Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-22
Bennett Says Smith Is the
Man Who Assaulted Him.
REGAINS POWER TO SPEAK
Gives a Lucid Account of Attack on
Benning Road.
KNEW THE PRISONER WELL
Says Smith Came to His Store and
Arranged to Ride to City-Had
$3.50 in His Pocket.

Morris Bennett. the grocer who was
murderously assaulted the morning of
November %, and who has been confined
at Casualty Hospital, partly paralyzed
and unable to speak, this morning re-
covered the power of speech, and charged
James Smith, the Mickle mul der suspect,
who has been held in Jail on the charge
of having committed the assault on Ben
nett with the crime
Bennett regained his speech this morn
ing at o'clock, and later told Assistant
United States Attorney Harvey Given and
Detective Grant that Smith was the man
who assaulted him with a hatchet the
morning of November 20, while in his
wagon on the Benning road
Smith was taken to the hospital this
afternoon and confronted by Bennett.
Can you tell US who assaulted your
Bennett was asked.
That fellow" he answered, pointing
at Smith.
United States Attorney Wilson is ar-
the case to appear before the grand jury
Tuesday morning.
Bennett Rapidly Recovering.
Bennett has been recovering rapidly
and early this morning showed signs of
regaining his speech. When this was
learned Mr.. Given and Detective Grant
were summoned and Bennett talked free
ly to them. confirming the story told to a
Star reporter by his wife on the morning
of the assault. He has recovered suffi-
ciently to walk about his room.
Bennett said that Smith came to his
house Sunday night before the morning
of the assault and asked him If he would
take him to Capital Heights the next
morning and asked him to carry chest
of tools to a place at 9th and D streets
northwest.
He said that Smith came to his grocery
store early that morning and seemed un-
easy and impatient at his (Bennett's) de-
lay. Smith said that he would walk
ahead. Bennett said that he overlook
Smith at 61st and streets northeast,
and that Smith came up from the front
and climbed into the rear of the wagon
and sat down on the floor where he could
not be seen. This was at the junction
where the road crosses the electric line.
| Passed Bakery Wagon.
/. Bennett said that bakery wagon
| passed them when they got near Gitchie
Springs. and that the driver spoke to him.
which was confirmed by the driver of the
wagon. Shortly after the bakery wagon
got out of sight, Bennett said that Smith
sprang at him like cat and gra bbed him
by the neck, cursing him. Before he could
resist Smith drew a hatchet from under
his coat. he said. and struck him on the
head. Then he grappled with Smith, and
was struck another powerful blow on the
head with the hatchet, whicn knocked
him unconscious, for Bennett said he
could remember nothing after the second
blow was struck
Before leaving his grocery store, Ben
nett told Mr.. Given and Detective Grant,
he had put $50 in his pocket to pay some
bills in the city. and he also carried with
him his watch. The money and the watch
were both missing when his unconscious
body was found in the wagon.
Bennett said that he had known Smith
for six months, and that he had come on
several occasions to his grocery store and
! says that he can positively identify the
man who is now held in connection with
his assault.
Assistant United States Attorney Given,
accompanied by Detective Grant and Mr..
Gilchrist of the United States attorney $
office, at o'clock this afternoon took
Smith in patrol wagon from the Jail to
the Casualty Hospital to confront Ben
nett.