The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-02
NOTORIOUS SNEAK THIEF
BOBS UP AGAIN.
Guilty Bennett, Daylight Burglar,
Given 10 Years in Macon.


Guilty Bennett, Daylight Burglar,
Given 10 Years in Macon.
Forgotten by the Savannah police by
whom he was arrested more than a
by those who are familiar with his
work with being the smoothest sneak
thief in this section of the country,
bobs UP serenely again.
Several years ago Guilty was the
most prominent figure in local criminal
circles. Although he turned hundreds
of tricks, and was convicted of a large
number of thefts, Guilty had the dis
tinction of never having been detected
in the act. He was known as day
light burglar, and made a success in
his line because of his daring.
Guilty had a fondness for jewelry,
although he would take anything in
sight. He invariably plead guilty to
larceny from the house. and got off
with chaingang sentence of twelve
months. Guilty had a habit of bunch
ing his thefts and because of the fact
that he always told the plain clothes
men just where he put his plumber they
charge at a time.
But Guilty didn't like the chaingang,
and time after time he escaped. His
escapes became as regular as his thefts
and he became unpopular with the
convict guards. 1t was the treatment
that he received at the hands of the
guards, Guilty alleged at the time, that
finally caused him to turn a trick that
was punishable with a penitentiary
sentence. Bennett declared that he
was tired of changing life and that
he wanted to go to the penitentiary.
He agreed to plead guilty if assured
that he would be sent to one Of the
state camps. and this was done.
The convict was in bad health at
that time and it was not believed that
he would live three months. His last
escape from the changing was while
he was confined in the hospital, be-
lieved to be suffering with dropsy.
Guilty himself believed that he had only
a short time for this world and talked
freely about his crimes in this and
other cities. He expressed the opin-
ion, and other Savannah crooks did
the same thing afterwards, that Phil
adelphia was the easiest place in the
country to get the goods, and the easi-
est place to get rid of them.
Guilty was given two years for the
last job he did in Savannah and was
sent to Fargo. He escaped shortly aft
erwards and it was believed by the po-
lice that he died. But it now tran
spires that this was a mistake. After
making his escape he wandered to Ma
con and had not been there long be-
fore the houses of Hugh Washington
Walter Harris and Francis Daily were
burglariZed and many valuable arti-
Giles of jewelry taken. Detective Jen-
kinS, who was placed on the case,
quickly spotted Bennett as the man
who did the job, but before he could
be tried and convicted of the offense
he was recognized as the convict who
had escaped from the penitentiary
while doing time for the Savannah
theft. He was returned and a few
weeks ago Detective Jenkins journeyed
to the Fargo camp, and when Bennett
was discharged he was again placed
under arrest for the Macon burglarles.
When placed on trial Bennett pleaded
guilty to one case of burglary and one
of larceny and was given by Judge
FELTON, seven years for one crime and
three for the other. The indications
are, however, that for many years to
come Bennett will be wearing the garb
of the convict, for Detective Jenkins
has discovered other crimes committed
by this crook. 1t has been discover
ed in Macon that Bennett was tried
and convicted in Florida for some
porch climbing work and while serv-
ing a ten-year sentence made his es-
cape. This was even before the Sa-
vannah trick was turned and there is
now a reward of 800 for his return to
the Florida prison. AS soon as he
squares himself with the Georgia au-
thoriteis Bennett will be taken back
to Florida to complete his ten-year
term there.