Bennett, George H. 1854 - 1908

BENNETT, SPRAGUE, MILLER, MORTON, FOLEY, RIDLER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 1/11/2014 at 19:19:32

Compiled from articles in the Oelwein Register, Wednesday, 11 Nov. 1908, and the Oelwein Weekly Reporter, Friday, 13 Nov. 1908. The account of the murder appears in the Elgin Echo, Thursday, 12 November 1908.

Murder at Oelwein.

Saturday night recorded another brutal murder for Fayette County criminal history. The deed was committed at Oelwein and the self-confessed murderer, Mike Halen, was taken to West union during the night to prevent a possible lynching and has made a confession to the County attorney.

Halen and Bennet, the latter the victim, were employed in the Great Western shops in Oelwein, the former as a tool dresser while the latter worked as a stone mason. Halen is a man about 26 years of age and Bennett was about sixty years old.

From what can be gathered of the terrible tragedy, it seems that both men had been drinking Saturday night. Late in the evening Bennett was about to start for his home when he asked Halen to accompany him. That is the last anyone knows of the affair, except for what Halen now has to say of the matter.

An hour or so after they had started for Bennett's home Halen approached the night watch on the street and told him that he had killed Bennett. The night watch thought the fellow was out of his head at first, but when he insisted that he was telling the truth, they got some other parties and went to the scene of the tragedy, an open lot a couple blocks from the shack which Bennett called his home. There they found Bennett sweltering in his own blood with his throat cut from ear to ear, the wound being a jagged and ugly looking one.

Halen told the officers that as he was accompanying Bennett to his home, as he had been requested to do, and when they were in the open lot, Bennett became ugly and accused him (Halen) of "following" him. Looking up he (Halen) discovered that Bennett had a knife in his hand and was about to strike. He struck first, however, wounding Bennett in the throat. Halen here claims that this wound was a bad one and that Bennett said "You have started on me. Now you had just as well finish the job."

Taking Bennett at his word, Halen claims then to have taken another knife from his pocket and did finish the job.

A coroner's jury Monday afternoon returned a verdict of murder in the first degree.

Before telling the officers of his crime, Saturday night, Halen visited the home of a sister and told her of his crime. He seems to take the affair lightly and to believe he will come free, as he claims to have done what he did in self defense.

Both men are well known in Oelwein and have never been regarded as dangerous persons, though they were known frequently to have indulged too extensively in dinking. Halen is said to have been somewhat quarrelsome when dinking.

George H. Halen was born in Orange Co., New York, June 17, 1854, and came to this section with his parents in 1858, and he has resided in Otsego and Oelwein ever since. Twenty-seven years ago he was united in marriage to Miss Olive Sprague, and there were six children born to them, five of whom are living - Lulu, Alice, Edna, Emery and Earl. He is also survived by four sisters - Mesdames A. J. Miller, Jno. Morton, Ruth Foley and W. W. Ridler - and three brothers, Louis, Fred and Andrew.

The last services for George H. Bennett were held from the Christian church Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 10), Rev. C. L. McKim officiating. There was a large attendance of relatives and friends filling the church auditorium and vestry. The remains were buried in the old cemetery (Oelwein) beside those of his wife.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

Note: A picture of George H. Bennett will be added later. See the obits of Lulu Gillingham, John Gillingham, Emery Bennett, Earl Bennett and Nora Bennett for more info on this family.

There are many articles about the murder and subsequent trial and conviction of Mike Halen in the Oelwein and area papers. See Mike Halen's obit and picture on this board.

Submitter is not related.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

Fayette Obituaries maintained by Constance Diamond.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen