Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-01-04

TO the house of Wash Smallwood and
called him and his two sons out. | kept
ont of sight but near enough TO hear
what they were saying. They were talk
ing easy like, but from my position
behind tree | heard that they were
plotting to kill old man Baynard. 1t
was after o'clock when they left
Smallwood's house in the woods, not
far from the house of Baynard. When
they reached the cabin / was about 80
yards distant. 1t blew up rain that night
and was coming down pretty hard.
They all got over the fence and lay
down behind stump. Davis called
Baynard out telling him that Mr.. Hill
wanted to see him. When Baynard
came out, Brooks struck him over the
head with post hammer. Then all got
hold of him and carried him in the house
where one of them cut his throat |
heard Wash Smallwood say that be
found the belt with money it 1t. | then
went home and never breathed the affair
until now. have the knife which killed
Baynard. l dug it up near his door.
step six weeks ago"
Bennett said that his mind felt much
easier since he had told his secret which
he said gave him no peace day or night,
but compelled him to make clean
breast OF the affair, which he told to
several persons after leaving Mr.
Slmpler's store. The story produced a
sensation in the neighborhood. and
people gathered in groups about the
village and discussed the truth of the
mans confession and all agreed that
Bennett was either possessed of the
knowledge of the murder or was labor
ing under the effects of disordered
Imagination. The confession revived
the details of the killing Of the old
miser, and scarcely anything else is
talked about in that sparsely settled
community.
Information reached THE GAZETTE
concerning Benefits confession yester-
day week and as soon US possible
reporter set out to learn the truth or
falsity of the newly discovered evidence
which pointed to the guilt of the accused
men. Arriving at Blackbird the reporter
secured the confession of Bennett, as
narrated above, and then proceeded TO
make u further investigation
A visit was paid to the shanty in
which the murder was committed. 1t
stands near the railroad just back of
Harris woods, four miles from Towns
end. The spot is a lonely one and the
community is very sparsely settled. The
cabin has not been inhabited since the
discovery of the murder. The shutter
was barred and fastened and there was
q paddock on the door.
A visit was next paid to the farm of
Tommy Hill, where Bennett SAYS he
overheard, the forming of the plot to
kill Baynard on that fateful December
night. Mr.. Hill is Il bachelor and lives
all alone in small two-story farm
house, quarter OF mile from the
| Delaware railroad. Mr.. Hill was sick
in bed with pleurisy when the reporter
saw him. There are two rooms DOWN
stairs, sitting-room, used as a bed
room, and kitchen. Mr.. Hill is EAST
go. Two colored men work about the
farm and sleep in tho attic in the second
story. A colored woman comes and
goes daily to the house to do the work.
! A survey of the farm house discovered
the window from which Bennett says he
heard Davis and Brooks discussing the
| plot to kill someone, and the location
of the woodshed would enable one to
see the conspirators provided there was
sufficient light. The window, whose
shutters are said to have been opened
by one Of the conspirators, is located in
the rear OF the house, and not far from
the woodshed, and there is an ubstruc.
ton at the side of the woodshed sufii-
cient to conceal mans body. MIR. Hill
says he has faint recollection of the
shutter incident, but was under the i'm
preston that it was the wind that
opened it at the time. lie did not see
the alleged conspirators. He said they
may have thought he had money con-
cealed about the house at the time.
Bennett declares that it was the original
intention to kill Mr.. Hill also, but when
the pistol refused to go off, they disap-
peared back of the woodshed, and then
went away through the field to the
house of Wash Smallwood with Bennett
in pursuit,
AT the time of the murder the Small
woods lived in the woods not far from
the miser's hut, but afterwards they
purchased a small place two miles from
Townsend, and just off the Blackbird
road. Leaving the place Of Mr.. Hill the
reporter drove to the house of Wash
Smallwood, reaching there last evening.
1t stands in from the road some dis
lance. All was dark about the house,
aud the shutters were closed. Repeated
rapping on the door of the frame shanty
failed TO obtain any response for some
time. Finallythe door of the kitchen
was pushed open far enough TO admit
the head and shoulders of heavily.
built man, and gruff voice called out
who's there?" The newspaper man
expressed desire to see Wash Small.
wood, and was informed by the man in
the doorway he was that person. Al
the same time Smallwood moved back
from the doorway, holding in his hand
piece of axe-helve, which he after
wards threw upon the floor at the side
t OF the table, when the reporter preached
the subject of his visit. SInallwood is 8
heavily-built man, about 90 years old
with features heavily outlined, and witt
hair just turning gray. He has fashion
OF contracting his lower lip in speaking
, and the expression on his face is not /
| pleasant one. He showed considerabl,
| emotion in speaking of the murder o
/ Baynard, and once or twice his lip
, twitched, and wrinkles were visible
, upon his forehead. A candle was dimll
/ burning on the mantel-piece in tn,
! room He was told that Bennett haC
, made confession charging him witt
$ completely in the murder OF Baynard
1 He said:
II know nothing about the killing O
: Baynard, and took no hand in it.
knew him and rememb the day h
S was found. Alex. was accustomed t,
T come to my place for water and
l promised to give him piece Of meat
a Well, he quit coming after water any
o more, and did not get the meat, so on
s day told my boy to go down and Sc