Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-07-30
YOUNG BILL BENNETT LYNCHED.

| VII i't quay vi ldSl
week, the 22nd, VIM. r. Bennett.
Jr., % years old, youngest son of
VIM. II. Bennett, Sr.. former Judge
of this Circuit, arraigned OH an in
dictment for the murder of his
Young wife. daughter Of Hon. J. AL
fred Taylor, of Fayetteville, and act
ing on the advice of his counsel.
OSenton and Lee, stood up in open
court and confessed his guilt. after
Mr.. Oscnton had made a statement
that he and his associate, Judge
Lee, in consideration of the feel
ing i'll the county against the ac-
cuSed certain misrepresentation
OF The case by newspapers and
after an understanding with Nc
Gee McClung. Prosecuting Attorney,
that The judgement should be for
confinement i'll The pcnitcntiary at
hard labor for life. and after thc
States Attorney had stated that,
everything considered. he thought
this the proper course TO take.
Judge Eary. accepting the agree
mcnt OF counsel. sentenced the pris-
oncr to the pcniientiary for life al
hard labor.
AL of this took place in court
lUSt live weeks to the day from the
day the horrible crime was COM
United ut the home of w. r.. Ben
net, Sr.. where the younger Ben
nett and his wife lived, on the af-
tcrnoon Of June 18th.
| Last Sunday Morning, about 9
O'Clock, Il hundred or more of
masked men appeared noisclcssly
III Fayetteville in automobiles
! winch were soon parked in and
obout the Court House suuarc-not
4 word being spoken. Before this
about 1890 four men appeared at
the county Jail and told the TAILOR.
Charles fiuddlcston, that he was
wanted Immediately at The Shcrii1"s
Office. The jailor locked I'D the
place and followed Tie messengers.
just rs lluddlcston mounted the
top step of the Court House he was
lconlrontcd by four men who wore
masks and at The point of revolvcrs
was ordered TO throw up his hands.
lie was conducted into the hall of
the Court House without resistance.
dlSarmed and the keys of the Jail
taken away from him. One of the
iour men who had held him I'D
then left and the others guarded him
until after Bennett had been taken
from the Jail. 1t is presumed that
the one man who left went out TO
notify the crowd in the automobiles
that the coast was clear. --....->-
! Huddleston later declared that
when ne received the summons, he
obeyed it without thought of trick
cry.
An eyewitness of the occurrence
at the Court House when the autos
came in and who saw the men
chter the jail to get Bennett, stated
lhat SO far as it was possible to
notc there were few words spoken.
tnat The men engaged in the affair
moved quickly and with precision:
tnat they were all masked and il
was not possible to reconcile any
OF them. The machines were hi
ed with men, some hanging and
riding on the running boards and
all were masked heavily so they
could not be recognized.
! several men, perhaps half a doz-
Ell, 1t is SAID, got out of the auto
mobiles when they were parked
in the Court House square and i'm.
incdiately moved toward the coun-
~ jan. 1t appeared that thew had
either picked up the man who had
the Keys on the way in or that he
met them in the square, for they
ara not wait after reaching the iaii
hut unlocked the doors and went
on in.
lhey were not in the Jail more
man lew seconds, possibly a min
ule. II was said, until they came
oui again and started for The ma
chIneS' young Bennett being sur-
rounded, though the persons watch
inS could only gel faint glimpse
! OF NM and could moi tell anvthinr
about his condition.
once loaded into the cars AGAIN
! the machines were soon Out of
sight in the darkness. Those who
had Witnessed The affair Immediate
| ~ called up Sheriff Henry McGraw
and told him of what had taken
place. The Sheriff hurried to the
county Jail where he found Jailor
iluddleston and others who had
gathered about and learned OF what
had taken place. A possec was
hastily formed, automobiles were
feuulSIlloncd and the trail Of the
lynchcrS taken up.
II was an easy matter to follow
me tralI, until the scenes of the
lInchlng was reached. There arc
lhrcc small white oak trees stand