Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-06-25
BENNETT CHARGED With WIFE MURDER.


Of William Bennett, Jr., son of Judge
VIM. r. Bennett, is dead at Fayette-
vile rs the result of Il pistol shot
wound in the left temple, and her
husband is in the Fayette county
Jail charged with her murder, al
though he strongly denies his guilt,
and says that his wife died by her
own hand.
People of Fayetteville were shock
ed yesterday afternoon, (Thursday
l7th) when news of the tragedy was
received there. The news was
phoned 10 the county seat from the
residence Of Judge William n. Ben
nett, located about one mile from
Fayetteville on the Bcckwith road
Physicians and county officials
rushed 10 the Bennett home, arriv-
ing there al four O'Clock and exam
ination by the physicians indicat-
cd that the young woman had been
dead more than an hour.
The dead body of the young wife
of Bennett was found on her bed in
a pool of blood, and revolver from
which the fatal shot was fired, was
found on the floor on the right hand
side of the bed. The wound which
caused death was in the left temple.
County officials conducted an in
quest at the scene of the tragedy
that night, the examination of wit
nesseS being made by Justice of the
Peace Charles ID. Crawford. 1t de-
veloped in this hearing that on this
particular day all of the members
of the household Of Bennett were
away from home. Judge Bennett be-
ing in Charleston, Mrs. Bennett Wis
ling her sister, and the other MEM
bers of the family away at other
points in the county. A little girl
who made her home with the Ben
netts was sent to visit a neighbor
by William Bennett who is charg-
ed with The shooting. Bennett
claims that he was in Fayetteville
yesterday afternoon, that he return
ed to the Bennett home, and after
doing some chores about the farm
he went TO the house and failing 10
find his wife down stairs went up
stairs and found her on the bed in
her room dead, the revolver lying
on the floor by the bed.
Examination of The body reveal
ed The fact that two shots had been
fired from the revolver, both of
which entered the left side of the
head. The suicide charge of young
Bennett is completely unfoundcd by
The circumstances. 1t would be a
physical impossibility TO hold a re-
volvcr in the right hand and fire a
shot into the left side of The head.
The position of the body on the
bed and the revolver on the floor
could moi possibly Substantiate the
suicide claim. Then either Of the
wounds would have caused instant
death, hence the second shot could
not have been fired by Mrs. Bennett.
1t developed in the hearing that the
young wife, who was in d delicate
condition, and her husband had
quarrcled yesterday morning, a few
hours before the tragedy, and the
absence of every other member
from the household and the send
ing Of the little girl from the house
by Bennett, all strongly indicate his
guilt, SO he is being held on a charge
Of murder in the first degree.
Bennett is the son of Judge Will
liam II. Bennett. nominee of the
Socialist party for prosecuting at
torncy, and is well known here in
Montgomery.
The dead woman is the daughter
of j. Alfred Taylor, well known
newspaper man Of Fayetteville, and
nominee Of The Democratic party
for member Of the House Of Dele
gates. She was at The time Of her