The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-17
THE ALLEGED WIFE POISONING.
Court OF Oyer and Tsrminer.
Before Hon. Judge Roosevelt.

camp meeting the hrst time 1t before dinner-the
second time in the afternoon saw Fanny and Sophia Bell
and william Knox there once; Samuel Cardwel came in
while there; Mr. Stephens read the letter about hs
wifos dying from drunkenness TO me in my house. aud
talked with the girls about it, did not hear either of
say they wrote IL the letter said she drank quart
OF quart gin day and that her brother bought
her silk dress 10 induce her to quit drinking the Misses
Bell did nc. deny writing the letter my presence they
did not say "James stephens, that Of your old
ficks guehs the Misses Bell know best what became
OF Mrs Stephens clothing after she died. had some of 1t
on in court eserday my daughter Isabella had some Of
II on Also we got II from trunk OF stephens.
After some other intcrrvgutorics were put,
Mr. Ahnsad objected the tone OF tho questions put by
bis pocket II were tho oicia presentation Of govern
mcnt II would be different cuse.
Sir. Shelter said ho must quit the cas- lies his insult
could be answered by exact stat Gent vi lis
ton with The
Mr. sodgwick Assistant District Attorney stated that
D Sh0er solicited to take the by three
sivc District Attorneys.
The discussion was continued for Some tme but wa !
finally checked by tie Court.
Witness rfocecded--I did not my brother give Mrs.
Stophens any drink did not testify before Coroner
did Tot testify that what Mrs. Stephens vomted vel
low, green and other coors.
Direct ,esuned-Mrs Stephens was always troubled
with hcaviog other stomach aud cosveness; sne had
son OF her eye; was II mldy A. Yes, sir. Ny husband
bought arsenic twice at Dr. Cadmus and ia Twenty
third street, Second avenue; Stephcus
give his wife any incidence asked him for drink Of
milk and waier. which he gave her.
requesed her husband to lie and order
her that lie ad laid downyon brought bib boots and put
them at her bedsaeg A. Yes, sir was after night time
ho bed be lay the BED in the outside room;
covered BIN up; lac Did not dndress; ten minutes
two ocIoce when Mrs. Stephens died; the clock was
considered 10 &c correct
habea Bennett sworn, and examined by Mr.. Gushing
52 Thirty third street, my ands na me 10
John Benpoit niece Of tie defendant and daughter
Of Mrs inah; have been the habit Of visiting the
house of Tue defendant frequently was there durug her
hast sjcsnees she was two weeks confined IN nor he'd
foral Eng rOu tlc unc1a bafar
her Death upt the Tuesday Sue died there all the
time, day and night, that week my aiu sent for and
desired 10 stay there unt got better TO 90 OF
errsnds and co thugs Zoe her sne Complained pain
her chest and that nothing would stay her stomach
and also pain the sdo OF her mock Stephens
otor breakfast and was 10 and out the day OF her DEATH
y during tpc week you there, did you sec any
medicine administered 70 ner saw Fanny Bell give
her o~def-thae all; she asked for drinks and she
occasionally set what ehe called for; her some
fummery which Fanny Bell N ado; she crank buormik,
&c gave Der glass OF lager Dier once; my uncle
brought, aad handed it me, and put glass
and gave 70 her; after sho woad take those drinks she
would remain fifteen twenty minutes and half hour
sometimes, before she woud throw il of; / cannot
say what ste cat in particular: she cat FUN
she eat Of it; she was SICK after 1t; the child eat
of and she was sick also Fanny, too, was sick, but
not that cay; she the closet another day
and got cod cabbage; she md ate of Off the DISH
and then drank some buttermik after IL she and
both tck IN the sonach after that Fanny not sick
any other day the child only sick the day she
eat the fummery went home on Tuesday about four
that nothing would stay on her stomach she not
drowsy; she did complain Of nurlbness did not
tce auythrg unusual about her arms had no
darrhra; he costve and rad got nections she
did complain Of deafness; ncrer any have
occasion 10 wake her. never heard hor complain Of cold
in the feet iiuDs her Tuesday get out OF
bed herself but she had to get assistance to get in she
used her hands to get in the bed she kept her hands
quiet heard her complain Of any redness before
her eyes she had black oy her lips swollen;
they seemed 10 be natural good looking woman,
fair complexion and young LOOKING for her age O. Did
Mr. gtNDhQ home In day
before her death any laudanum? A. NO, sir was in the
house al that day to four O'Clock except gong to the
water and he could not have her anything
without knowing IL; did not Mr. Stephens 60
the clock that day and take anything out ot when left
her she asked me would | cone back that night aud
! sad no. would the morning did notice
any change hsr before went away recolcct my
beng about two years before she died; she
pained in The same way and vcmited good DEAL long
as have known her she has been subject 10 throwing of
father when the arsenic purchased and know
thing about 1t; never saw any thing ia the conduct OF
Mr. Stephens towards bis wife that created any suspicion
IN my mind my opportunities the house such that
anything Of the kind occurred should have noticed it,
they always lived together happy couple as long as
tween them: know VIM Knox O. Did you ever see him
in or on or about the bed whore the Bell girls
A. Yes sir OBJECTED to by Mr. Shafer as collateral
matter wing no connection with this case but occurring
a long time after the death Of the deceased.)
The Court ut first blush would consider this collateral
Issue, but be thought best to admit II.
Witness oonLuec-About four or five months after the
death Of my went my unce's house to TO
there wheo came back saw Fanny and Sophia Boil
undress aud 60 bed they left the rocking chair
in the sitting room; my uncle and his little girl were
in their bed; / saw wr Knox take or his
boots in the sitting room and 20 into tho bed
where the girls were ho got into bed near the wall next
sswhy DID not 60 bed;' said "where could go' he
said there and sleep with him, and Bella and did
60: did not any moro Of Knox-he was gone in the
morning. o. Did he get into the bed or lay the
side Of M A. He got into bed and lay lenghways just
they did saw him; there was another time saw him in
time; after supper uncle and VIM. Knox said in joking
manner "tAat they we're going to see their giris;'
Fanny said TO me TO get my hat and shawl and to
follow them; Fanny and followed them up far
Twenty hiId street, to my mothers; wo got there
them any further; we homo, and they homo
in eoou, az hour after when we heard them come in
Fanny said 10 me- 'lsabella won't you get under the bed
until they go bed hear what they say" did 80;
got under the bed they talked about some little matters,
but said nothing OF where they had been in about
hour william Knox got out Of the bed aud went into the
grs bed when he got into the bed Sophia camo OUT and
William anc Fanny remained in the bed together Sophia
Knox out Of Fanny's bed and Sophia went back
FanDy's bed VIM. Knox went into my uncles bed again;
then got ont from under the bed and went to sleep with
Fanny and Sophia.
Tie Court-Do understand you to say that you went
TO bed on one occaron and slept with your unces A.
10 Mr. Ashmesd.-My uncle was undressed; he Law on
the outside Of the bed and lay on the other side OF Bella
had frequently slept with my unco and aunt.
Cross eXamincd.-I viii be twenty-five years OF age
next April; am four months married. did not testify
tho Coroners Jury. at Bellevue Hospital; did testify
anything about scrubbng Of the oor of Stephens house
after the death OF his wfo tosbed about Mt ste.
phens' house q Arc you the Isabella Bennett that
at Mr.. Ashuead's houscy A. never at Mr.. Ash.
meads hose q Had you, last sunday evening, any
conversation with Bella Stephens A. Not particularly
with her but ---
Mr. ShaGer-That is all. Mr. Ashnead insisted that
the witness had right to explain. Tho Court ruled.
Wtness--rhe whole family were IN the when the
conversation going on, and the little girl standing
by my knee.
To Mr.. sbaier--I slept several times with Stephens
and my aunt; can't tell how often; when would 60
there at night my aunt would mako me stay all
night; slept with stephens my aunt died
but that night with him and Bella q. Why did you
siayf A. II WAS too late to 60 homo. Q. Why did you
stay until too later A. went there to stay all
night Is not unusual thing for niece sleep with
her uncle about two months before the girls oft
Stephens house that / got under my unce's bed; he
and Knox coming up the stairs when got under the
bed; saw my uncle uudrcss and get into bed; did not
scream made noise at all stephens bed was In tho
room where my aunt died; Fanny and Sophia's bod
In little tho sitting room facing tho street