Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1873-06-07

PROGRESS OF THE oAsE-TRsTIMoNY ALL IN --AD-
DRESSES OF Council,
Especially reported for the:Commerciall
DOVER, DEL, June 6.
The defence examined one mere witness,
Benz. A. Bennett, who testified that he was pu-
pill of Dr. West. Saw West on Monday of
Thanksgiving week, at Wilmington depot, no.
tced his peculiar conduct, and remarked to a
friend that il West was not crazy he was drunk
Never knew him to drink Saw him again the
next day and he had the same manner.
The defence here rested it's case.
The State then called witnesses in rebuttal
Edward Ridgely recalled Has some curios
tiles that were given to him by friend They
are snakes and fish preserved in alcohol. ex-
hibited.
Gross examination. He never expected 10
start q museum OF them, or to make "a big
thing" out Of them.
VIM. d. Fowler, testified very similarly to Mr..
Ridgely.
Beniah Watson recalled. Had heard OF South
American fortune, but does not know whether
it was when West was addressing his present
wife After the wedding West was at the off o
OF the witness and the witness told him 'all
that game was in order to get the lady" To this
West made no reply in words. but laughed heart
lily. This was after his marriage Has frequent
ly had conservation with West, but has not visit
foe OF the witness. He also visited West in jail
and advised West not to talk 80 much. Does
not recollect what reply West made. West
told witness on one occasion that he had discol-
ored the skin OF Turner with alcohol 30 that 1t
might appear TO be the skin of white man. He
never believed West insane.
Henry r. Bennett has known West since 1862.
or '63 he had some arrow heads and after
wards the arm" preserved in alcohol, also an
old cotfes-mill which he said came over In the
had nfod
some ouriosities. Thought Vests head was
level.
David F. Burton detailed business and other
interviews with West the week OF the homicide.
Never thought him insane
Chas. Culbreth saw him in and about the
hotel thought his mind good.
A, j. Wright, Alex, A. Taylor, John H. Bate
man, all thought West sane So, also John K.
Evans, VIM. E. Smith, David Harrington, Wm.
A Reynolds, VIM @. Fountain, John A. Steven
son, James Cowgirl, and Jno. @. Pennewill.
John Laws, Ga oolored waiter) said Vests
manner of eating was like that OF other people.
Henry O. johnson, Dr. Jos. T. v Blockson,
Albert Cowgirl, and Dr. Isaac Jump believed
West sane, and Deputy Sheriff Irons and ex-
Sheriff Hargadine testified that they had not no
ticed any evidence of insanity in him until after
the interview between him and DR.. Davidson.
The prosecution here closed its case, and the
Oourt took recess.
Upon opening in the afternoon, Deputy At
torney General George H. Bates commenced the
argument on the part of the State. He gave
resume OF the case, and referred to Vests state
ments at different times The strangest part Of
his argument was noticeable Ia the fact that if
he said he killad TurnAr in self-dsfanee. why did
he not. .o9Very way to prevent the deao bodys re-
cognition. and even tried to set fire to the
building. and the powder and coal oil in the
room was to further destroy recognition OF the
dead man. He said also that the line of de-
fence By counsel on the other side Of self de-
fence and insanity were inconsistent with each
other, that Vests plans were 80 successful that
even his brothers came to bis funeral, but
where the schemes Of the devil end the justice Of
God begins" and the fire being put out In
the building that night was the only thing
that defeated the wide-laid plans OF West and
had that house been destroyed by fire West
would not to-hay, have been prisoner in this
Court, but would have allowed his own epitaph to
appear ON the tombstone that would have been
placed above Turner's grave. Every act OF
Vests goes to show the ingenuity OF his plans.
and that there is no semblance of insanity.
The Court adjourned while Mr.. Bates was
speaking. He had spoken for over three hours,
and will resume tomorrow.