The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-26
eopBoLD WAS THE MAN.
Bennett Pointed Him Out as his AS
sailant.

Policeman Godbold is the man who
gave Tom Bennett such a beating in
Yamacraw Saturday night. Bennett
was sufficiently recovered from his beat
ing yesterday to go down to the police
barracks and report that he had been as
saulted by a city policeman Saturday
night He said he did not know the
name of his assailant, but could identify
him if he laid eyes on him.
Assistant Chief Reilly, who was in
charge of the barracks, said there were
only three members Of the force who were
not on duty at midnight on Saturday and
who might have been in citizens dress. as
Bennett claimed his assailant was. As
sstant Chief Reilly called the names of
the three men, but as Bennett could not
specify either one of the party he called the
three officers before him Bennett i'm
mediately identified Godbold as the man
who assaulted him, and charges were
preferred against him accordingly.
Godbold's appearance wouldhav given
him away anyway, as he had two or three
pieces of court plaster on his face as well
as several bruises on his head. He did
not deny the accusation, but claimed that
he was justified in doing as he did
To a MORNING News reporter who met
him on the street Officer Godbold gave
tailed to do some carpenter work around
the barracks last week, he said, and so
was not on duty for three or four days
Being OF duty Saturday night, for the
first time in several weeks, he went out
with some of his friends to have a good
time. He came up with Detective Bos-
sell at the time he was endeavOring to ar
rest Herman Miller and assisted him in
making the arrest. There were three
Others in the party with him, and after
Miller's arrest they spent some time in
Yamacraw They were on Orange street
about IL 80 o'clock, when one of the
party proposed to stop at house
where he knew certain girl. He went
TO the door of the house, which hap
pened to be where Bennett lived, and
knocked. Bennett thrust his head out of
an upper window and asked what was
wanted. The man at the door inquired if
''Alice" was there Bennett answered
that nobody of that name lived there and
ordered him off the stoop. He told him
that if he did not get OF he would come
down and make him do so and started
down to enforce his threat. The party
started away from the house. Godbold
says, and had gotten half way across the
street when Godbold, who knew Bennett,
concluded he would go back and pacify
him. AS soon as Bennett opened the
door, however, he struck Godbold
in the face, Che latter
says with pair of
brass knucks, and followed this up with
several other blows. Godbold defended
himself, and as Bennett continued the
assault drew a small billy which he had
with him and used that.
Godbold says the other men did not
come to his assistance, nor did he call
upon them to do so, and that he and Ben
nett fought it out alone
Il would have arrested Bennett for
attacking me-" said Godbold, "but
didn't think it fair to arrest a man in a
private quarrel. l had no desire or inten-
ton to provoke a difficulty, and only
struck Bennett after he had attacked
me-
Godbold is one of the best known mem
bers on the force and has done good work
on a number of occasions. He is a strong
ly built powerful man and is good match
for Bennett, who is a very powerful man
in spite of his cripple leg
Chief Green will investigate the affair