Benet's Counsel Makes a Statement His Reasons for the Shooting are Given Self Defense Will Be the Plea Entered in his Behalf
Papino is alleged to have been advancing upon Benet with his hand on his hip pocket.
"Owing to the fact that the hearing in the case of Officer Benet who is charged with assaulting Alderman John Papino, has been postponed through no fault of ours. It deprives for the time being of letting the public know the defendant's side of the case; and in order that the public may know that he has a good defense and to relieve our client of the injustice of having but one side of the story made public we desire to state the following facts:
"The trouble arose during a meeting of the City Council, over an application made to the Council in writing by Officer Benet for an appropriation for the purchase of four uniforms with it has been customary for the Council to grant.
"All matters pertaining to to the police force have been opposed by Alderman Papino solely on account of the personal ill will he bears toward Marshal Benet, which whom he has been at odds for some time.
"When Mr Benet rose on permission of the Council to explain that the uniforms would not cost less that $15 and stated that the coat he had on cost $11.50, Alderman Papino interrupted him and intimated that the coat did not cost that much thereby intimating and imputing dishonesty on the part of the Marshal, and the Marshal so construed it.
"He continued to make offensive objections and finally the Marshal told him to stop it. Thereupon he told the Marshal to shut up and sit down, that he was his superior and he the Marshal was his servant. He also cursed at the Marshal. The Marshal again told him to desist. Both became excited. Papino was standing back from his desk and throwing his hand to his hip pocket and advanced toward the Marshal in an attitude that indicated his intention to do him bodily harm.
The Marshal knowing Papino's feelings toward him and presuming that he intended to assault him drew his pistol and fired. These facts can be demonstrated and proved by reputable witnesses who were present and saw the affair."