The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-19
TIT ALLEGED WIFE POISONING.
Court OF Oyer ana TcruAiaer-
Before Hoo. Jacge Roosevelt.

and recollects visiting Mrs. Stephens twice during her
last illness met sophia Dell ho went in and asked her
how her arnt was"Oh, says she "shes going 70 make
die Of M she ophia) spoke IN very uukind manner
the conduct Of the Misses Bell toward their objected
to and dscussed) unknd; have seen Stephens aud
Sophia Bel together times without number during tho
last twc years.
o Was sophia Bell more anxious to sec Stephens, or
Stephens more anxious 70 see Sophia
Mr. Shaltr objected.
Mr. CrsGpg said it would he remembered TINT SoDhia
and prepcsea srrinrs to her wnc che rcpc,led They
sought 70 contradict that. The jury would nave 10 ei
6rstwss POISON found in the body of Mrs. Stephens:
Tie District Attorney said these matters had bcea
brought by the defence cross examination AMI they
could not, therefore, bring evidence 10 disprove IT,
The Court said the argument was uncaled for.
The witness contnued--lIad known Sophia to be follow
ing after Stephens the past lao hrs; would take long
time 70 state all have Sophia IN the habit of
lettering abou. the church 0bbcs whom Stephens
side have seea her frequently hanging about the door
Sophia to keep away from about the church. and
qucnty did not see her there 81 much tryards tbs
Beli girls very unknd TO their aunt; ju lged
from their conduct outside cauuot state any oar tact
which led me to think than have already STAGED did
mol see deceased have black eye she might have nd
one and not see II.
Cross examined by the District Atiorney-Havc owa
Mrs Stephens and Sophia Belt about three years; have
known Fanny Bell since about year before her aans
death.
At the suggestion of tho District Attorney the Miss,
bell ard their brother allowed TO come into court,
and took seat the counsel for the prosecution. De-
enCo objected admitting part of the witnesses in the
Examin,lon eunt,nued--was at Stephens house twice.
and possibly more, curing the last illness OF Mrs Ste
phens tic last the night before death; don't
recollect VINO there distinctly; Stephens was not
there SOPHIA Bell did then tell her going
10 make de Of IT. her on my first visit; was
than twice; tell how long before
the two visits first referred 10 that Sophia used that
inarkahlc essiou; don't rcnembcr who else at
that tirne; don't think Sophia was laughing when sho
said il be- tone unkind; remember her words dis
tinct,y can't remember 10 whom nave stated those
words, except yourself COUNSEL; certain she did
not the not in tne expression; | have
TO church, think every fair Sunday, and have
Sophia there morning. afternoon and night very gene
rally; would not say every Sunday, but generally;
vas my Guty to Keep tue passages OF the church free
from Obstruction am ono of the trustees have Sophia
in the choir singing have her stand about outside
and leave without going in possibly five times
Sophia Leave the choir before the last hymn Gnished
her lettering about after church; sho
was member OF my Glass; afterwards OF DR..
Monroes cass; Mrs. Stephens lived in houso back
from the street in the habit Sunday afternoons OF
going aront among Sunday school scholars and children
in that vicinity and In passing that house have noticed
ngan ond again Sophia Bell by herself and sophia Bell
with her sister standing the railing ia front the
street. stripped with their necks bare and bonnes OF,
position in which modest young ladies' would not be- their
Sabbath excursions their condu, was not good
have sophia strip of her bonnet and hang in tue
bougis OF tree, and about in very bold manner
there set Of people stephens house well to
be CAPPED y BY modest young women; there Is slaughter
house not lar or never saw inc gs oecSon to any one
was never arrested nor held under any process for
making a fraudulent assignment OF my property.
The Court took recess Cor short time Ga re-assem-
bling $3.50
The District Attorney stated to the Court that had no
objection 70 allowing all the witnesses for the defence
be presr in court during the Farther Investigation OF the
case.
Judge gt oseveh ordered Ill the witnesses to be nd
mitted.
Richard stephens was then examined by Mr. Cashlng-
Resides 10 Twenty third street knows the pri
soner since bis boyhood; was acquainted with him in
ireloct Kew 5s stephens FOR the last five six years.
visited the family frequently: up TO the time Of Mrs.
Stephens death he saw nothing between them bat tho
''height OF friendship; there during her
Illness; never saw her with black eye her after
her death. but did not observe any trace of black eye
Crosse xarnned by NJ. ShaItr--Was Mr. Stephens'
house dozens Of times during the year preceding Mrs.
stephens last Sickness hal brother who boarded there
can't exactly the tine he vas there before Mrs Ste
phens last Illness thore TO his brother upon
private bufness can't say bow long previous to Mrs
stephens illness that h brotner boarded in the house.
might be- three months Previous the time my brotbe
LETT Stevenson factory he LETT FOR Europe; think that
was in October; it was after Mrs. Stephens death;
the. first night i went there Mr. Cardwei
there; Mrs stephens sitting in chair; fhnkslt
was about seyen eight O'Clock Mrs. Stephens intro
duccd 20 Mr.. Uardweli: can't say how long remained
there; cant say whether tho Misses Bell there
think Snss Sophia was Mr. Cardwoii and the prisoner
were SO much engaged in conversation did say
much saw Mrs stephens after her doatb, when she
waGlng,' when she vas " laid out;' | went there
at six and remained Oil night; wcn into her bed
room, where she was laid out; am married man. 2.
Has your wife husband living? A. She has when che
has OaushierD she has not another husband living
am positive there than fgh. in the bed
room the evening Mrs Stephens laid out O. Was
there there not veil over Mrs. Stephcns lace
A.
of thin muslin the corpses face as usual such
occasions.
John stephens examined by Mr. Cashng-Resides at
Stonngton, Conn, and employed on board the Commo
dore, winch 30 Connecticut; nephew
Of the prisoner visited the house Of Mr. Stephens when
my aunt H. cannot give any OF her symptons Miss
Fanny Bel gave her something drink whilst |
there; Mrs. Stephens von1itcd whilst was
I knew size had been subject to vomiting; I boarded
IN the family for nearly twelve months, aooa, four years
prior 20 NJ stephens dcath she came with TO Sto
pngton for c good Of her health she was subject TO
itipu. nno ,u ictltv tho
family whist was there's visited them nearly every
Sunday; know the Miss 5elis. q. We're you ever
and Sopn,f Bel and throw her arms around me
and kissed nc (he remainder of the testimony
tit tor Tubhcaton)
Crossexarincd by the District Asorney-I can't rcco
lect whether spoke 10 any on the occasion; visited
The house ara remained there five hours or not Mrs Ste
phens vetatcd on board the boat her way down to
StoEingto II IL n common thing for person TO throw up
boaro; the August before her death that Mrs
Stephens with to Connecticut never paid any
special attention either the Miss Bells, did tell
either Of them that would be married to only for the
The witness then underwent searching cross oxamna
ton hs statement relative 10 Mss Sophia Bell lie
stated that che could lect,D could he give
on the Vanderbilt Mt the time; 1t was in January
1885, could not say whether the stoningon steamer was
frozen up in the ice that January not.
John Bennett was next examined. Hc worked in Ste
vcnsons factory, knew the prisoner and his wife,
one occasion heard Sophia say to her uncle, "unclc,
you ordered OUT" and he replied Yes, Sophia and
bad good feasen' was there when she came aud said
she wanted settlements ana ncr uncle said no wished 10
have other parties present: Sophia Bc then said that
there present when she gave him tho money
and there occasion for any to be at the settle
ment; speaking OF her brother Robert heard her say
that she hcled he would land can't toll her
s0n for saying
Cfoss.egarnlned by Mr.. shafierI husband Of Isa
bella Bernet heard that she slept with the prisoner
Stephens read ii in the papers, did not feel bad about
IL; did any harm IN 1t; do not love stephens
One prsoner) better than myself; committed
aduYeery with Sophia Bell any occasion, do
70 swear did; was last night at Mrs Humans
of fha
was there; did not speak Of the testimony were
TO give in this case; have not talked with
my wife about my testimony; ] talked with
Mr.. Gushing Counsel for tho prisoncr) In Mrs.
HAnnahs about my evidence do not remember telling
Mr.. Cushing that lay on bed with Sophia Bell.
Mr. Ashnead was about nterrupting the examination,
when
Mr. Shaer saidNow, will not have this, Cor believe
firmly there Ia perjury here. .t-
The Court-ThAt Is not becoming counsel To make such
remarks.
Mr. Ashmcad and Mr.. Gushing protested against the in
summation