Evening journal., 1902-09-08
.ONB Man KILLED IN
FATAL RACE RIOT
Another Seriously Wounded
in Shooting Aifray in
FCltOD
Special to the evening Journal.

optcAtl 10 the AANtHiHB JbuAHe'-
Dover, Sept. S.-One dead and one
seriously wounded is the result of a
shooting ARRAY on Saturday
night between a gang of Eel
ton negroes and several white men.
John Benson and his son, Evan, sta
toned themselves outside of Voshehs
Hotel in FELTON, in ambush and shot
G4emuel Warner wyatt and Anthiny
Seward Seward was shot through the
abdomen and only lived three hours.
Wyatt was shot through the calf of
his left leg. The bullet went clear
through his flesh, and while men were
looking at his wound the
bullet dropped out on the floor. II was
secured, and later fit exactly into John
Benson's revolver.
Philemon Benson, a brother Of John,
had gotten in a quarrel with Wyatt,
and later Saturday evening he pointed
out the white man and his companion
Seward to his brother and son, who
were to annihilate Them. Benson and
Evan Benson, Phirs son, armed them
selves and stood in front of the hotel
under the shadows OF some trees, and
as the two young white men appeared
John Benson fired two shots at them
Both took effect The two negroes then
fed.
Wyatt was taken by his friends tc
the reading room OF Hardesty's Ho.
tel where he was cared for. Seward
was taken to the Office of DR.. Cub
bage who did all he could for him. Il
was soon seen that he was dying, anC
his mother was sent for. She coult
not bear the sight as she entered The
room and tainted. She was taken ou
of the house. where she was restored
but is still i'll. Seward only LIVED
three hours.
Wyatt is 80 years old. and il
single. He is a farmer. Seward wa
also unmarried, and FIVE years thu
Il junior of Wyatt. He was also a farm
er. The former lived three miles from
town and Seward lived five mile
from the little village
Magistrate John Wingate went t
Wyatts home and took his statemcn
regarding the fray. Wyatt swOre tina
Johr Benson murderOusly assaultel
him with a pistol in front of Voshell
Hotel on Saturday evening at midnigh
without any provocation.
The three Bensons were regarded a
terrOrs in FELTON, and have been drivel
out time and time again. They alway
, wanted to fight and at any time the
could picked up a fight. their favorit
plan being to "shoot into the crowd.
Hearing by telephone at 1.30 o'cloc
yesterday morning that the inhabitant
were in terror and lynching was talke
of. Sheriff Reedy and Chief Hurd, q
Dover, hurriedly drove to Felto1
where the Search was begun, the. al
thoIities first stationing a secret guar
aroundthe country home of the Ben
( sons. The two negroes, after olLdln
pursuit were seen TO return to thei
home. After finding a hiding place
they prepared to retire and rest up fo
the night they anticipated, but Sheri
b. Reedy and his men surprised then
and. after a vigorous search, brougl
the deadly revolver to light, with II
two empty chambers.
The negroes attempted to resist al
rest, then denied all knowledge of th
Fhooting, but at FELTON, there were eyl
Witnesses who identified the Benson
7 rs the assailants. They were. there
A fore, brought to Dover in a close
waton. which the Sheriff obtained, an
V were committed TO Dover prison Will
v out bail to await trial at the Stai
= court next month.