The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-08-31
STILL AT LIBERTY.
The Coroner Released Bennett After
Jury Had Given Verdict:
GOVERNOR AMAZED AT ACTION

the Man VINO Openly Boasted
That He Would Not -
Be Taken.
Remarkable is the case Of Ben Ben.
nett, the ex-convict whom it is desir-
ed to find and imprison for the rest Of
his life. Not only the mans audactty
in the violation OF his contract with
CIV. McSweeney in coming back to
the State after he had been pardoned
on condition Of exile but his daring
insolence in his testimony at the
coroner's inquest are almost beyond
belief.
The following particulars Of the
case Is taken from The State: Ben
Bennett, it will be remembered, was
sentenced to serve life term in the
penitentiary for murder. He was
sent to prison in 1895 but was after.
wards released by Gov. McSweeney on
condition that he would never come to
the State again. He asked to come
back but this request was refused.
The first intimation that Gov. Hey
ward had that the ex convict was
living 10 the State was the account
last Monday morning Of the shooting
of his wife by himself. From runor
it must have been generally known by
citizens of Hampton that Bennett was
living at his home. 1t was plainly
stated in the newspapers at the time
Of the recent homicide that he was
the man who had been pardoned con-
ditionally and yet the circumstances
of his violation Of his word was not
even commented upon in these dis
patches. =.
II this fact was generally known it
is very peculiar that the coroner by
whom the inquest was held-James
E. Rivers Is his name-did not hold
Bennett. Instead he allowed him to
90, after the jury which he had en-
pansled had passed a verdict.
Bennett was present. and testified
that he woke up and heard noise
and that he saw an object and fred;
thought it was the sheriff OF consta-
BILE that had come to arrest him. He
never thought of killing his wife.
sit is stated that the coroner, after
the verdict, sad that he could not
impri on Bennett, basing bis opinion
on the jury 8 verdict" sa' s the Hamp-
ton Cnnntv Guardian, edited by Gov.
McSweeney.
Gov. Hayward after reading in the
newspapers of Monday Of the killing
OF Mrs. Bennett, te.ee ersphed Sheriff
Lightsey to hold the felon 50 that he
might be brought back to prison, hay-
ing violated his agreement. Sheriff
Lightsey was away from home and
his deputy sc Mt the following:
Hampton, S. c., Aug. %, 1904.
Capt. G.. W. Brunson, Magistrate,
Brunson, S. c..
Gov. Hayward wires to arr:st Ben
Bennett. Do your best to get him.
! Send one CT two discreet constables
after him at cnce. Sheriff is absent.
, W. 3. ANDERSON,
, Deputy Sheriff.
! Magistrate Brunson was asked over
the phone by the Hampton Guardian
what he knew in connection with the
killing of Mrs. Bennett. BE said:
Hearing G Of the killing yesterday
sent my COZ table to arrest Ben Ben
! nett, which be did and delivered bin
to Coroner Rivers. After the inquest
the coroner sent Bennett to me. l sent
him back to the coroner with The
statement that the proper man te
} have him placed in jail was the coro.
ner and not to release him.. I have not
l seen the verdict Of the jury"
From the deputy sheriff Gov. Hey
ward yesturday received the following
letter:
Dear Sir: Enclosed find verdict Of
coroner's jury in Bennett case. When
your telegram of the 23d reached here
the sheriff vas absent and is now. As
! you will see by the enclosed chipping
] I wired the Magistrate at Brunson te
2 have Bennett arrested and also went
to the place at once. When arrived
} there I learned that he had been re.
t leased by the coroner and had left the
State. I was informed that Bennett
boarded the Seaboard Air Line train
at Fairfax that morning at O'Clock
: and had gone in the direction Of SaY
annah. Respectfully yours,
t ''W. r. ANDERSON,
[ deputy Sheriff.