W. C. Benet

This is a name of one prominent in our State, not only on account of his great success as a lawyer and powers as an advocate, but because of the conspicuous part he has played in many great questions which have in these later years come before the public for discussion.

Born in Scotland, a country whose sons have made their mark and had an influence on many of the greatest phases of the world's history, he has not been behind in showing himself possessed of these innate talents, which have distinguished his compatriots from their earliest times. He was educated at Dollar Academy and took the full arts course at Edinboro’ University, versing himself in all the learning of ancient and modern nations, and studying with that zeal and hard work by which only great gifts can be developed into useful powers.

Leaving the land of the Stuarts in 1868, he settled in South Carolina and Abbeville County, where his learning soon gained for him a place in this the most cultured society of the most polished State in the Union, and stamped him as one of the best instructors that they had yet seen. He afterwards studied law with Judge Thompson, and was admitted to the bar in 1876, and to the Supreme Courts in 1880. Among the many difficult and trying cases he has conducted against the greatest odds to triumphant results may be more especially mentioned, the railroad suit, which after a four years struggle, he carried against the expressed opinion of all the experienced heads at the State bar, to the Supreme Court, won it and established that the claim of a passenger injured in an accident held a prior lien to mortgages, and to be paid out of the fund of earnings in the hands of the Receiver. This was the first case of its kind gained in the United States, and called forth compliments and congratulations from the profession and the press. The case of Jeff. David, accused of murder, condemned ten times to the full punishment of the law, and once on the scaffold with the rope round his neck, was perhaps the most brilliant victory in a criminal's defence that has been recorded in the annals of the bar. Success was due to that indomitable fortitude that a stern conviction of being in the right, characteristic of the subject of our sketch, can only give. These two cases, carried on about the same time, the latter costing him hundreds of dollars, placed Mr. Benet in the front rank of the bar in South Carolina.

As an advocate of the true systems of education, he holds a no less conspicuous place. Interested in it since his youngest days, he has been a leading member of the Board of Examiners for several years, and has delivered many of the annual addresses at the exhibitions of the educational institutions of the State, including Due West and Furman Universities.

Among his many attainments in the “Belles Lettres,” the pamphlet published in 1880 on “Americanisms,” attracted great attention.

At home he has taken an active part in all measures instituted for the people's welfare. He created the Abbeville Literary Club, which in its selection of periodicals, and as a means of bringing together scholars for social intercourse, has no equal in this State and few in the United States. He has recently been elected Presidential Elector for the Third District of South Carolina.