Saint Augustine Evening Record November 6, 1902 Charges Perferred Against Marshal Benet They Will be Heard November 15 Attorney MacWilliams Will Represent the Defendant
Formal charges were brought against Marshal C H Benet by Mayor Boyce at the meeting of the City Council last night. The Mayor was present when the charges and notice of suspension was read, and was accompanied by his attorney, J. W Henderson. Marshal Benet was also on hand represented by WA MacWilliams who will also act as his attorney in the forthcoming trial.
The charges are as follows:
"As the Mayor of the City of Saint Augustine, and in compliance with the provisions of the law of the State of Florida under which the government of our city is either directly or indirectly guided in the action of each and every official of our municipality, I respectfully report that on the 1st day of November AD 1902, I suspended City Marshal CH Benet. My reasons therefor are as follows:
"First, that at the adjourned meeting of the City Council; to wit on the 30th day of October AD 1902 the said CH Benet when present under the law at said meeting, to aid in the enforcement and preservation of order under the direction of the presiding officer of said meeting did grossly abuse his official position by conduct unbecoming an officer and a conservator of the peace in that he said CH Benet was himself guilty of rude violent and disorderly conduct and as a result the dispersion of the members present at said session and the breaking up of said meeting.
"Second that said CH Benet did then and there at said meeting of the City Council on October 30 AD 1902 commit an assault with a deadly weapon upon the person of one of the alderman of said City of Saint Augustine - namely Alderman John Papino while in the discharge of his duties as a member of the City Council of said city of Saint Augustine and at the time said City Council was in lawful session, by shooting said John Papino with a pistol."