The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-07
JERSEY CITY'S TRAGEDY.
How the Man Suspected OF Numbering Oneer
Smith Came to Surrender Himself

Covert ID. Bennett, who surrendered him
self to the Jersey City police on Monday after
noon. and who is suspected OF completely in the
murder Of Police Oflcer Smith. was arraigned
before Justice Davis, In the Second Jersey City
District Police Court yesterday. in tho presence
OF an audience composed entirely of officials
and reporters He Is twenty one years " age.
and has quiet and subdued appearance. He
is about five feet seven inches in height His
features are regular. and his complexion is
light. He wore dark blue flannel suit. Byron
collar. and heavy silk scarf After he had
taken the seat that on the previous morning had
been occupied by Mrs. Smith Justice Davis in
quired his name.
Covert d. Bennett" replied the prisoner. in
voice the peculiar. scpuchrnl tone Of which
corrcspondcd with his gloomy appearance.
Then he repeated it. slowly spelling out his first
You are charged here" said tho Justice
with completely in the murder OF Richard II.
Smith. What do you plead -
Bennett merely replied in the same monot-
onous voice. | am not guilty"
Have you any statement to make 2" asked
-" None. answered the prisoner
He was then held for the Coruner's jury.
Ii is asserted in Jersey Cuy that Bennett sur
rendered only alter ne was convinced mat ms
capture WIS inevitable. The detectives had NJ
! the beginning ~ thor search u-'eriuin"d that
Bennett WAS serretcd somewhere In Williams
Hnvrmeycr in Broadway. Willinnshnrsh, owed
Bennett : mother who j. dead. $500. the balance
due on mortgage. She had repeatedly sent
Cove - over TO HaVemcyrr's t. collect the
money and the debt seems to have given both
families cons iderahlc annoynn 80. Detectives Me-
| Hornry AMI O'N"il went to WllliHmsburgh. and
| on Monday afternoon found HHNcmpYtr's store.
! Benefits uncle had said that Cove " was
| working in "A candy mandatory In Brook lyn.
| II WAS also known that for some time previous
To tho murder he had been living with III" per-
son who was indebted To- his mothers rstnte.
| and board pg ont" the debt. The detectives
| inquired ~ Mr. Hayrmsyer Tor Mr. X ng-lHnd.
| the name hy which Bennett was known on the
| stage. Hnyemeyer said Mr. X ingsland was ont.
| but would hr in soon While the detectives were
| talking IN the street Bennett and HHV-meyer
| quilted the store together. An hour later Have
| meyer returned alone. Approaching McHorney.
| Havemeyer handed him a copy Of the Jersey
| City argus. containing an account OF the arrest.
men. your man has given himself up. and is
| now in the custody Of the Jersey City police."
| He added that whom Mcli nrney first entered
| his store he recognized him rs detective. and
| had purunscy mislcd him. lio informed Ben.
nett that lis capture was certain II he remain d
| in the house any longer. and that II arrested
| individually IL would damage his case. where
| AS II he freely surrendered himself It would be
material assistance 10 him At his trial.
Mrs. smith continues To- occupy tho dock
| room. while Bennett is confined in a cell. Mrs
Smith = hy-terical attacks have decreased In
frequency and violence
CoronerS l.ouan and Crane are to hold the in
quest next Friday evening in the County Cour'
House.
Additional excitement was caused in Jerse,
City yesterday by the rumorcd finding VI th'
! hlood-sttu"d niEhtgown worn by Mrs Snlti
| on the night uf the murder. II IL snid 10 have
been found hidden away in thu chimney, ana O.
b. now IA tic possession VI District Auoruel