The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-08-10
A SAD AFFAIR.
Robert Finley Fatally Shot by Captain Ben
nett During an Alteration.

2
been empounded a couple OF days pre-
yiOus. The COW was the property of
Nj. Bennett and was taken UP and
held by Finley who claimed to have
found her ON one of the streets Of the
city.
IN the excitement of the moment.
various stories were set aiioat and
some 81 them were telcpboned TO Iron
Mountain and sent Ia from that city
70 the Associated Press. The special
that was teiegraphcd from that city
was Ike all other news that The press
correspondent down there tries u
"sWlpe a distorted fake account In
order 70 do justice 10 an sides and
that our readers may have the facts
as they exist 10 form their opinions
from We have been careful Go get both
sides OF the story, including the auto
mortem statement Of the deceased
In the main, all the stories agree
| There are some minor variations. and
some saw and heard more than others
but the important points In the affair
as far as Ne have been able to learn,
arc related the same by all ofthc wit
nesSes.
IS we have stated, Mr. Bennett
went tothe pound Saturday afternoon
accompanied by Nose Cayia, To get
his COW. The Captain stated that
when he drew near the house he saw
Finley coming around the corner and
that when Finley saw them he put his
! Ihand to his hip pocket Nothing was
thought Of il at the time and as the
men nearcd thc pound tile three met.
Bcnnett stated his errand and Finley
tuid him ttidt he would have "a pas
S2.15 before he could gel The COW.
Bennett replied that thc charge Was
exlessiTc that he could only charge
sl.uj and that sum he WAS willing 10
pay adding If you do not let me
have herat that price will take her
.out aud II du any damage to this
pound leXpect To pay forit. Finley
then drew bis revolver and stepped
towards BeuHett when the latter
said to him What are yon going to
do with that. Pat il up Finley then
put away his gun and the two became
tangled up In an argument At this
juncture the most conflict of evidence
appears upon the point Of how and by
whom the first blow was struck. We
are not prepared to say Just which
struck the first blow but IL seems as III
Captain Bennett, seeing Finley draw
close to him, struck him and tacn the
quarrel was on. Almost Immediately
Mr. Bennett fen and Finley jumped
on top OF him with his knees and
started to pound him with his fists
At this point Cayia seems 20 have in
terrered and told Finley that BEN
nett was an old man and ne ought not
to kill him. Bennett then cried out
TO Finley Pm an old man and
have enough. Don't kill me, Cayia
then tried TO pull Finley of but
could not do So as he remained fast to
his victim, pounding him all the time.
Cayia then turned around TO call one
Of the men that were near to help him
take Finley Of Bennett states that
he felt his strength going and beliey-
ing that Finley would kill him
reached under himself, secured his
revolver and shot Finley through
the left lung.
That is the story OF the affair as
nearly and as unbiasedly as we can
get IL. AS to the intent of either or
both of the principals to this very sad
affair we leave our readers TO draw
their own conclusions.
Finley was taken to his house and
medical assistance summoned while
Captain Bennett went to the hospital
where his wounds were dressed. He
had some bad cuts on his face.
Soon afterwards Capt. Bennett was
placed In custody, procedure 20
which he entered no protest. Pros
ecuting Attorney Watson was at Iron
River, and upon his return a warrant
was sworn out for Mr.. Bennett and he
was brought before Justice Morrison
who fixed his bonds at $4,000 and set
a day for hearing. The bonds were
quickly given and Mr.. Bennett re-
leased
Finley fingered over sunday and
died early Monday morning. Mr. |
Bennett was Immediately re-arrested |
and confined until Tuesday when he
was again brought before Justice
Morrison aud waived examination.
Bonds were set at $4,000 and in few
sureties had justified 20
SOS, 900, several times the amount Of
the bond Captain Bennett was re-
leased and the case will come up in