Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-10-15
BENNUM KILLED
SMITH MAY DIE
ii. o. Bennum and J. {. Smith
Both of Stockton, Fatally
Injured in Auto Wreck

The people of Stockton were shock
eel Friday afternoon of last week.
when neVs reached them that two of
thcir FELLOW citizens had met with Sc
we're iniurieS in IN automobile accident
near Preston, Md. The injured men
were Henry o. Bennun and J. C.
Smith, who accompanied by the for
mcr'- twelve year, old son. Francis
Bennum, had left stockton for Easton
to bring back truck, which Mr..
Bennum had previously purchased in
Baltimore. and left in Easton few
days before.
The accident happened on the cast
side of Preston. about two o'clock FRI
day afternoon. II is not known what
caused the accident, but il is sup
posed the wheels locked, through some
defect in the steering gear of the car.
In rounding Il curve the car Skidded,
and turned over three times, finally
heading in the opposite dir ction from
which it had been travelling. Bennum
and Smith We're pinned under the
car, and the boy Was hurled through
the air some distance. being rendered
unconscious. When he came To him
self, he was lying on a seat of the
car some distance away, but does not
remember whether he was thrown bod
ily there. or placed there by some
persons. who were driving along the
road AT the time. and, who witnessing
the accident, hurried to the scene.
Francis recovered in tiric to assist in
removing the car from the bodies and
afterwards telephOned the news to
Stockton. He also stopped the engine,
which was running when he reached
the car.
The injured men were given first
aid at Preston. and then hurried to
the Cambridge Hospital. where Mr..
Bcnnum'> skull was found To be frac-
tured. Mr.. Smiths shoulder was
crushed. his collar bone broken, and
his skull fractured.
Mr. Bcnnum died ri two o'clock on
Saturday. about twentyfour hours
after the accident He never re-
gained consciousness. and did not
recognize his wife. who FASTENED Ia
hi> bedside
Mr.. Smith Is still in the hospital
and is reported to be critically i'll. He
and his family came to Stockton from
Portsmouth. Va, the first of the year
The body Of Mr.. Bennum was
brought 10 his home, and funeral
services were conducted in Wesley
VI. r.. Church of Stockton TueSda!
afternoon. The pastor, Rev. W l.
Hess, conducted the services, which
were attended by Il large concourse
of people. The pall-bearerS were tn,
following: William Holland. Ray,
mond Holland. Frank Taylor. Cassiu;
Jones. Walter Taylor, and John life
I Mr.. Bennum Mas the son of the
late Nehemiah ". Bennlm and wife
His father was a well known minister
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Mr.. Bcnnum. OF "Bo," rs he wa:
familiarly called. was born in Penn
sylvania. and was fifty six years ole
last March. He came to Stockton
from Delaware more than thirt!
years ago. He married Miss Netti,
f.. Shocklcy. by whom he is survived
He is also survived by his son, Fran
els. and three daughters. He is als6
survived by brother, Mr.. y. W. Ben
mum, of West Philadelphia, and thres
sisters. Mrs Annie Stewart, of George
town; Mrs. Nora Prettyman. of Holly
Vile. Del; and Mrs. Mollie Adkins
of Harbeson, Del.
Mr.. Bcnnum sold horses and mules
oysters, fish, delivered ice in the sum
mer season. and MAS engaged in var
ious pursuits. Under rough exter'
Tor he carried kind and sympathetic
heart. and there are numerous persons
to attest the good qualities of Their
departed friend. His wife and chill
dren have the sympathy of all.