Posted on: Bradford County Biographies Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Fl/BradfordBios/7 Surname: Bennett, Richarde, Matthews, Long, Johns, Gardiner, Liddon ------------------------- BRADFORD COUNTY TELEGRAPH - 15 MAY 1997 - POLICE MEMORIAL DAY TO RECOGNIZE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE BY LOCAL OFFICERS - (DIFFERENT ARTICLES) RICHARDE DIES AS RESULT OF A FEUD Henry O. RICHARDE (pronounced Ri-shard), a Bradford deputy sheriff, died Nov. 19, 1903. He was shot and killed during the final stages of a feud with three brothers. Two of the brothers were found not guilty at the trial two years later. RICHARDE and Attorney A. V. (Gus) LONG returned to Lawtey from Starke in a horsedrawn buggy. Around 4 p.m. they stopped at the home of the BENNETT brothers so that long could discuss an upcoming court case with a potential client, John BENNETT of Lawtey. Newspaper accounts at the time said there was "bad blood" between BENNETT and RICHARDE. According to the Jacksonville Times Union, BENNETT had shot at RICHARDE earlier in that day "while the latter was passing in front of his (BENNETT'S) store. RICHARDE returned the fire in a brief shootout. The BENNETTS had been known to make threats against RICHARDE. In spite of this earlier altercation, LONG later testified that during the visit on Nov. 19 RICHARDE and BENNETT seemed cordial until LONG and RICHARDE began to drive away from the BENNETT home. According to LONG'S account, the situation erupted into a shootout. RICHARDE fired a shotgun and rifle from the buggy while the three brothers fired from three different positions in and around the house. LONG was not wounded and jumped from the buggy before RICHARDE was shot and killed, falling from the buggy himself. The BENNETTS were well-known businessmen in Lawtey and John BENNETT was chairman of the board of county commissioners, although he had frequently been in trouble with the law. WILBANKS said that at the time of RICHARD'S death, at least five cases were pending against him in state and federal courts. John D. and Richard (Dick) BENNETT were charged with murder in the killing of RICHARDE. They were arrested without resistance at their Lawtey home later the same day by Sheriff Everett E. JOHNS. They were kept under guard at their house until Saturday, Nov. 21, when the coroner's jury returned a verdict directing that they be held for murder. The three brothers were taken to Starke and placed in jail to await a preliminary hearing. County Judge GARDINER sat on the bench for the hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 25. LONG was the state's chief witness. He testified that he and RICHARDE ended their conversation with BENNETT, got back in the buggy and prepared to leave. As they drove away, LONG said he saw RICHARDE suddenly raise his shotgun to his shoulder and shout something, although LONG could not understand what he said. LONG looked back at the house and saw John and Henry BENNETT moving toward the buggy. RICHARDE fired his shotgun at the house at almost the same instant a shot was fired from someone at the house, LONG said. RICHARDE told LONG to drive and he said he drove away as rapidly as possible. LONG said they were under rapid fire of a "fusillade" (barrage) of bullets from the house as they drove away. LONG jumped from the buggy and said he heard several more shots fired at the buggy after he jumped. Other witnesses testified that Henry and Dick BENNETT fired at the buggy in addition to John and that more than 25 shots in all were fired at the deputy sheriff. Other witnesses also testified that, before Nov. 19, one or more of the brothers claimed they would kill RICHARDE. Sheriff Everett JOHNS testified that John BENNETT asked the sheriff to remove Deputy RICHARDE from Lawtey since "the town was too small for both of them and that he (BENNETT) had too much there to leave. After the preliminary hearing, Judge GARDINER discharged Dick BENNETT but bound over Henry and John for trial. Bond was set at $3,000 each. Both paid bond and were released pending trial. Continuances had the trial postponed until Oct. 26-28, 1905. The two brothers were found not guilty by a jury on Oct. 28, 1905. Not a lot is known about Deputy Henry Osceola RICHARDE, other than he was 33 years old when he died and had been a faithful deputy for Sheriff JOHNS for several years. He was described as one of the most "fearless men in the state." His wife, Annie MATTHEWS RICHARDE, was born in Providence to William and Ella LIDDON MATTHEWS.