The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-07
?. R. w. Bennett is the Victim of Brutal Murder By Me-
 gro on an EnSIey Car
ARMS WERE PINI0NED
 WHILE DEED WAS DONE
Angry Fellow-Workmen Roam Ensley Streets Eager to Find the Negroes Who Escaped-TWo Sus-
 poets Under Arrest.

With both arms pinloned behind his back by a burly negro. and all means of resistance to the onslaughts of another member of the race eliminated, F, R. W. Burnett, conductor on the South Ensley line of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company, was stabbed to death at 6:3O o'clock yesterday morn Ing at Hill Top, while in the discharge of his duties. The unfortunate man was stabbed through the heart, q terrible gash was made under the left shoulder either wound being sufficient to cause death.
 The negro who stabbed MT. Burnett es- caped from the car, but is supposed to be lodged in the county jail The car Was crowded at the time, and this morning a number of the passengers. IS well as Motorman J. c. Thomas, will call at the jail to identify the supposed murderer. Another negro, giving his name as Ed Owens, is being held at police headquar- ters to await identification.
 H'TSetcu Cuiln9 moih'i9
 It is generally supposed that the man in the charge of the county authorities, who was arrested in the morning and held at Ensley until evening, Is the man wanted to answer for the cowardly mur- der. He gave his man name as Fletcher Pots, and answers the description of the murderer in every particular even to two scars upon the spine, inflicted in the struggle to make his escape from the car after the crime Tho man was arrested at Ensley yesterday morning by T. J.. Kesnener, and was detained at Ensley until after dusk for fear of mob violence. After twilight had fallen he was lodged in the Jefferson county jail, charged with murder.
 The negro was seated In the compart- ment of the car reserved for blacks, when Conductor Burnett asked him for his fare. The car was on its second trip to Ensley. The negro, a tall, powerful man, paid b cents. Upon reaching Hill Top another collection was due to be taken by the conductor, the fare to Ensley being 10 cents, but when the negro was asked for the additional nickel he refused to pay
 Conductor Burnett. forseeing trouble, retreated to the front platform, securing the iron switch stick, came into the car to put the rowdy off. As he approached the seat occupied by the negro he raised the stick in menace, but was seized from behind by Il friend of the murderer.
 Plunged Dirk Through Heart.
 As both arms of the conductor were raised, exposing an unprotected front to the powerful black. the latter. seeing that he was safe from Injury because of the interference of friend. drew a dirk and plunged 1t through the heart of the conductor. Within the instant he with drew the knife, streaming with the life blood of Mr. Burnett, and struck a sec ond time, terrible blow wound being inflicted fin the left side. under the shoulder.
 Sinking to the floor the fatally wounded man exclaimed: T am killed" The negro was out of the car in a bound. and was fleeing across vacant field to the right of the car track. Ills as- sstant. who held the arms of the con ductor. also disappeared. The entire af fray occupied only q moment, and the passengers in the rear compartment of the car did not realize that murder had been committed until some minutes after the black had disappeared from view.
 The fleeing negro was pursued short distance by r. II. Ensey, and was struck on the spine by his pursuer. The injuries resulting from this attack may lead to his identification.
 The car was hurried forward to Ems ley, but Mr. Burnett was dead within fifteen minutes after the attack was sus- tained The body was taken to the under taking parlors of Eehols and Angwlne, wher it was prepared for burial. The police department of the city and the county officers were notified of the crime. and a sharp watch was kept for the mur- derer
 Employees In Angry Mood.
 In sympathy with their friend, and with a desire for revenge eating their hearts, more than fifty of the motormen la