The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-07
CUT OFF A NEGRo's HEAD.
A Conrederate who AVENGED Its CaptninNn
Murder to ne Prosecuted by the Lntter'ss Son.

huututT u ~ W "
From the Philadelphia Record.
BRUNSWICK, Ga, March 5.-Solicitor.G General
Bennett will be called upon to endcavor to infict
the death penalty on tho son of tho man who
avenged tho murder OF Benefits father. 1t is a
strange story and ono Of deep interest
that places the Solicitor-General in the
trying position Of either serving the rigid
demands OF his high Office or Of protect.
ing tho namo Of tho man who, at the
double risk Of his life. executed dire vengeance
on tho murderer Of brave Capt. Bennett. II the
Solicitor-Genera protects the family that
avenged tho murder Of his father, he must pro-
tect a'man twice a murderer, ono admitted rs
such and an avowed assassin Of tho COL
ored race. The trial that will make tho
May term of the court famous will be
Solicitor-Genera Bcnnett's prosecution of
Curtis IIigginbotham for tho killing OF two
negroes. Thirty years ago Frank HigGinbotham
laid at tho feet Of the dying Cant. Bennett the
severed head Of o giant negro-the head Of tho
man who had fred tho shot that meant death
for its victim. To-day the son Of one Is collect
ing evidence that may cost the life of the son OF
the other.
During tho civil war Capt. Bennett omman
ed a company of daring: hardy. fearless fire,
eaters, which was the pride Of the regiment and
the ~rallying. host OF several hot engagements.
crate veterans. did Bcnnetts men turn the
staring defeat. In. Capt. Bennc,t's company
was Frank Higginbotham. q s~talwart. dare
i SsS Il. 1 Isese Of a {HHis s de man who Ss M" en TiTe ePqPnsll s9
by Capt. BENEFITS admiration for his young
soldier. and the two were frequently together.
were riding horsebncr through Wayne county.
Ala. an assassin's bullet sped from the under
Captains breast. He toppled from his horse.
but not to the ground. for young ItlgFin;;
the wounded man. Looking in the direc.
ton from which the shot had come. HiEgin.
s SG,nsm IN sa Ssu ,ee issis,isd up 51 by /. 81 sha + o nf moon.
hight as he sped away through the woods. He
recognized the negro as n slave who had worked
had been an overseer. Tenderly lifting his
Captain to his horse he took him TO camp, and
ginbotham stole away. with only the stars and
his determination to guide hun. lie plunged
into the deep woods, chuckling as n sentry's
Whom the roll of the company was called the
next morning HE Frank Higgin Mspn iin was marked ar sa
his whereabouts, md his officers were annoyed.
Tho next day, when Higginbotham did not re-
Two days afterward Hirginbotham returned
mcdiatcly before tho Colonel of the Regiment.
There. he told !. remarkable and thrilling
saiisnt. he determined to have his life. and,
on bringing, the Captain to camp, set out to
come BACK. Dut with the assassin b scalp. le
followed the negro to his known refuge in the
northern camp on ST. Sinon's Island and pre-
scented himself as a Confederate deserter. where
he was promptly taken in. The negro ASSASSIN
was a camp cook. and Higginbotham PRO
posed that the Two go TO the waters Snns
over tho beach Higginhothan plunged a knife
into his back; then he severed his jugular VEIN.
and as. tho ncgros hO ~ fell he cut his head
from his body. Grasping 1t by the short curly
hnir, he stole n boat and made his way back
through the Union lines to the Confederate
camp.
As he finished his dramatic story no threw
the wrapping OF a bundle and showed the
severed hoed to the hled officers. Then
he walked to Capt. Bcnnett's tent and placed
day tho Captain died, and the head was left to
carrion birds.
Frank Higginbotham seemed to never forgive
tho race Of he man who had killed his leader
and friend. After The war Hiaginbothem moved
to Gtynn county, OF which Brunswick is tho me
tropnlis. and during the remainder OF his life
killed fifteen negroes. On one occasion he killed
two negroes on the road and. cutting off their
heads. brought them to n county town and, set
ting them on stakes. invited the saloon lourgers
yacht steamed into Brunswick waters, going to
Jeryl Island. HiGRinbotham and the chief en-
gineer of the yacht Quarrclled and Higgen-
bOthRm added another victim 70 his list.
OF Oglethorpc Bay-a promise always kept.
Curtis Higginbotham inherited his fathers
feudal haired Tor tho negroes. He was known
as n sure shot. and while riding home recently
became involved in n small quarrel with two
negroes and shot them both doad; The mystery
son. in the office OF Solicitor.Gcnernl. and the
first case on tho criminal docket is: The Com
monwcalth of Georgia vB. Curtis HigRin-
botham." Capt. Bcnnctt's son is the prosecutor.