The age-herald., 1901-11-30
James King Arrested at h. stance of St Clair COun-
 y Officers
GROWS OUT OF HANGING
 OF CHARLIE BENTLEY 
Killed an Old Man and Ills Wife-He Was Hanged While the Cor oner Was at His
 Dinner.

James King, a saw mill owner living near Leeds, was arrested yesterday morn ing by Deputy Sheriff Gaddis on an in- dictment found by the grand jury of St, Clair county charging him with partici- patton in the lynching of Charlie Bentley, a regro, during the early part of August.
 Bentley was hanged by mob just over the St. Clair line about one mile from Leeds. He was accused of having mur- dered and robbed Jim Yam and his wife, who camped in lonely spot not far from the public road. While the old couple were sleeping on a few rags the murderer stole upon them and with heavy stone crushed the mans skull. He then sprang upon the woman and when she screamed he chokei her into insensibility. She died several weeks afterwards.
 Coroner Was Eating Dinner,
 From a description given by the wo- man Bentley was tracked and finally captured by posse of citizens. In the meantime coroner's jury was empanel- led to investigate the death of vahn and the negro was brought before them. At noon an adjournment was had and the coroner went to a nearby house for din- ner M
 While enjoying his meal a mob of citi- zens got possession of the prisoner and, taking him to a nearby tree. hanged him with a blow line. With the rope around his neck Bentley lost his nerve and confessed to having committed the murder.
 The hanging took place in St. Clair county. but most of the members of the mob are said to have been from Leeds, which is in Jefferson county. The St. Clair county grand jury began an inves- tigaton and James King was indicted for ! murder, it being alleged that he took part in the lynching. He was arrested at his home in Leeds yesterday and brought to Birmingham, where he will be confined in the county jail awaiting the arrival of the St. Clair county authorities. Odiu FIC Ou9Ht to RS fIuV9s
 King denies his guilt but admits having seen Bentley's body shortly after life was extinct.
 'I suppose they have indicted me-" said King, "'because I said the scoundrel ought to have been hanged and because I said after he was dead that the men who ,lynched him did perfectly right. T was there" continued King, when the investigation started. and had gone to 9 neighbours house for dinner. When returned to where Bentley was detained the mob had taken him from the officers and hanged him. 'I think yet the men did right in hang ing him, but I took no part in it, as had gone to dinner"
 Warts to Make Bond. King said he was very anxious for Sheriff North of St. Clair county to come after him so he could make bond as soon as possible. He owns and operates g saw mill near Leeds, and expressed con siderable anxiety over the feelings of his wife when she learned of his trouble. "She knows nothing of it now" he ex. plained, "as I told her I was going tc Birmingham in answer to summons" | Sheriff North, who repulsed the mol l from the St. Clair county courthouse al Ashville last August, is said to have beer instrumental in securing the indictment against King. He will probably come fol | his prisoner some time today.