The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-20
THE ALLEGED WIFE POISONING.
Court Of Oyer and Terminer.
Before Hon. judge Roosevelt.


the District Attorney. Heard of Mrs. stephens illness
from my wife, after DR.. Cadmus' first VISIT went
her in few days after the Doctors second visit
tnued 70 visit her up to the time Of her DEATH her
every evening during the last weeks of her illness,
to the Sunday previous 10 her DEATH when went first the
Bell girls were there; Stephens there, and she
sitting IN her chair and the child at her knee
THE witness examined at length as to the
number Of his visits 70 the deceased and how long those
visits werel Saw each Of the Bell girls giving Mrs.
Stephens medicine; saw Sophia give her medicine
Sunday morning: Fanny give her q powder-I don't
know that II powder but she said 1t was medicine
mixed in tea cup; that las after Dr. Cadmus made his
second visit; Sophia give her medicine twice.
second evening before the last Sunday; it
appeared uhite pill; she put white sugar II,
Sunday th,uk she the powder out Of the closk
did yesterday that Fanny give her medi.
cine twice: II did didn't understand.
Q How many times did you see Fanny Boil give medi-
Witness with rich Irish broguo)Arrab, didn't toll
you befores q Tell again. Witness-Iadeed won't;
{turnnG cophdeotiiliy to the Judge)-Whl tell him
BgxinY cloud laughter)
The Court--You may as well; il will save time.
The witness then repeated his former Ipur-
chased arsenic at old Dr. Cadmus storc Stephens
with me, my remained outside; Flynn was be.
hind the counter: 1t poison rats that eating
the butter ana rhngs which my wife kept in the cellar
the prisoner was brought 10 my house by an officer
everDg SINGS hs arrest have seen him at the Tombs
and at Justice welshs Court; know there Coro-
ners inquest held; did not 40 there Stephens told
for me; my wife suoomnaed; have told MIR. Abbo.t
assistant Of Mr. Asnmead) that purchased the arsen,
@ Did stephens ever help you or your wife or cnidrel
out officially? A. No indeed; never depended o.
any but myself since / to the United states;
boieye he and ,he minister got my boy of day from
the Jefferson Market Court never heard stephens
say that he had Influence enough To keep my boy from
going 10 the Particularly for stealing was the
subject Of remark my family that a pity that
Stephens was t ed To such an old woman she not
al old woman she was young enough for him; forty six
Julius A. Candy, examined by Mr.. Cushing, doposed
that he aud TREND we're allowed to the BODY Of Mrs
Stephens ut the Bellevue Hospital.
To MI Wa,erbury--John OBren let us in to geo II;
hao curl oslty IL; live the hospital; neither
my my touched did any thing to the BODY
James rumble deposed tnat he knows tho defendant,
James stephens about years; belonged 10 the
uich WITH to the time OF this charge his general
moral character was very good always considered HIN
kaby peaceahle quiet man. never knew him
to touch Intoxicating liquor OF any kind.
To the District Auorney--Never saw him. except at
church his employment Me- S!evensons factory;
the prisoner trial In my church; he could
sworn as witness 10 our church against Sophia Bell.
Mr. Asbmead objected TO the questions
The District Attorney sad that foundation had been laid
for the questions by the letter produced.
1nc witA6ss wished TO explain; he was not an official
member Of the church, and such things may have been
without his knowledge.
John Stevenson, coach manufacturer, doposed-I know
the defendant: saw his wife or twice. Stephens ha
been in my employ since is49 aud remained in upt
O. What has been the general moral character Of the
defendant? A. know nothing against II except recently
found the together in the day time aud in the
evening they church late together Miss Sophia
the Sunday school and sit the male side,
which is an unusual thing for ladies TO have OBJ.
served teegraphic signs between Miss Soobia and Ste.
phens in church she would frequently out Of church
before the service would be over Stephens would
follow her; this was observable since Mrs. Ste
pbers death was at the Twenty seventh street Sunday
school pic O. Did you see any one in liquor there?-
either Of inc Bell girls? A. There were circumstances
that might be CONSTRUED there sort Of aJaados
Of manner flushed face and dshabllle; Isaw Mrs. Ste
-afte her. dnot pofic Of
black eye.
Cross examined by The District AHorney--when be saw
them IN the street it was III the vicinity Of the church,
am not definite as to the number OF times observed
Sophia going ot Of the church before the service was
over could no. say positively more than three times
have gone out fifty times during the ten years be
member considered 1t an act of improperly for Miss Bell
to sit on the male side Of The Sunday school, would have
been commemorate in to have sat the female
side; tim when she sat there there more
for her the female side; my impression is that she
talked with Stephens while she sitting hero Stephens
taught the trough" class Of boys; was superintendent
spoke to Stephens ABOUT his intimacy with Miss Bell?
o rd YOU spaK to SIR stephens about the fact of his
DeglectGg his cass TO speak TO Miss Ber A am not
aware that made special item OF remark: noticed
the greatest intimacy about July, 1855; fix tho
date, because that was the time Of her dscon-
necton with the choir; l find by a record that
her attendance marked up to the last Sunday in june
knowledge that during the latter OF her at
tendance at church Miss Bell was not on speaking
terms with Mr. Stephens do not swear that her
speak TO him tween tho lst OF May and the LIST of july
when those Iaphic signs between thcm, Miss
Bell sat on my right hand, and Stephens dagonay 10 my
left observed smrkiDg aud smiling and certain Conor
tons OF the countenance; the cheeks the lips and the
eyes had plessuraoie appearance-perhaps the word
Contorton s inappropriate. O. What kind Of smile
iT A. II was more than sme-t was kind Of tcle-
graphic arrangement Of the by
Sinking mean smile Of tho countcnance; and
the result that she got up and left tho
church, and &c followed her out Immediately;
il happened at least once that Miss Bell left
the church, and stephens followed her; may testify to
three times have the gestures more than three
times; have thoec gestures when she did not leave
preaching It part of my business an Off er TO
watch the peo0o around the church, did understand
that there was gentleman paying attentions 70 MISE
him pay her attentions at the picnic July, 1858;
have recollection Of seeing them at tho picnic in 1857
O. DID you sc thing more in the fact than that she
went Of church, and that Stephens followed herr A.
That is all saw Q Do you know any facts of un Tue
intimacy connected with these movements A. gone
raj rumor, what peone told mo; nothing Of 1t
myeef spoke to Miss Bell at tho picnic; did not my.
Self think che intoxcated said her manner would
ieah others 70 suppose have hcm with rough
young men, kiesng and hugging l can't say that
did NOT TO Mss ss a I s Ser oonc
drank nothing but water that day do not know If
there was any quor at that pcnc my wife and daugh
caDrot gay if they took OF much the Misses Bell
without counting the pieces they had on have not
ubuiod any money for this defence; Stephens at first
nad ono collar per day and after that nine or ten e
ires day; saw Mr.. Cardwe at the picnic think he
walked 70 the boa, that Gay. G. Did you kiss any lady
that day? A. think positively did not il is not u
characteristic OF NINE to bo engaged in ouch.
10 Mr. Cosh'rg-Thc picnic at which saw Mr.. Card
well was in bS had heard of his attentions
before that think the funeral spoken of at my house
on the 2sth Of August, 49,
The Court berc took a ,css. On rcassembling,
William Ai,is sworn for the defcncc--!sesidcs in
Thirty fourth street; coach builder knew , prisoner
and tho late Mrs Stephens have lvs IN tho house
with tt.m; saw Mrs. Stores during her ilncss and
did not notice tha. she had black eye far
she relations between Stephens aud his wife quito of
ptaceablc character the picnic referred TO- the
latter end Of 1895, intoxicating liquors the
srouod Miss Fanny Bell offered me some ice water and
gAyv RIO some Gin
Crcse examined by the District Attorncv---cant gay
bow often the house during Mrs Stephens ILL
npss: probably moro than twice week. cannot rccol-
that Fanny Bell told who brought gin ~ the
Idcric; cannot say that che told mo II Mr King
the fact about the gin 10 Mr. Cushing Of the
eel for defendant, the had think nlso told Stephens
about In the shop never asked Fanny Bell marry
me- did pay her any especial attentions she did not
rcquost call upon her visit hcr did shc
write to that elect; once gave hor hymn book