Grady-Tift County GaArchives Obituaries.....Bennett, Rovert L. (Bob) December 22 1917
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Janet Sumner http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00011.html#0002510 May 29, 2004, 8:29 pm

The Cairo Messenger, Friday, December 28, 1917
Bob Bennett Shot and Killed Near Tifton

The many friends and relatives of Mr. R. L. (Bob) Bennett, a former Cairo boy, 
will regret to learn of his death, caused from gun shot wound at the hands of 
W. T. McCall, near Tifton.  The shooting occurred last Thursday, Mr. Bennett 
passing away, after being operated upon, Saturday.  He passed away Saturday 
afternoon at 4:30 o'clock, the funeral services being held from the Methodist 
church in Tifton Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.  The services were conducted 
by Rev. Matthews of the Methodist church and assisted by Rev. Durden of the 
Baptist Church.  Interment followed in the Tifton cemetery.  Mr. Bennett had 
been a consistent member of the Methodist church for a number of years and was 
35 years of age on the 10th of last November.

He is survived by his wife, mother, four brothers and five sisters.

The many relatives and friends of the deceased in Grady County will join the 
Messenger in extending condolence to the bereaved ones.  His mother, Mrs. W. F. 
Bennett, and his brothers, Messrs. R. P. and K. M. Bennett, and sisters, 
Mesdames P. B. Gray, N. A. Williams and J. L. Griffin, of Cairo attended the 
last sad rites.

The Tifton Gazette carried the following account of the shooting:

Mr. R. L. Bennett was shot by Mr. W. T. McCall Thursday afternoon about 4 
o'clock at McCall's home near the Lennon bridge, in the northeastern part of 
the county.  He is now at the Tift County Hospital in a precarious condition.

According to Mr. Bennett's statement, he held a note against McCall which he 
had promised to pay Thursday.  He drove out there and found McCall at work in 
the field.  McCall told him that he had not collected some money promised him 
and could not pay it then.  Bennett replied that he had been to more expense 
going out there than the profit on the goods amounted to and that he would like 
to have it paid without being obliged to make another trip.

McCall then told him that he would pay the note and they went to the house to 
arrange it.  On reaching the house McCall went in ahead, Bennett following.  
Bennett says that when he got inside of the hall, McCall came out of the room 
with his shotgun in his hand.  He caught at the gun but was unable to get 
possession of it.  In the struggle that followed McCall got between Bennett and 
the front door and he ran out the back door, jerking it to behind him.

McCall ran out his front door and headed Bennett off from his car.  Bennett 
then ran out at a rear gate and was running through the field about fifty yards 
from McCall when McCall shot him.  Bennett ran a few steps and fell and McCall 
ran up, cursing and threatening to shoot him again.  Bennett says he begged him 
not to shoot him any more, and as he was struggling to rise on his hands and 
knees McCall struck him twice over the head with the gun, knocking him down and 
rendering him partly unconscious.

Mrs. McCall and her mother, Mrs. Rutland came up and persuaded McCall to bring 
him to the house.  This was done, Bennett walking a little with assistance.

Word was sent to a neighbor's to telephone for Dr. Peterson that Mrs. Rutland 
was ill.  On arrival Dr. Peterson found Mr. Bennett wounded and immediately 
telephoned into Tifton for assistance and a car to bring the wounded man to the 
hospital.

After arriving at the hospital Mr. Bennett made a sworn statement before 
Justice T. M. Brown, substantially as above.

Sheriff Shaw went out to McCall's home Friday morning and found him preparing 
to come to Tifton to surrender.  He accompanied him to Tifton where he employed 
Fulwood and Hargrett, attorneys, to represent him.  He is being held in custody 
of the Sheriff awaiting the outcome of Mr. Bennett's wounds.  His attorneys say 
he has no statement to make for the present.

Mr. Bennett was operated on Friday morning by Drs. Peterson, Hendricks and 
Baker, assisted by Hall and Woodard, of Adel.  He stood the operation well but 
his condition is very serious.  He was struck in the back by four large shot, 
apparently buckshot.  Two of these entered the left side about half way between 
the backbone and side.  One of them perforated the lobe of the left lung, 
another perforated the intestines twice and the omentum once.  There is also a 
slight abrasion of another intestine.  Two large shot entered the right hip and 
five or six small shot are shattered.   There are also two scalp wounds, one 
over the forehead about an inch and a half long and another on the top of the 
head about four inches long where he was struck with the gun.

Mr. Bennett is the Junior member of Bennett's Hardware, Inc. and a brother of 
Postmaster W. H. Bennett.  Mr. McCall is an extensive farmer.  Both are 
married, McCall having several children. 

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