The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-24
Officer Is Shot
Down in Cold Blood at
His Own Door.
BRUTE CAPTURED AND
LYNCHING ATTEMPTED.
Governor Orders Out Local
Troops to Surround Jail--Two
Chiefs Of Police Of Fayette-
vile Murdered Within
a Year by Ne
groes.
Especial 10 The Times Dispatch.

".
FAYETTEVILLE. N. c., February
2s.-For the second time within a year.
a Fayetteville chief OF police has been
murdered. James H. Benton, the head
of the Police Department of the city,
was shot about 1880 o'clock to-day by
Sam Murchison, negro. thirty years
old, and died at 2:45 O'Clock this at
ternoon. living little more than an
hour. The murderer was captured a
short time after the shooting occurred.
and is now safely lodged in jail here.
The circumstances OF the murder
are aggravated and without palliation.
It seems that the murderer, Murchtson,
had trouble earlier to-day with John
a negro woman, which resulted In his
shooting Raines. inflicting a slight
flesh wound. and his threatening the
life Of the Moore woman.
The woman, who lives In the neigh
lborhood OF Chief of Police Benton's
home. fled to the latter for protection,
making an outcry as she ran.
Without Provocation.
Il Chief Benton met her at his back
door, and. hearing her complaint, was
starting out In search of Murthison
when the latter also appeared on the
scene. He and Officer Benton ex-
changed few words. when the negro
suddenly drew revolver and fired at
Mr.. Benton, inflicting mortal wound
just under the eye. Officer Benton
staggered and attempted to make his
way back into the house. but fell be-
fore he reached the door.
Jack Crosswsll. lad. hearing the
pistol shot, ran up at once and at
tempted TO arrest the murderer, but the
lot tfar r..
and broke away. Mr.. J. B. Underwood
next appeared. and the negro fled,
firing a wild shot at Mr.. Underwood
as he ran. Charles Benton, the seven
son of the wounded ma n
ran to his fathers assistance as he
fell, and caught up the latter's re-
yolver as 1t dropped from his belt.
Wounded by Chiefs Son.
AS the negro fled the youth fred
three shots after him.. one of them
taking effect, as developed after the
capture was made.
officer Benton was carried into his
residence. suffering great agony. and
fingered little more than an hour.
passing away about the time his mur-
derer was being placed under arrest.
News OF the murder and the escape
OF the murderer spread rapidly through,
the city. and excitement became in
tense Sheriff Watson and his depu-
ties and the city police were at once
at work endeavoring to track the f,,gi-
tive. and hastily irganized posses OF
citizens were speedily securing the
suburbs In the vicinity OF the scene
of the crime. The capture was ac-i
,complished by Mr. Howard Smith. who
was Immediately Joined by Messrs.
George AtcNeill, L, A. Williamson and
"A. S. Hail. and the prisoner was then
turned over to Sheriff Watson and his
deputies
Hiding ir Ditch.
The murderer was detected by Mr..
Smith crouching In ditch in the Haw y
ley field, about a quarter mile from
sthe scene Of his crime, and was in
the act of removing sweater he
wore. Mr.. Smith rode rapidly to the
place of hiding and the murderer i'm
mediately surrendered without resist
ance. begging for his life, and ex-
pressing penitence for his act.
After the arrest was made II. was
found that the prisoner had a pistol
shot wound in his right groin, and it i
lis supposed to have resulted from one
of the shots fired by Charles Benton.
the son of the murdered officer as
the young man states that the fleeing
negro staggered after one ofsthe shots.