Cleburne County AlArchives News.....BENEFIELD SHOOTING in Dec 1910 December 22, 1910
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Candace Gravelle tealtree@comcast.net February 21, 2005, 4:07 pm

The Cleburne News
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE FROM "THE CLEBURNE NEWS", Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama, 
Newspaper Issue of Thursday, December 22, 1910

BENEFIELD SHOOTING
Hopewell, Ala., Dec 17th

Three brothers, Alf,  Richard and Whack Benefield lie dead near Hopewell in 
this county, a mountain village about 18 miles east of this place, as a result 
of a quarrel.  Alf and Richard quarreled over Alf's alleged relation with 
Richard's wife. They began shooting at each other when Whack, the older 
brother, intervened and a stray shot struck him, as well.  A large number of 
shots were fired and all three of the men died almost immediately.

Sheriff Rowell was called from Heflin to investigate the tragedy. When he 
reached the farm he found all three stretched out dead on their father's bed, 
while he, bent with age, helplessly sobbed out his grief.  The sheriff found 
nothing to do as the principals were all dead.

There had been bad feeling between Alf, the younger brother, and Richard for 
some days. It was said that Alf and Richard's wife were intimate.  Both of the 
brothers met on their father's farm yesterday morning. Richard did not live 
there.  Alf and Richard quarreled throughout the day; and finally the shooting 
began. As a result not only were the three brothers killed but a mule was 
struck by a stray bullet and instantly killed.  

The fight was one of the bloodiest in the history of the county. The men were 
found lying very close to each other with the ground all around them red with 
blood.

All three brothers were well known in Cleburne County. Whack Benefield is 
survived by his widow and nine children. Richard Benefield's wife, said to be 
the woman in the case and one child, survive him.  Alf was not married.  The 
three men were buried side by side in the family burying ground.
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Additional Comments:
"Whack" Benefield is Zachariah H.S. Benefield.

Buried at the Macedonia Cemetery in Cleburne County, Alabama

Zachariah H.S. Benefield
b. 1 Dec 1869
d. 16 Dec 1910
(Masonic Emblem)

Mary Emily Benefield
w/o Zachariah H.S. Benefield
b. 24 Sep 1870
d. 7 Sep 1962
(Eastern Star Emblem)
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1900 census Cleburne County, Alabama
Abernathy Pct. page 270

Zachariah Benefield, Dec 1869, age 30, Georgia, Georgia, Georgia  ( married 9 
years)
Mary, wife, Sept 1871, age 28, Alabama, Georgia, Georgia  (mother of 5 
children, 5 living)
Sarah, daughter, Jan 1892, age 8, Alabama
Marthy Ann, daughter, Aug 1893, age 6, Alabama
Mary E., daughter, Oct 1895, age 4, Alabama
Lucindy, daughter, Apr 1898, age 2, Alabama
Burnis, daughter, Feb 1900, age 3 months, Alabama
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