Oscar Benjamine Caught Red-Handed, Says He Will Plead Guilty, Aug. 19, 1921

Thief Caught Robbing Store. . . Several Business Houses Entered Recently—Good Work by Police Officers

Recently the stores of W.E. Bishop and Co., Ashworth Feed Store, King and Gilland Barber Shop and Deavers Food Store were entered at night, cash drawer rifled and other articles taken. Saturday night the store of F.P. Sledge was entered through a real window that had evidently been opened by some one on the inside during the day, and the cash drawer relieved of its contents. The robbery was reported of a very clever piece of detective work. Mr. Sledge was requested by the authorities to watch the window when closing and if found to be unlocked to advise the policemen. That night Mr. Sledge found upon closing that the window in question had been unlocked by some unknown person, therefore he notified the police chief Galloway, and deputy sheriff Fulbright hid behind the store while policeman Barnette waited in front of the store, all waiting for Mr. Burglar. They were rewarded in a few minutes by the form of a man crawling through the rear window. The man advanced to the cash drawer and was removing the cash when the policeman promptly placed him under arrest, and he was later locked up. The robber proved to be a local young man, Oscar Benjamine, who made no attempt to escape (which would have been impossible) but quietly submitted to arrest. His only statemen was that he was guilty and would plead guilty to the charge.

The policemen have also been very active in the enforcement of the prohibition laws. Dave Fowler was caught with five gallons; Gudger Smith with five gallons; Tom Jones from Hendersonville with ½ gallon, and Dickie Patton and Leroy Streeter with more than the law allows. All of the above have been charged with transporting and having on hand more than the law allows.

From the front page of The Brevard News, Aug. 19, 1921