The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-12-28
DID THEY MURDER Barnard,

Samuel Bennett snys He Saw Georse
Davis and John Book XIII tho Old
Man ON the Morning of December go,
1850.
Locked up at the station house Is
Samuel Bennett, u middle aged COL
ored man, who claims to know the.
mon who killed Alexander Barnard an
old colored man, who lived
by himself In hut on the farm OF
Vincent o. Hill near Blackblrd. on tine
night of Dec. 3D. 1889 in order to get
his money aS he was supposed to
have $1,000 in belt which he wore
about his waist.
A few days later man named
Davis was arrested. but he was
released after hearing. Coroner
Gamble gave certificate OF death at
the hands Of unknown parties, and
tho matter rested
Last Monday Bennett became in
toxicat0d and talked TO number of
people OF the Barnard murder Detec
tive Witsil went to Blackhiru and ar.
rested him.
This morning. through the courtesy
OF Chief OF Police Dolun and Captain
Chambers. II REPUBLICAN, reporter was
admitted to Benefits cell. He IL n
man OF small stature, cuiored, hut OF
yellow complexion, and talks III q
rambling way, giving every indication
that he ia not OF sound mind. He
said: About six weeks before Christ
mas of 1859, | was standing in the sa-
loon OF "ulphy" Hill near Blackblrd,
when heard a conversation between
Olpby and his brother Sam.
They were plotting to murder old
man liainard because he had money.
'lney told me OF their plans, but said
| would take no hand in killing the old
man, because the money he had was
earned by him. There was II man
named George Davis who lived In W est
Chester, and to him the Hills told of
the plot.
"On tho morning OF December Goth.
Davis, the Hills and John Book, went
to tho Barnard home, and after arou5-
Ing the old man called for him to
come out, as they wanted TO see him
The old man came down stairs, and
when he got out In tho yard Book
held him while Davis felled him to
the ground with a hickory ramrIing
club.
1.-The blow crushed tho skull and
must have caused death instantly. as
The Old man never moved. Davis
llhNH LuOh rum lIlb IuNhtb d AHllN, WIN
which he cut Balnard's throat. | know
\ Davis killed Balnard because / was
there a. tho timen
The reporter Interrupted Bennett al
,ithls juncture aud inquired why no was
9!there. He replied that as he knew the
crime was to DO committed. he wanted
Ito see who did 1t.
? Il was hiding behind stump moi
forty feet from The house Attei
Davis killed the old man | saw Book
(, take the money, but before leaving
. saw thou stick something in the
ground. | saw the m3n al ter the mur.
CIDER. and Davis after lie WIS arrested
Uut where tiIey arc now don't know
: lRlthUugh ! do understand that Davii
! Is still in West Chester"
y, Bennett said he went to the Barnard
i hut about 9 weeHs ago and found
pocket knife, which ho believed to b
.Ithe one which the men buried thu
,f'night they committed tho crime. Tn
lkulfe wac taken from him and Is nov
IA In the care OF the department. 1t /
an ordinary knife, which tad ono
Y. contained three blades, but two q
a'Ithcm arc now broken near tho handle
IN Deputy attorney General Giles an
y Detectives hcNey and Witsil are sti
ne working OIL tho case. They are tryln
Ito liud Davis and Book but they hay
not made any arrest this afternoon.