Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-06-13
FOUL MURDER IN SHARPSBURd.
Charles w. Adams Killed by Charles
n. Benner, Who Commits Suicide.

SharpSourg, Maryland, since the GRIM
dogs OF war grappled with each other in
the great battle OF Antietam fifty years
ago. occurred there last Thursday fore
noon, when Charles w. Adams, the
towns foremost citizen and superintend-
ent of the battlefield, was ruthlessly muir
dered by Charles H. Benner, who after
ward took his own life with the weapon
used TO destroy his victim. The news OF
this awful occurrence came to the Regis
ter last Thursday when the paper was on
the press, and only brief statement OF
the fact could be given in part OF the
edition.
The murder occurred just south OF
Sharpsburg, on the road leading from the
town to Burnside's bridge. 1t was wit
messed from beginning to end by Charles
F. Gross, who was working on the farm
of his brother, Everett Gross, and he
gave to the Register representative clear
and intelligent account OF the affair soon
after it had taken place. Mr.. Adams left
town about quarter past ten O'Clock to
superintend the work OF some employees
engaged in repairs on one OF the govern
ment roads half mile from town. AS
he passed Mr.. Gross, working in field
along the road, he spoke pleasantly to
him. In few minutes, walking quickly
along the road a couple of hundred yards
behind Mr.. Adams, came Benner. He
too spoke to Mr.. Gross, but in rather
curt manner, and Mr.. Gross noticed that
while one arm was swinging as he walk
ed, the other was held close TO his side.
Knowing OF the dislike that Benner had
for Mr.. Adams, Mr.. Gross watched the
former, and stated that he thought that
Benner was trying to overtake the super
intendent. As he watched, he saw Ben
ner close up on Mr.. Adams, who, un-
conscious OF the doom so imminent, calmly
walked along the road, with the green
fields on either side, the birds singing IN
the trees that lined the way, and the sun
smiling in radiance on the scene.
Benner walked to within about fifteen
feet of Mr.. Adams, who seemed not 10
have been conscious OF his approach,
and then deliberately shot him in the
back. Stumbling down little bank from
the shock of the bullet, Mr.. Adams turned
toward his adversary, keeping himself
from falling by clinging to the fence.
Circling around his victim. Benner again
shot him in the back. A third and fourth
time he fired at him from the side or rear.
STILL on his teet, and cropping his way
back along the road toward town, Mr..
Adams appealed to the murderer, saying,
don't shoot me again Charlie; you have
done enough already" Benner replied,
"you tried to ruin me in the Hagerstown
courts, and Pm going to give you plenty
now" and he fired two more bullets into
Mr.. Adams body, emptying the chamber
of his pistol. Mr.. Adams then saw Mr..
Gross, who having in horror witnessed
the dreadful affair had climbed over the
fence and approached the two men.
"For Gods sake come and help me j.
the stricken man called. AS Mr.. Gross
came up to them, Benner had finished
reloading his revolver and snapped the
cylinder in place. He aimed the weapon
at Mr.. Gross, warning him to stand back.
"Let me be-" he said, ''let me be, or |
will give you what have given Adams. "
As Mr.. Gross came nearer, Benner again
threatened him, and though Mr.. Gross
was now between the murderer and his
victim, he was forced away by the deS-
perate man, who threatened to kill him
also and whose savage glare indicated
only too plainly that he would have no
hesitancy IN doing so. AS Mr.. Gross
was thus driven back, Benner again turned
upon Mr.. Adams, and fired seventh
shot into him. 1t struck him in the side.
Mr.. Adams clutched the wound and sank
slowly to the ground, doomed man.
With pitiless ferocity that seems incred-
ible, Benner stepped more closely to him,
and deliberately fired four more bullets
into him as he lay helpless on the grass,
showing neither mercy nor conjunction
as he turned and left his victim weltering
in his blood and agonizing from dozen
wounds.
Mr.. Gross, leaving the scene, went
quickly to the house Of his brother and
sent colored boy TO town for physicians
and for help. He then returned to the
scene, to find that the murderer had de-
parted. Mr.. Adams was still conscious,
and calm and COOL Mr.. Gross minister
ed TO the stricken man as best he could,
supporting him i'll his arms and trying to
make him as comfortable as possible.
Mr.. Adams chief thought was for his wife,
who had been i'll all of the past winter and
spring and was but slowly regaining her
strength. "This will be dreadful thing
for my wife," he said; cit will kill her to
have me brought home in this condition"
Again he said, 81 know that this is my
end. II is hard to die by the act OF such a
scoundrel as Benner."
In short time DR.. CARROT, son-in-law
of Mr.. Adams, reached the scene in his
automobile, and with others who had ar
rived, placed the wounded man in
the car and took him to his home on the
public square in Sharpsburg. He was
still conscious, but soon lapsed into a
state of coma, and about an hour after he
had been shot he passed away, surround
ed by his grief-stricken family. When
Drs. CARROT and Gardner examined Mr..
Adams, at the time he was first brought
home, they found eleven bullet wounds
in his body. Six bullets had penetrated
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