The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-07-28
BENNETT LOST
H|SL|FE BY VERY
NARROW MARGIN
CAPTAIN ATHEY OF PEN1TETTIARY
GUARD WENT AFTER PRISON
ER BUT CoMMITTGaT
WAS NOT READY
Before Red Tapo was Unwound the
Man was Taken From County
Jau and Lynched

Had a commitment been made out
on Tuesday. June 22nd In the case OF
William G. Bennet: Jr.. OF FayetIeT;lIs a,
sentenced to serve life term in the
stale prnitentiary at Moundsvllle tor
the murder of his wife on June -
1870 At her home, In all prooapinty tne
man would now be serving ms term IN
stead Of having been lynched by mou;
AS it was. The documents were hot
ready and Field Captain +. w. Athcy
Of the pcnitcntiary force Of guards was
forced 10 leave Fayetteville without thc
prisoner. =, c,tot,
Athey had been commissioned by war
den j Z. Terrell NJ the penltentlary 70
visit q convict camp near FayetteSlIe
and look into a number OF. matters thaI
needed Strengthening out.
tho news that young Bennett mad con;
tossed TO the murder of his wire ana
had been given n life sentence IN Ine
prntcntiary and the fact mat the Pup
ulac" in that part OF the county wa"
greatly lnccnscd against the prisoner.
Captain Athcy wis with~Narden Ter
roll over year ago when the negro
flcnd Hugh Ferguson was sentenced ~
Morgan county to be hanged anu d N.Y.
was waiting the verdict outside OF !nc
prisoner TO himself about ten seconSs
aftcn sentence was PRONOUNCED ana ne
and Warden Terrell hustled the man 10
an awaiting nut omoblle. 49,
They had left the town before Ine
n.cmbSrs OF the mob became fully aware
Of tho proceedings. Ferguson was later
on hanged on August 6. 1917 at tns
state pcnitentiary. II he mad NOT peeh
sentenced TO be hanged 1t Is proolem;e,,
teal whether or not the Officers couiu
have taken him away salSIy; .xner.
At any rate, from his former exper.
fence. Captain Athey knew that II was
hest 70 tako the prisoner William u
Rcnnet Jr. out Of FaycttcVille, II pos,
sible, Immediately after the trial, So
with that object in view. after LEAVING
ne convict camp. he went to the town
md stated TO the authorizes Una, he
was ready to escort the prisoner 10 the
Moundsville penitcntiary: Ala, hod
lie was informed that tne trlal ma
hncn concluded but the official commit
ment TO the penitcrtiary had not peer
moda out AthCy stated that II wouio
have been n simple matter TOT nun ~
take the prisoner and have me PaPett
sent on Immediately after' oul ne y"
fcrcd no suggestions. but returned u
'' On Saturday night, knowing that tne s
committeeman must have been nlaue GU
by that time. Captain Athey aEain s.n r,,
cd for Fayetteville. arriving lhere Cal
on sunday morning. o. ,-oet.
cd hv the news that MOB hah IaNS,
William G. Bennett Jr. from the CUSTODY a
Of The county jailer after midnight on m,
Sunday morning. and had lynched mn,
on The grounds of the poor farm three
i", on the first trip. Athey was denied
The custody of the man until lssn,
formula could be complied win ana O." o.,
The III second journey he arrived few
"o captain F, W. Athcy Is the son W n
no,nty United States Marshal r.. w
A Tp~;' Of the Northern District OF Wes,
HinyE; a. who Is the official crier IN
JUDGE Aston G. Dayton's court ~ If
II is stated that G. W. ossen Tor man %,
ParkcrsburG. the attornS Sy ,, NOR thc au-
Wn2 Tss ,Ee necessity Of getting Ben
m nCtor aT tSS trial. rs PUBLIC opinion was
against ,. his client and he 1eaFeu "
lynching.