The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-11-07
3sl sUMTER s. C. sATURDAY NoVEMPEP 7o71
CHESTER MAN SHOT.
JOE IL. TERRY WOUNDED BY
THOMAS n. BENNETT.
Men Were Fiicnds-BcIicvCd That
Bennett Was Insane When lie Fired
Shot Which May Prove Fatal.

Chester, Nov. 3.-Joe r. Terry, a.
member of the Chester branch of the
Southern Public Utilities company,
lies near deaths door tonight from
being shot this morning by promi-
nent citizen, Thomas y. Bennett, at
the formers home on Pinckney street
Mr.. Bennett is said to be insane.
Mr.. Terry lives next door to Mr..
Bennett, having just moved into his
beautiful new home. This morning
about 7.30 o'clock Mr.. Terry was re-
turning from his barn, where he had
gone to feed his horse, while Mr.. Ben
nett was standing over in his own
yard next door. Mr.. Terry greeted Mr..
Bennett with good morning. The
latter is said to have uttered an oath,
remarking that he had no good morn
ing for him, or something to that eff
feet. Before Mr.. Terry was aware Of
Ii, Mr.. Bennett, it is said, lifted an
old style .3S calibre army rifle to his
shoulder and shot Mr.. Terry to the
ground. The long bullet, which had
been sent on it's mission by power
full quantity of powder. struck the
back Of Mr.. Terry's head, making a
hole about three inches long and one
inch wide and then split his skull
down to his eyebrow. At the tOD of
the head parts Of the brain tissue is
sued forth.
Physicians were quickly on the
scene and had Mr.. Terry conveyed to a
hospital, where his wounds were
treated. He has only one chance in
100 Of escaping death.
Mr.. BENEFITS actions from early
this morning, it is said, indicated that
his mind was deranged. In fact,
Sheriff d. Earle Colvin said that he
had intended securing papers today
from the judge Of probate SO that he
might take him to the insane asylum
at Columbia for safe keeping. He
based his charges on the manner in
~hkaa -aAres E<aanstps&saa stewarGa
Mrs. Bennett this morning.
About 5 o'clock this morning Mr..
Bennett, it is said, told his wife that
he intended killing her. Quickly real
izin,; the peril Of her dangerous posi-
ton she managed to slip out of the
house and in her night robe, in the
bitter cold Of the early morning, ran
to Il neighbor's house.
In the meantime, Mr.. Bennett. it is
said. with rifle in hand searched all
over his premises for his wife. A ply
sician was summoned to go to sec
what was the matter with him by Mrs
Eennctt, and hardly had he reached
his home and telephOncd Sheriff Col
vim that he thought that Mr.. Bennett
was in bad mental condition, when
into the Jail walked Mr.. Bennett. He
stated that he had shot q man and
desired to surrender. 1t is thought
that he was out in his back yard look
ing for Mrs. Bennett to kill her when
Mr.. Terry appeared on the scene. They
were the best Of friends.
The shooting created a tremendous
sensation in Chester and has been the
one theme of conversation all over
inc city today. Both men are among
Chcster's most highly esteemed citi-
Zens and stand we'll in the commu-
nifty. Mr.. Bennett has a wife and two
grown children. Mrs. $. NJ. Harry of
Salisbury, y. c., and Gill Bennett Of
birmingham. Ala, while Mr.. Terry
mas wife and a small baby.