Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 17:41:34 -0700 From: "Charles Quindry" <cquindry@accessus.net> Source: ILFRANKL-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Gordon Bennett article & obit GORDON BENNETT DIES OF GUN WOUNDS>Shot Four Times Early Sunday by Clarence Smothers and Roy McClintock-1922 Benton, Illinois *** Smothers Now in Benton Jail **** Officers Fail to Locate McCLintock Who Dissappeared Immediately Following Shooting Gordon Bennett died at 3:48 this morning at the hospital as a result of four gunshot wounds he received early Sunday morning at the hands of Clarence Smothers and Roy McClintock. He lingered so long and was seemingly improving so much, his relatives and friends had built up hopes for his recovery. Smothers, who shot him in the back, and who is possibly the one most responsible for his death, was brought up from West Frankfort at noon today and placed in jail. He is suffering from a wound from a shot from Bennett's gun and several broken ribs received when his car turned over near No 18 mine when he was trying to make his escape. Roy McClintock who also shot Bennett made good his escape the night of the affair and has not yet been apprehended. Gordon Bennett was born on the Bennett farm in Crawford's Prairie, March 16, 1892 his age, therefore, being thirty years, two months and twenty-four days. His parents are George W and Frances Bennett both surviving. He is also survived by four brothers and two sisters, namely, Commadore, Raybern, Jewell, Ransom, Aileen and Imogene. Early in life he engaged in teaching then he became restless and decided to see the world with as a result that when he returned with first-hand information _______ (page torn). On May 20, 1918 he was wedded to Miss Jewell Secrest of Mt Vernon who passed away June 2, the following year. Nine days after his marriage, May 29, 1919, he entrained with a contingent of soldiers for Atlanta Ga, being placed in charge of the train when it left Benton. He was attached to Co F, 5th replacement and at Camp Grant, Ill. Funeral services will probably take place at the Bennett home at the corner of Washington and Commerical streets Saturday afternoon, Rev John A McClintock officiating, deceased often expressing the desire that when he died he wanted Rev McClintock to preach his funeral inasmuch as he was the one who married him. Interment will take place at the Masonic and Odd Fellows cemetery. TWO WOUNDED IN GUN BATTLE EARLY SUNDAY The home of "Mother" Lee on South McLeansboro road near the Hart-Williams mine was the scene of some real gun play about 1 o'clock Sunday morning, some twenty shots being fired, according to the best information available. When the smoke of battle had cleared away, Gordon Bennett was found to be in a very serious condition having been shot four times twice from the back and twice from the front, all of the bullet holes indicating that Bennett was in the act of turning as each shot was fired. Many rumors are current as to the cause of the affairs but it is most generally believed that several youths from Frankfort Heights and in the vicinity of Mine No 18 went to the Lee house with the intention of having trouble. These included Bill Rotramel, Clarence Smothers, Roy McClintock, Bill Wall, Enrich Burk, Jewel Hungate and another names Foster. It is said that McClintock opened the affair by saying something to one of the girl's which was displeasing to Bennett. McClintock is alleged to have then drew his gun and Bennett did likewise and ordered McClintock to hand him the gun. At that moment Smothers, who was at the rear of Bennett, drew his gun and fired, and as Bennett turned to face Smothers, McClintock drew his gun and fired at Bennett. One of the men used a 45 Colts and the other a 22 Smith Wessen. Bennett fired his gun twice. The gang then left the house Smothers jumping into his Ford and headed toward Mine 18 and as he neared that place is said to have run into a ditch, upset his car and received six broken ribs. Upon being examined by physicians it was found that he had been shot twice, one bullet grazing his stomach and the other had entered an arm. The physicians say it will be some time before he is able to be brought to jail here and he is now being guarded by Tobe Hungate. In making his getaway from the Lee house, McClintock jumped into the car of "Peck" Hill, a local jitney driver, and ordered Hill at the point of a gun to drive as fast as he could also in the direction of Mine 18. The manner of escape of the others is unknown. Bennett was brought to Dr Moore's hospital where Drs Sidney Moore, Edgar Austin and H A Vise operated upon him. It is found that Bennett was shot once through the right leg, twice through the back and once through the side, one of the bullets penetrating the lungs and his intentines were cut in seven places. He is in a very serious condition and his relatives and friends have little hopes of his recovery. Bennett is a son of Mr and Mrs George W Bennett of this city. He is 30 years of age and was practically raised on the Bennett farm in the vicinity of Parrish. The other members of the gang are also said to have been raised in the vicinity of Parrish. **Smothers is eighteen years of age and is a son of Harmon Smothers** who resides just over the line in Cave township. Some are inclined to believe that the shooting of Bennett was the aftermath of trouble in which Bennett and the others had been involved in since the days when they attended school together. (Benton newspaper) _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail