The New York herald., 1878-09-18
THE BILLINGS MURDER.
Yesterdays Proceedings at
the Trial.
MRS. CURTIS IN COURT.
"Sharp Darts" from a Mother-
in-Law.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. I

bALLsroS, Sept. IL, 1878
When the Judges gavcl descended on his desk this
morning fully three. ourhs OF the spectators in the
court room were ladies. The widespread interest in
the fate OF Jesse Billings, Jr. the peculiar character
OF the evidence and tho no,orety some of the wit
nesses havo obtained, has caused the proceedings In
this trial receive considerable attention at Sara
tega, which s but eight miles away, aud daily some
OF the stylish equpases from that place draw up In
front OF the Court House and loiter about while the
wealthy occupants resort to the court and
listen for a while to tho testimony Of witness or
scan the principal characters through ivory pearl
covered opera glasses. -
Mrs. Curtis, a lady whose namo has been so often
mentioned during tho trial, came inte court this
morning escorted by her husband and took seat
near the stand among the other witnesses. She Ia
unquestiouably the shrewdesi momber of her house
hold as we'll the controlling spirit thereof She Is
what may be called rather u pretty young lady,
tweuty.three years of age, but looks considerably
younger. She was attred in good taste, and her
dress Of greater coslliness than sawaler's
wife usually wears. jaunty hat, literally trimmed
surmounted her head, Cd the front OF which were
several we'll kopt French puhs OF artificial
hair pretty azure oIue SILK aress, aeco.asea ,'a
meath fashionable gray cloak 10 which was attached
cape with pink surface that was thrown carslessy
back on both sides, revealing we'll formed hgurc.
II Mr. Billings did become infatuated with hcr, as
alleged by some, he probably was encouraged to do
by one Of the comeliest ladies to be found IN Q
hamlet Of such limited proportions as NortnumUer
land. At the time OF The murder OF Mrs. Billings rs
Curtis conducted herself with confident and self.
possessed manner She was unaffected Dy the unvcr.
sal gaze OF the spectators that was ccntrod her
when her presence became known 20 the audience.
The lady cooy returned stares of the demonstra
tive bohoder and then soted her vision toward the
Judge, though totally Indifferent to the attentions
bestowed on her.
BILLINGS IN GOOD HUMoR.
Jessie Billings, Jr., looked very good naturcd whom
hnn In vnul - o0Ahh -
handshake all around. Hc wore low oxford tie shoes.
pink stockings and new SUIT OF dark diagonal cloth
black Decktie and wide RIBBON for watch cham that
was fashionable twenty-five years ago, to which no
probably became attached when young man.
NOTABLE WITNESSES
Tho most notable persons In tho witness chair to-
day were Mrs Harris mother oi the Murdered
woman, and o little girl ten years OF age Tho lady
Is pas, sixty, and anlfestcd temper that stamped
ber OF tho severe type OF provorbla mothers-n-
law. While in the chair she INDUCED IN verbosity
that confused the counsel on both sides. She related
with tho utmost cooness conversation between her
self and the prisoner on the afternoon before the
murder that was replete with mutually insulting
erithets. Tho ttle GIRL Lizzie Hall, proved the most
explicit ana unwavering wi,ness winch the adro,t
General Hughes has encountered yet as a cross-ex-
aminer. The Judge stated that mis- experience had
shown such witnesses TO be the most truthful OF ALI
because Tree from prejuaices
TESTIMONY.
Tho 1rst witness sworn for the people was Samuel
Phio, the aberer about the Billings house PRIOR 10
the murder, ana who many thought would be
nam ed as possible accessory TO the crime. SUCH,
defense deferred their oross-examinatlon. His
dence follows: i remember the shooting OF
staid AT Mr. hammond's that night; was at MIR.
Hammonds during the afternoon; was there at sun.
down. look supper therc at six O'CLOCK; next went
to bed; do not know what time went TO bed;
don't know how long alter supper; did not leave
the house that night; l first beard OF the
shooting next morning; l was at the
Billings house the night OF the murder aud the night
after; tho night after Mr.. Billings and Maggie Ma
honey mad talk, which 1 overheard; tho SUBSTANCE
of the conversation this: He asked what all
them folks were there for; she said, ''l sent Tor
who fired the snot hit the one he intended IL Tor;
Maggie told him he ought not 10 have kept Mrs. Cur.
us there, because u made 80 much trouble "a lhe
cared for him or his money; l spoke 10 him about
her terrible death he said 1t was easy dcath to die
that the murder undoubtedly on Mrs Curtis &C.
count, but what had been doue could not be undone;
Maggie made the remark that the moro she thought
OF II the more she thought the shot was meant for
her lie rephed. "On no. Maggie, was not meant for
The one VINO killcd;'' Maggie tolo him tina; he
had done bad job when he went over TO the Har-
rises; he replied, "That 10 so; did not know that
this going TO happen; she said that 1t was ION
their account that this happsned;" Mr BILLINGS re-
Piled ''Whst Is done cannot now be undone;" In
April l was there and she showed me through the
house; Mr. Billings was away In New York or some-
where else.
A discussion then arose about the admission Of cer
tam testimony and the Court decided that IL was la.
EvipExor OF MRS BILLINGS moras.-
MRS. Mary Harris, the mother oil tue murdered
woman, was tho ncxt witness. She said 81 Am tho
motner OF Ars. Billings; my husband died IN 1862;
OF properly sold, and tho children took
their shares, as they had mind to; think the de.
81, 200 al another; | remember the night that my
daughter was shot; the Same afternoon MIR.
Billings came TO my house; mrs Biinngs naa
iuch long; whsn sbe received that mark they had
lived together four years. they lived together twenty
Iour years; he reached my house on the day OF the
murder little before noon; he had not been there
before for about years. lived about three miles
from him; he asked mo to take her away,
that he did not want her there, that she
wa, was an injury 70 his ousness; ! sa,a ne would on,
.ii Eliza 2 and Jsnns; v., lie saa % Senn. aoIIsq Ms9:
/ asked hun why he aavo Mrs. Curtis $50 to COM
mence tho slander SUIT against Ehzt; he said Gurus
would come TO him and take 81 200 damages;
asked him why he choroformed her whom she was
asleep; ne said. "Auntie what snarp darts they go
through me like arrows" said, 81 am not your
aunt % asked what he trica TO burn her up Tor
by setting hro TO tho clothes snd bedding that he hsa
saturated w"n ksrosene WI ss rp"in eo,
livo with him; be said she had stoned the bank ana
should not come TO with all her troubles; ABOUT
the marks on her forehead he simply SAID, "More OF
those sharp darts-they so through mo like arrows"
then he said, "You have got me where the hair 10
shcrt;' replied. That shows your guilt - he GOV.
his iace then no said Eliza woaId DIE IN an in-
sane told a he would a,s 10 .ms ssa:
he was there about an nour ana halt
LITTLE GIRLS STORY.
Lizzie Hail. bright little girl VI ten years, was the
fact OF the above conversation between Mr. Billings
and Mrs. Harris. the defence Thought the glri mao
been drilled IN her testimony, ana occupied tnres
hours in trying 10 break down her story. but the
child seemed exceptionally bright and sharp witted,
aud General Hughes classed her as tho "knettest
witness Of them all" sne was asked sy the Court II
aDy one had told her what TO cay, aud she promptly
replied, "No, sirp She SAID that while BILLINGS was
visiting his othcr-n-law he had grin on MS lace
all the timc ana she never him act so before Shc
also stated that Billings told Mrs Harris that some
OF her relatives were as much above nor as 1oa u
ABOVE the ndiaDsp .
Mrs. Harris was recalled and cross-cx mined. In
the course OF which she said 81 thinK my daugn'er
was married twenty Two years ago last January;
heard OF my daughters death ten minutes aiter ~
occurred; hurried down to the mouse; made no
note OF tho time; the day ne came 10 my mouse tod
MIN knew a man who kept oombustibes In ,pis
house ana cut his own throat. aud that he would
was a member ol my churoh ne said 1
ought to 20 and talk with Ellzi; sho was
hurting his busiuvss, aud he wished would take
her away: when heard OF his trying TO chiorotorn
her ina burn her up, believed IL; when he married