
Society for the Suppression of Vice.
Gray shot at him twice. intending to kill
him.
After the first shot Bennett ran.
Gray pursued him and fired again, but
Benefits long legs were stIeaks OF black
bounding so rapidly down Fourteenth street
that the ball went far wide of its mark.
The attempted murder was most sensa-
tional one.
1t took place in front of the Oakland City
Hall In crowd of 1000 people. There was
a citizens mass-meeting at that place to
protest against the action of the Oakland
Council in passing the boulevard ordinance.
Both Gray and Bennett were among the
auditors. neither affectingtO see the other
Just as Eugene HOugh arose to Introduce
the first speaker Gray caught sight of Ben
nett, whose shoulders lowered a little
above those around him. He slipped up
and said
'Are you Benuett?"
YES" was the answer.
Then bang" came the sound from
GIay's pistol.
The crowd fell back and ladies began to
scream.
In the panic that followed Bennett had
an easy means of escape through the crowd.
aud not an instant was lost in taking ad-
vantage OF IL.
They stood face to face when the shot
was fired, and in starting forward Bennett
came plump against Gray, nearly knocking
him from his feet. Gray regained his bal
ance, however. and started TO follow, firms g
another shot as he ran.
In this way they passed the free public
library; but Bennett rapidly outdistanced
bis pursuer, and Gray turned, coolly placed
his revolver in his pocket and walked back.
Before be reached the crowd, however,
he was taken into custody by Deputy
Sheriff Macy and placed ia a cell in the
prison below.
The cause of the shooting is known to
everybody who has read THE CALL.
Some months ago Bennett was accused of
grossly betraying Gray's daughter under
the representation that he was an unmar-
ried man.
They were both mem bers of the First
Christian Church when he formed her ac-
Quaintance.
After she learned Of his deceit, she refused
to have anything more TO do with him, but
he began system of persecution until she
finally had 10 give up her position as a type
writer In San Francisco and appeal TO her
father.
He sought legal advice, but found himself
helpless.
In consultation in the City Attorneys
office he drew a revolver and would then
have shot Bennett in his operation, but
was prevented.
The society investigated the charges, but
exonerated its secretary. He was, however,
expelled from his church.
A CALL reporter interviewed Gray in his
cell last evening. He Is an elderly man
with gray whiskers and dimmed eyes.
u am nearly olind," he said. ''or l would
have Killed the scoundre ! would have
killed him anyhow if my pistol had gone off
the first time. | pulled the trigger and 1t
snapped. | came 10 the meeting n OF think
Ing OF Bennett, but when | saw him my
blood boiled and | could not control myself.
lie ran against me and nearly knocked ME
over, and before l could raise my revolver
he was away"
After Gray was safely locked up Bennett
came back to the prison, but soon went
home.
a CALL reporter interviewed him last
night Bennett stated that he was listen
ing to the opening speech when his little
glTi, VINO was with him, said, "Oh. papa,
there Is Mrs. GRAY"
Immediately GRAY confronted him and
said, Are you Bennett?"
Il answered, yes, on the impulse, and In
stantiy he held up a revolver aud fired, the
ball passing my cheek. l felt the heat of
the powder. 1t Singed nv whiskeTs. /
was unarmed and ran. He followed me
and fired again, but the ball did not come
near me-"
At the prison Gray sent for his attorney.
Mayor Chapman, and a long consultation
was held. His wife also visited him He
was charged with an assault TO murder
CARRYING concealed weapons and shooting
within the city limits
Later en- he was released on $4,000 bonds.
with j. c. Wilson and T. j. Motfitt as
sureties.