The New York herald., 1878-09-14
THE Billings MURDER.
Terrible Testimony of the Daughter
of the Prisoner.
AN IMPRESSIVE SCENE.
A Strange Story of Domestic Quanels
and Jealousy.
[BY rELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.1


BALLsroS, N Y, Sept. Is. 1873
fne Billings murder trial to-day abounded in In
cdenls sufficient satisfy the most inordinats lover
Of the sensational events In real lie. The court
room Tor two hours prior to the commen cement OF
The proceedings was crowded with early arrivals,
most OF whom had taken the pre- caution OF bringing
their lunches with them, so as TO render their tenn
porary absence from the court room and thus Jeop-
Ardzing the security Of their seats unnecessary
Among these anxious attenaants were number oil
ladies, who not only were provided with refresh
ments but also with opera glasses, SO anxious were
they to be observants OF the minute change of
countenance OF the leading persons in this trial Tor
murder.
PRINCIPAL WITNESS.
Al bali past nine O'Clock there considerable ex
csement created when Jennie Billings the daughter
Of prisoner called to the Witness chair by the
prosecution. Her appearance Instantly siencod tho
buxs OF that had been going on previous
to her arrival for the hours and half during
which her examination continued this tension OF anx
Ious listening sustained. Tho young lady has
some pretensions beauty aud has rather masculine
expression, Is tall, with figure extremely we'll pro-
portoned. Her demeanor and her answers TO the
questions Of counsel indicated that she was fairly edu-
Gated. She appeared to realize that her position as
the principal witness against her father on trial
for his life was an awiully responsible one,
and this feeling made itself manifest before
she had completed her testimony. She was
attirsd In the deepest mourning, which contrased
finely with a clear fresh complexion. Her eyes were
studioIsly kept downcast her words were carefully
considered and deliberately uttered. Her testimony
terrible revealed her hatred OF her ather and
produced q desire to turn ones eyes away from her
ana listen only to the damaging evidence she was
uttering against her parent. This created profound
shudder in court. SO intense was her apparently
unnatural desire TO damage the prisoners case that
the prosecuting counsel were obhged to check her
frequently.
THE CROSS EXAMINATION
General Hughes conducted the cross-exam inaton,
auring which Jennie wcpt several times. He suc-
ceeded in causing her to thoroughly contradict her
SELF and then she complained OF feeling ILL swooned
and Tell int the arms of the District Attorney, who
carried her from the court room. She conveyed
into adjoining apartment and seized with bysteria
during which blood flowed from her head, probably
from excitement A physician was summoned,
and the young lady placed in carriage, to which
carried seemingly insensiDle, by her relatives
una conveyed 10 tue hoteL
THE PRISONERS ATTITUDE.
When Miss Jennie iirsI took seat IA the chair Mr..
Bnlings turned his char around, sitting with his
haDds, as though desirinsto smut out the sound of
her voice. Bings' father, hale old village ply
stefan almost eighty years OF age who has constantly
accompani the iuto tho court room, trembpgly
laid his hand on the prisoners shoulder and with
broken voice remarked, Never mind, Jesse, never
mind, persuaded by otners." Tne pris-
greatly excited, put presently changed his
attitude looked squareiy at the young lady as sne
continued 10 condemn him. When she retired faint-
ing from the room he savagely muttered, "Oh! that's
ala put Oh"
THE TESTIMONY
Jennie Billings Testified as iollows:-I am eighteen
years old; Was In the sitting room with my mother
when sue was injured; when my mother shot
Was sitting ut one window, tho other the cur
tam 10 her window was raised; the curtain al tho
WerQ It.
window; after the shot was heard ran out OF tho
side door and screamed Murder ~! l am
very sighted; when at the front door
! was very iaint ana 1 thought / saw man's
hat just above the lumber pile; was very much ex.
cited; know OF difficulty between my father and
mother ali through my hie ior eight years my iather
ana mother slept separately; my mother always oc-
stars sometimes, off The sitting sometimes up
stairs my iather usually occupied another room of
In 1878; remember a conversation between my
father and mother about some kerosene about
,iather haa placed beaciothes against her room
door fire; she called several times 10
the house; she wanted to scream; he would nos iet
her; told her 70 Keep SILL, when he toOk hold OF
her; said he had set the house on Ore TO get the
Insurance money, 81 900; sne said he was Trying 10
burn her up; she said, "W hat would Jennie have
said II she had come nome ana found her mosher
At this juncture Miss Jennie burst out crying, and
It several minutes before she could recover sui.
GENTLY To testify She continued My father asked
ber for money she gave and sad, "You have
new got my $900;' have heard her repeat this all 70
my father; heard her say something about chloro-
form In my presence she sad he had put something
bodciothes and ner hands she got up and
went TO her door and caught her breath three
times: she then went 10 my room; there she
saw his shadow; she SAID he was trying
TAX .aSe n ,ha e Inc balance Of eams ass night, sns
has spoken 10 me often about the chiorolormngi re-
turned home permanently on the last OF April IN
1877. since that time have been home most oil the
time whom she charged him with trying 10 XIII her
with kerosene do not remember what ne said do
not recollect what be said when sho accused hin oi
having choroiormcd her.
MRS CURTIS THE WHIPPING.
renomber his having whipped her that was In the
day time last spring; tnat trouble started from
aliusion to Mrs. Curtis, a woman who lived III some
bank; was not present, but was IN tho next room;
my mother ran from the dining room into The Suing
room, where was; my mother was running. very ex
citedy, my father alter her. very aDgriy before she
could get closed he Kicked bor; it was hard
blow; he appeared very angry, she locked tne door
10 let her alone: he told to stop my noise; he
fhen went out; Mrs Gurus moved INTO the bank last
1aii; there was conversation between my mother
aud father about Mrs. Gurus; my mother objected TO
her living thore; he repued Mrs Gurus was decent
woman he should stand by her; my mother said
that Mrs Curtis was not a respectable woman have
heard them converse about Mrs. Curtis Ike that a
great many times; l DO not remember how many
times but they occurred quite often havo heard them
talk about Mrs. Curtis having sued my mothcr Ior
siandor; was not at home when tho Kerosene nse
beside her door there was quite place burned and
biackencd he talked 10 mo about sending my mother
to the Insane Asylum that was this spring, htto
girl, named Mary Lynch VINO hved IN tue house,
came into the room; no said u l had any influence
my mother he wished could talk TO per ne
SAID she had TO the Rev Mr. Ford ana would
ruin his bus,aess told hm 10 Get RID OF Mrs Curtis;
he said that Mra Curtis would sue her ior
siander and recover $1,000; no said If
I would swear thai crazy no would no, have
10 pay snlt did not he said he would send the
clerks away board aud woold send school and
close the house: no said he onght 10 be drowned;
SAID AZ ything ever happened TO my mother
would spend The last dollar bring him TO justice;
4 uour remember anything more; this occurred Ia
February last; l remember nearing of a difficulty
bos ween my father ana mother In the store; she
1howe cd me her arms whion black and bius
ACCUSED MURDER.
The night OF tho murder l remember my fatncr
somlng Into the house; accused ham oi the murders
4 said to him, Three times ana QUIZ was cou-
siderabIy excited don't remember ~hat eiso said
10 hun: 1 have received tho letters produced.
WORK AwAl. BEcKIK."
1 remember an occurrences sst spring when my