The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-09
JERSEY CITY's MYSTERY.
What Bennett Says Of hts Whereabouts
When Omesr Smith was Murdered.

The interest In the mysterious murder OF
Police Officer Richard II. Smith in Jersey City
was as Keen as ever yesterday. Great excite
mont had been created in the city when il was
ascertained that the authorities had discovered
stains supposed to be blood on ono OF BENEFITS
coats The police say that Prof Doremus has
not yet informed them OF the result OF his
analysis OF these spots. 1t seems that Bennett
gave Coroner Rouan an order on Mr. Have
meyer for his trunk When the prisoner was
visited at about noon on Wednesday by his
counsel. Mr.. James Fleming. the latter obtained
from Chief Nathan permission to be present at
the opening OF the trunks and the
examination OF its contents Subsequently
Mr. Isaac Taylor. who represents Prosecutor
McGill during the absence OF that Official. in
structed the chief to exclude counsel and all
others except the Coroner from the room while
the clothing and other articles belonging to
Bennett were being inspected. Mr. Fleming
was very indignant at this. In talk with u re-
porter for THE Sun. yesterday. h" said: Why.
SIR. they have arrested tuis young man, who
seems TO he a most harmless creature. without
q particle OF evidence Of his guilt. They throw
him into II common cell as II he were
one Of tho lowest and most degraded characters
awe. IL" has not been given pillow. mat
days aud nights he has been confined in that
noisomc cell. We hal to purchase Il blanket
for him to-day and understand he will now
a
sci he has coufdcd everything To me. and am
entirely satisfied that he shall h. able to demon
STRAIT" his iunoccnro ana show that he WIS
miles away from Lafayette ut the time of the
murder His uncle. who is u lawyer. having
an extensive practice in northern New YORK
arrived nero this afternoon. and will DO ASSOC
ciaicd with MIR. Rowan IN the defence"
MIR. Fleming and Benefits uncle from Oneida
county called on the prisoner yesterday. Ben
nett tOlI them he was innocent, and fearless Of
tho result He denied that he had boon seen. as
reported, IN Lafayette avenue car ON the night
80 dior nj 4 sattl
avenue on the succeeding night. Mr. Fleming
says Bennett voluntarily gave an order for his
baggage. which the lawyer thinks does not look
IN" the at vi guilty nun who knew there was
blood stained garments in his trunk. Bennett
says he had no letters from Mrs. Smith. but
som" business letters from Smith himself Mr.
flelning thinks there Is no ground for the
charges IF intimacy between Bennett and Mrs
smith. although he docs not doubt that Smith
was jealous ot him. but without cause h, says
bchn'u was member OF Grace Episcopal
Chur'h in Jersey City, and 4 Sunday school
TEACHER. He has wealthy and Influential friends
Mrs smith. the widow Of the officer. IL It'll
confined in the dock room at Police Hcadduar-
trs. guarded by an officer. The symptoms Of
an improvement IN her health. SO FAR as the nys-
terleal alta KS are concerned. have proved illu-
sory. and she II now IN a very wrctchcd con-
dliun. city Physician NArick reports that in
ms opinion her nervous system il rapidly
breaking down under the excitement Of the last
week, and he Us understood to have minated
mat H. she has any confession 10 make 1t
may b., eNpered soon, She is kept
reported II the Chief of foiice. 1t is carrantIy
related IN Jersey city tnGt. while suffering from
Mysteries recently. she exclaimed. stab him
again, Stab him again :" and accompanied her
words with Wild gruturos.
btt" tive BirlsaA las Investigated the story
mat u nncu was seen in a Lafayette street ear.
hui has as'"r,uincd that the man supposed to
have been Bennett WAS about "a yturs 81 uue