The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1916-12-29
FEARFUL AFFAIR
AT HARRIS CREEK
One Man Killed And Others Wounded
In Shooting ARRAY In Crowded
Schoolhouse

Only for the courage and extreme
presence of mind displayed by Miss
Minelle Pruitt, teacher of the Har-
ris' Creek school, west of Milledge-
vile and in this county, a wholesale
massacre of the school children and
their friends and patrons who gather
ed there for the Christmas tree last
Saturday night would undoubtedly
have taken place. When trouble arose
between VIM Benedict, Tom Thornton,
Steve Benedict and George Thornton,
which the teacher saw would result in
shooting, she yelled to the little ones
to drop to the floor and lie still. Sew
enteen pistol shots were fired, in the
fusillade which followed and when
the smoke cleared away VIM. Benedict
was dead, his three-year-old son was
shot through a leg, Mike Gaddis was
shot in a leg and George Thornton,
who fired the shot that killed Bene-
dict was wounded in one hip, and a
bullet had passed through his coat
and shirt. The Christmas Tree cele-
bration, which had been just half con-
cluded, was called off for the evening,
as everyone left the building as quick
ly as possible. Men who went to the
Schoolhouse the next morning said,
that from the blood from the wound
ed, on the floor, the building looked
like it had been used for a hog kill
ing. Thornton was placed under ar
rest by officers who soon came,
but on account of his wounded condi-
ton, was not lodged in Jail. Sam Helm
was appointed special guard to have
charge of him until his examining
trial, which will be held here Thurs
day morning. Attorney T. J. Hill, Jr.,
of this city, has been engaged to de-
fend him.
Conflicting stories are told by
friends of the participants as to the
cause of the trouble. Bad blood had
existed between one of the Benedicts
and one of the Thorntons for about
two years, it is said, and this is believ-
ed to be at the bottom ofthe trou-
BILE which was started in the crowded !
schoolhouse. So much excitement was
caused by the affray that it is difficult /
to get at the meat of the matter.
The Christmas entertainment was
about over, and the distribution of |!
presents from the tree was about to /
begin when the trouble began at the |
stove, which was located about the /
center of the little schoolhouse. John
Thornton, father of the wounded |
man who is charged with killing i
Benedict, is a trustee of the school, |
and had assisted the teacher in ar
ranging for the tree. He says, &C
cording to his attorney, that Miss !
Pruitt requested him to be present i
that evening and help her preserve
order According to his statement, his
son, Tom Thornton, who was not con-
cerned in the shooting in anyway
whatever came to the schoolhouse un-
der the influence of whisky, and an
effort was made to get him to leave.
The ThGrntons claim that about this
time Vim. Benedict, who was slain,
wet to some of the children to whom
ne hHd loaned his pistol to use with
blank cartridges in the school enter
tainment, and secured his gun. He is
alleged to have loaded it with ball
cartridges and to have started with
it toward Tom Thornton. Mike Gaddis,
is alleged to have caught his hand,
holding the pistol, and to have en-
deavored to take it away from him. AT
this juncture, the Thorntons claim,
that Steve Benedict came up with
knife and began to cut at Gaddis'
coat from behind, and threatened to
cut his throat if he did not release his
brother, Vim. Benedict. When Bene-
dict got loose, he is alleged to have
begun firing at George Thornton, who
the Throntons say, was not involved
in the affair in any way up to that
time. However, he pulled a gun, after
Benedict began shooting at him, and
returned the fire. Others evidently
did some shooting also for II bullet
holes have been counted in the little
school room. This account of the affair
is that given by the Thorntons and
their friends. The /. ]. was unable to
find any of the Benedicts or their
friends in town who might give their /,
side of the trouble. 1t is understood,
however, that witnesses on both sides
will be produced when the examin-
ing trial is held before Judge Bailey
George Thornton, who fired the shot
pistol he used belongs to Sherman
Coy, who had had it repaired at !
Moreland and had asked Thorton to
bring it to him. This is understood to
be Thornton's excuse for having the
gun in his pocket at the time. Just
what the real facts in the matter will
undoubtedly be brought out at the !,
examining trial. That grown men ]
should go armed to such an affair and 7
go to shooting in a room crowded !
with little children and their mothers c
and fathers, is almost inconceivable S
in this day and time, and the citizens
generally of the whole community
will be unit in demanding that the
whole affair be isifted to the bottom
and that the guilty parties whoever r
they may be be punished to the limit :
of the law.
The examining trial of Thornton
was called Wednesday with a host :
of witnesses present. A full report
of the testimony will be given in the
next Tuesdays paper, as today's |. :;
J. is printed on Wednesday, just as !
the trial begins.