Hinton Daily News and Leader, Hinton, West Virginia
Monday, February 23, 1914, page 1

Charles T Bennett, section master for the C & O Ry Co, who has been a resident of Brooks for many years, committed suicide on Sunday about noon, by placing a box of dynamite caps over his heart and setting them off by the use of a fuse.

The news of the suicide was received here soon after the rash act and many could hardly believe the story, particular about his plans, which he had so carefully laid before taking his life.

He seems to have selected a time when the majority of the people were at church and set off the explosive as a freight train was passing. He went from his home to the shanty used by the section men, some little distance below Brooks. There he secured a piece of cross tie about two feet long and after laying down on the floor, placed the dynamite caps over his heart, laid the piece of the tie on his breast, and after setting a fuse to explode the dynamite caps, crossed his hands upon his breast. The force of the explosion tore away a considerable portion of his body, mutilated his hands and the discharged shells struck him about the face and made cuts.

Death was no doubt instantaneous and he had scarcely moved after the caps exploded. His body was found about thirty minutes later by W T Grimmett, who went to the shanty to look for him.

In the morning it is said that Bennett had told some of his relatives that he intended to commit suicide that day and when he left his home and failed to return in a reasonable time, some uneasiness was felt.

It developed after the suicide that he had carefully been making his plans for the last several days. On last Friday he came to Hinton and had Attorney T N Read write his will. His will provided for each of his six children to receive $5 a piece and the balance of his property goes to his wife. He gave no special reason for making his will.

On Sunday morning, or some time prior to that, he wrote five letters, one to his two older boys and one to his younger children. In these letters to his children, who are mostly grown, he asked them to live a Christian life and to assist their mother. The older boys were asked not to drink and to do the best they could for themselves. His letters were very well written and showed every indication that he was in his right mind and that he was carefully considering the condition that his family might be in, after he had killed himself.

One of the letters was as follows:
Mr S W Owens,
Dear Sir and Friend:
I want you to see that my grave is dug 6 feet deep from the top of the ground to the bottom of the vault. I want to be buried at J M Fox's graveyard.
Wash, I want you and W F Grimmett, John Adkins, Dick Adkins, E T Mulliner, Luther Bragg to cover my grave and take your time and not think like someone covering up a dead hog or dog. Take all the largest rocks out and keep dirt punched down in grave.
Want Fount Grimmett and Duck Adkins to get in the grave, take corps in and put plank two double on box and stay in grave and keep dirt punched down round sides and ends.
This I ask off you all to do the last favor for me.
Your true friend,
C T Bennett

Mr Bennett was 43 years of age and was born in the vicinity of Meadow Creek on the Raleigh side of the river. About 20 years ago he married Miss Emma Fox, a daughter of David Fox of Brooks, who with six children and several other relatives survive him.

He has been employed in the C & O, first as a section hand and later as section master for probably 15 years. He was an excellent citizen and was well liked by the employes of the road and by the citizens of Brooks, where he was so well known. He often came to Hinton and was well known in the city. He was honest and upright in his dealings and was making something more than a living. He worked faithful for the railroad and was a man of excellent habits.

Just what caused him to commit suicide does not seem to be fully known. He had had some trouble with his wife, but it was not thought to be of a serious nature and even his close friends paid little attention to the slight trouble.

He made a request that his funeral be preached by Rev Hall of the Central Baptist Church, and also other requests in the letters. The funeral will be conducted Tuesday just after the arrival of No 13 and the remains buried at the graveyard near Brooks.

It is likely that a number of people from this city will attend the funeral and burial.