Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-07-26
GEORC|ANS QU|ZzED
IN DEATH MYSTERY
At CHAT ANOOCA
Skeleton of Woman, Missing
Nine Years, Found
in Basement

(By the Associated Press.)-W. II.
Bennett, district freight agent of
the Southern railway at Rome, Ga,
and his wife, are detained at police
headquarters here today for investi-
cation in connection with the finding
here about a week ago Of a woman's
skeleton in a shallow grave under a
house, it was stated by the chief of
police.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bennett came here
early today voluntarily from Rome,
Ga, and are detained in the office
Of the chief of detectives, police
headquarters stated.
1--WE will do anything we can to
help unravel it," they were quoted as
saying after denying any knowledge
Of the affair.
They returned to Chattanooga in
company with two local officers who
went to the Georgia city early to-
Gay, following investigation by au-
thorities of reports that Miss Au-
gusta Hoffman, an aged aunt OF
Bennett had occupied the house IN
1915 and about that time had mys-
teriously disar"oared.
Tells of Woman
"The last time I saw Augusta she
was standing nthe back porch and
I left for work about 1880 O'Clock
in the morning" said Mr.. Bennett.
She later telephoned my wife that
she was going to Knoxville with
friend to get work. She was out OF
work and couldn't get anything to
do in Chattanooga at the time
Mother heard from her often.
First, as I recall, a postal card
from New York; then again from
Washington; later q letter stating
she had married and was extremely
happy, and later postal card from
the man whom she was supposed 10
have married. Thata was the last
we ever heard fro miner"
Questioned concerning a bank ac-
count which Miss Hoffman was
supposed to have had in Knoxville,
Mr.. and Mrs. Bennett declared they
did not know much about 1t. Mr.
Bennett said he remembered ques-
tioning her at one time upon see
ing a notice in the paper that this
bank had failed, and at that time
she said she had $4,000 in the bank
there.
The finding of pair of gold
trimmed spectades in the grave, bear
ing the trade mark of an optician at
Knoxville, led the officers to Knox
vile where they obtained a letter
written by Mrs. Claude Parker, OF
cic
Hoffman.
This letter stated that it was fear
ed by relatives that the sister had
been foully dealt with.
According to detectives, the letter
also stated that Miss Hoffman left
Chattanooga intending to go to
Knoxville, but that she later met and
married a man named Brown and
went to California.
Another sister of the aged aunt of
Bennett, mentioned in letter as
NAN" was said to have died at
the Bennett home during their res
idence in the house where the skele-
ton was unearthed.
The BENEFITS are said to have
lived at the house from 1913 to 1915,
and the writer of the Knoxville let
y
Upon returning from Knoxville
Wednesday night, detectives imme-
diately swore out warrants against
the BENEFITS, and detained the cou-
pie at Rome at an early hour this
morning, bringing them back TO
Chattanooga.
During her residence at the Ben
nett home, police say, Miss Hoff-
man was engaged in modiste shop
and, apparently, was in good cir
cumstances.
She left the store one afternoon, it
is alleged, with the intention of go
ing to Knoxville on ga visit after
having drawn large sum of money
from bank.
Police declare evidence shows the
woman never reached Knoxville.
They denied any knowledge of the
crime.
my gracious" said Mr.. and Mrs.
Bennett almost simultaneously, I'VE
will do everything we can to help
unravel it.
The officers arrived here shortly
before o'clock with w. H. Ben
! nett and wife, from Rome, Georgia,
and took them at once to the police
station where they are being ques-
toned