Evening journal., 1921-05-30
BENNETT HELD
AS MURDERER
Alleged Slayer of Duncan
Hears Testimony With
out Comment
NEW CASTLE
HONORS DEAD
stan Correspondent.

morning listened to the testimony
given against him at the coroner's
inquest Saturday with not the least
outward sign of nervousness. The
verdict was that Louis II. Duncan,
came to his death on the 27th day
Of May 1921. by a gunshot wound
received at the hands Of one Charles
II. Bennett; that the said Charles II.
Bennett be committed to the New
Castle County Workhouse, without
bail to await the action of the grand
jury. Bennett afterward convers-
ed with his attendants with con-
tinued show OF nerve.
Nine witnesses testified as to the
acts and remarks OF Bennett. be-
fore and after the shooting. State
ments made by Mr.. Duncan previous
TO his death concerning a forged
check, alleged to have been the work
OF Bennett which many persons be-
lieve was the direct cause OF the
shooting. also were brought out in
the testimony.
Chandler II. Gebhart. the first wit
ness called testified as TO the posi-
tion Of the body before he removed
il to his morgue. Mr.. Gebhart said
he had last seen Mr. Duncan alive on
the Saturday preceding the shoot
ing.
Mrs Emma Stephenson, 1856 East
Fourth street, testified to a lifelong
acquaintance with Mr.. Duncan. and
Of his telling her concerning the
forged check. She said Mr.. Dun
can had said he could not under
stand why and who had forged the
check but after visiting Wilmington,
he had informed her that Charles
Bennett. Jr.. had traced his sigma
ture from check, Mr.. Duncan
had thought Bennett had gotten the
night he had permitted him TO sleep
At his home in Second street, little
over three weeks before.
Mrs. Sarah A. Emory, an aged
Negress. who said she had nursed
Charles when a baby, testified Ben
nett had called at her home on
Thursday night about - o'clock
and upon request had been allowed
to sleep on her couch, that night
He had risen about o'clock and
refused breakfast She was asked
II Bennett was in the room. M
he was taken to the Workhouse,
was her reply She was then toll
TO look around the room and not un
I'll Bennett voluntarily stood up an'
replied with a smile why you know
me. Mrs. Emory" did she identify
him.
Stephen Gattis. the only eye wit
ness to the shooting. was then call
ed and said he was blasting a room
for Mrs. Raymond Rossell, and had
Just gone out to his mortar bed,
when he saw a man. proving TO be
Mr.. Duncan, run out Of the gate in
the alley and heard a shot hred.
Mr.. Duncan was pursued by Bennett
whom he Identified saying that man
fred a second shot with the revolver
close to Mr.. Duncan's face and Mr.
Duncan fell. Bennett then turned
said Gattis, and noticing Gattis ap-
parently for the first time, said Louis
has shot himself. get a doctor.
was scared but said no he didn't, no
he didn't. and then Bennett RAJ
down the alley past where Mr.. Dun
can had fallen"
Gattis said he was afraid to inter
fere as Bennett still held shiny
gun in his hand. 81 stayed with MI
Duncan's body until Mr. Gehhar
came. said Gattis. When aske
why he did not run for help he re
piled Il couldn't, I seemed helpless
The shooting happened about 4 fee
from where 1 stood"
Dr. Briee S. Vallett, who assiste'
in the post mortem examination
testified as to the position Of bulle
and its course through Duncan
brain. He said the opinion of Coro
ner Briggs and himself was tina
death was due 10 the penetration o
the brain by the bullet found there
This bullet was badly battered.
DR.. Vallette had been attending
Mr.. Duncan for sometime for nerve
and heart affection. He said he
would consider Mr.. Duncan OF sound
mind but a neuresthenic. "a person
who magnifes his ailments" quail
fed the physician. He had been
called after the shooting. He also
said he had been a schoolmate OF
Benefits.
Miss Bertha Barnes. who with
Miss Eva Zebley, an elderly woman,
had detained Bennett until his arrest,
then testified to the facts leading up
to the capture and Of hearing the
splash in the cesspool beneath the
anN Do had
sought TO hide. II was through this
report Of Miss Barnes to the local
police, the revolver was found.
Chief Of Police Mathew Tohin and
Constable Whaiem testified to th'
arrest Of Bennett. Mr.. Tobin, sal,
he had subsequently, found a bulle
near the gate through which Mr.
Duncan had run as he was strucl
in the shoulder by the first bullet
Stephen Guy and Edward Lalle,
who cleaned the cesspool TO find tn
revolver, testified as TO the indin
Of the weapon. This revolver. whic
Chief Tobin had seen drawn froI
the cesspool, was handed the forma
of the jury and was marked by Chic
Tobin at the foreman's request
Bennett refused TO make an
statement.
The jury was composed of Ari'
c. Cotton. foreman. William r. Mi
nor. william L. Keenan,. John /
Cannon, George W. Vantine. L. !
Hushebeck and George L. Swan.
The funeral of Mr.. Duncan wi
take place from the funeral parlor
Of Chandler II. Gebhart at 2 o'cloc
this afternoon, with Rev. Joseph Il
Earp, rector OF Emmanuel Episcopa
Church offciating. Members o
seminola Tribe. of Red Men. thi