The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-25
THE STEPHENS CASE.
Investigation Before Coroner Connery-Au-
sopsy OF the MISREPRESENTATION Before
.Ynstice yyeIsh. Sc.

The sgation by Coroner Connery relative to the
Jeath of Mrs. Sophia Stephens at Belle
VIE Hospital in the presence Of deceaseds friends and
rcla.ws Ajury emgannellcd, and upon of tho
body they duly sworn to make true inquiry into
the The corpse then handed to DR.. Jas.
r. Wood Professor Doremus who have been employed
mako IN autopsy Of tho body and an analysis OF the
stomach and its contents The body q good state
OF preservation, Considering it had been year in the
ground The head appeared TO have been the only part
OF tie bosy which badly dccayed, tho flesh on the
remainder OF the body being remarkable state OF pro-
servatioa, retaining its natural hrmness and color
Upon opening the cavity OF the abdomen quantity Of
escaped The viscera found to be In good state
OF preservation the ntesnes retaining their natural
pcarancc Tho great omeutum was loaded with fatty
matter, and tho stomach duodemnum and pertaneum
were hics with quantity Of OIL Tho kidneys, with q
portion oil the liver gall ntestncs ana bladder were
moved and placed in jar for anayzation. On opening
the thorax the lungs found TO be collapsed and the
as n,ced ass for chemical anuYs ON onsnn1
the skull the brain found TO be in advanced state
of decomposition portion of tho brain was also
tanned for snay zon and the post norton examination
concluded.
All the internal organs were taken possession OF
by Professor Doremus who will give the mat.
ter thorough examination. The analysis will
not be completed for several days, but meanwhile
the Coroner intends to 90 with the examination OF wit
The Misses Bell and others will be placod upon
the stand 70 day. There evidence taken yester
day. 1t Is impossible this stage of the proceedings
ascertain whether there any arsenic administered to
deceased. 1t may take week for the chemist
to any positive conclusion ON this head.
THE EXAMINATION BEFORE JUSTICE wELsH-ErfoRr
TO INJURE THE REPUTATION AND INvALiDATE THE
TESTIMONY or Tue SISTERS BELL-ADJOURNMENT
TO MONDAY.
The examination before Justice Welsh was continued
yesterday, IN his in the City Hail. formerly
cupcd the Office Of the Chief Of Police. It had
been down for eleven ocock in the morning, but at
.at hour the principal wtnesscs-Sopha and Fanny
Hpli IN kn aujtx in atfn
Coroner Conncry at Bellevue Hospital, whore the dsn
tered Of Sophia stephens had been conveyed.
The therefore postponed till three O'Clock in the
Afternoon. Az that hour, however these girls not in
, attendance, having been Informed by Mr.. Channcey
Schafer who represents the prosecution, that they would
not be required till Saturday mcrnnghc not knowing Of
the postponemen There other Witnesses however,
in attendance and he proposed to go on with their exam
nation.
The prisoner Stephens was brought in custody Of an
officer, lie is slightly built man, Of apparently
thirty five years of age with sunken eyes and pale and
sailow counteaance HIS little chili--a girl of about
seven years-was the in charge Of some female
relatives. AT some portions of the eximnaton-partcu
larry in the arguments presented by his COUNSEL and
where the apparent harsps Of his position pre-
scented 10 the Courhe and they were affected to tears
These arguments were for the most part made up OF
and allegations against the purity Of the sisters
Bell, aa, under the existing circumstances, were not
srch AS should have been ndulged in by counse-the
only question really being whether the deceased woman
poisoned and If so, by whom However, the Court
did its duty rerrove the counsel, but gave
him full sway in that regard.
The FIRST witness
William Knox, examined by Mr.. schaf,r-Reside at $50
Water street. knew Mrs Sophia Stephens in her ietme
also knows James stephens prior to Mrs Stephens
death IN the habit OF seeing Mr. Stephens
@ Did you ever hear him say anything in relation to
Mr. Busted objected this course Of examination as
only tending to influence public opinion He appealed to
the discretion Of the Justice TO exclude it,
The Justice decided that the question ought 70 be an
swered
A. In instance, while out walking together,
he told me that he about Ia leave her.
O. About how long before her death did he tell you
three months
o. state all he said on that OCCASION A. do not know
of anything else that passed.
O. Did you ever hear him say anything else indicating
the state Of his mni IN regard to his wfey A. No sir
O. How long were you and nc conversing together re-
specting his wife on this occasiony A. do not rcmem
O How far did you walk on that occasion9 A. We
walked about five or six blocks along the wharf near
where he lived.
q During the time Of ,ha, walk how much Of the time
consumed in talking about his wcs A. cannot an
swer that; do know; have been frequently at his
house; Know Sophia Bell VISITED stephens house after
his wfes death; Sophia Bell was there while was WIS It.
Q lid you observe any particular attention that Mr.
Mr. Bustecd objected.
Mr. schaer stated object Of his evidence TO be to
show a motive for the crime.
Mr. Busieed-But this would be post mortcm and can
made subservcnt 70 cucdate the question OF
cedng guilt II should be first established that crime was
committed before such a course Of examination.
Mr. Schafer held that the examination was proper one
he would show that the prisoner intercepted
letters which the had written their friends
Ireland stating that the death Of their aunt uhsa
isactory TO them and threatened 4 they would conmun
cate thing him he would ruin both their charac
tiers He proposed 10 show that Immediately on the death
Of his wife tho prisoner showed marked attention to hs
The Justice allowed the question bearing upon the
question OF probable cause.
A. always saw him with her In and out.
q When did YOU hrst notice these atentons-whether
before after the death Of his wfcs A. | noticed them
o How long before did you first notice thcms A. II
must have been some two or three years.
Y What did you sect A. Going IN and out, rs usual
tons that attracted your observation and II 80 WHAT A.
Kose attention is ali know; his bong very attentive 70
o. Under what circumstances were these close atten
tsons bestowed upon herr A. Icannot answer that.
Mr.. Schaner--Ob yes, you can.
Mr.. Bustced objected.
The Justice suggested that counsel Tor the prosecution
justified in putting such questions, the Justice HIM
cell would find the relations Of these parties
Mr. Buseed admitted that that was U tho counsel
the public prosecutor represented him. but he
represented here only private parcs-Scphy and Fanny
Mr. schaacr--I do not represent them here nj all I
represent every man who wants to guard against being
The Justice understood Mr. schan,r TO have consulted
and advised with the Dsiric, Attorney
Mr.. Scharer-1 have, sir. am the humble representa-
awe o. that officer and could wish he were here himself
Y ON what occasion we're these close attentions be-
slowed Sophia Bell by S,ephensy A. On almost every
occasion-I cannot describe thcm.
state the circumstances of those atensonsy A. DO
not remember anything particular have them very
often together, and always out together.
q po you know u his expressing any unwihngness
90 her going except attended by him after his wifes
deathg A. he offended his looks and GOODNESS
made think he offended, THIS both before and
after the death
q How after hs wfo's death did you observe him
paying those attentions TO sophia BeH A. did not re-
mark that he paid any attention 10 her after his
wcs death than he did before they not interrupted
by the wife "a death.
Crts examined by Mr. Bustecd-What is your busness9
Head porter the store 256 Water street. the prupre
tors name John Murphy ISL stove concern; have
been thore pretty near seven years; have known Mr.
stephens about the tme have been in the habit OF
going bis house since six aud half years have
known sophia Bell about sixteen eighteen years;
10 school with her: have known Fanny Bell for the
fourteen fifteen months; her when she very
small saw Sophia Bell last night in the house of rea