Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-07-31
BENNETT AND WIFE
RELEASED UNDER
BONDS OF 81, 800

CHATTANOOGA Tenn, July So
surrounding the disappearance of
Miss Augusta Hoffman, modiste, was
reached yesterday afternoon when
William H. Bennett, district freight
agent for the Southern railroad at
Rome, Ca, and his wife were
bound over TO the grand jury un-
der bonds of $500 on charges Of
murder. interest is in no wise abat-
ed. The grand jury does not meet
until September, unless called in
extraordinary session, and in the
meantime the prosecution has an
nOunced that no effort will be spared
to get at the bottom of the mNs-
ferrous affair. Witnesses will be
brought here from Knoxville, Tenn,
Memphis, and from Virginia. it is
said, and it is understood that search
for evidence will be made in Penn
sylvania and other eastern states.
Bennett and his wife were released
on bond of 81 500 each last night and
they left for their home Immediately.
While Miss Hoffman vanished IN
1915, relatives who had abandoned
hope of learning her fate are now
taking an active interest in the IN
vestigation and will cooperate wit n
the officers. Little doubt is ex-
pressed but that the skeleton found
under a house here formerly occu-
pied by the BENEFITS is the remains
of the missing modiste.
Prominence of the Bennett family
has added interest to the case, he
having stood high in church and
fraternal circles for years How
ever. Mrs. Bennett was indicted here
several years ago on the charge OF
raising treasury bills, the case be-
ing nolle pressed.
GruesOme Evidence
Bloodstained clothing, plate OIL
false teeth and other objects found
about the grave were placed in evil
dence at the preliminary trial, caus-
ing the curious spectators in the
courtroom to push, buzz and crane
their necks in an effort to obtain
glimpse of the eruesolne evidence.
A large number of witnesses We're
put on by the state but none by the
defense.
MIS-. >. -. HUNT ONIleI VI 'IlN
house, related the details of the find
ing of the skeleton, and having it
removed to prevent the tenants be-
coming aware of the discovery. She
said that she had noted the sudden
disappearance Of Miss Hoffman and
on inquiry Of the BENEFITS bad
stated that she had left for Knox
vile. A short while afterward, she
said, she noticed disagreeabl"
odor about the house occupied by
the BENEFITS.
Testimony was given by E. II.
Warren, of Bodeker's National De
tective agency, that he had found
a record of eyeglasses made by q
Knoxville jeweler for Miss Hoff
man and that the lenses found in
the grave We're made from the same
prescription.
w. A. Parker, of Memphis, testi-
fled that the false teeth found in
the grave were similar 10 those
used by his mother and he under
stood that his aunt, Miss Hoffman,
had worn the same type. He said
that following the disappearance of
his aunt he had mentioned the cir
cumstances in the presence of the
BENEFITS and that he had been
asked by Bennett to refrain from
broaching the subject in the pres
ence of Benefits mother, who was
i'll.
Positive Evidence
Chief Of Detectives w. II. Hackett
was the surprise witness of the
day, bringing as he did an affidavit
from Mrs. Anna c. Wright. of Rich.
mond, Va, who is a neice of Miss
Augusta Hoffman, in which
the false teeth found in the crave
were positively identified as havins
belonged TO Miss Hoffman. The at
fldaVit stated that the teeth were
made by a dentist named RisheI in
pennsylvania. and that the same
man had made false teeth for he.,
mother, her aunt Augusta and her
aunt Clara. the latter being the
mother of Mr.. Parker. the preceding
witness. The affidavit further stated
That the shoes found in the grave
We're of the same make. stvIe and
SIZE as those worn habitually hy
MISS Hoffman and that the heels
were worn in the same manner as
were Miss HOfGman's shoes