The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-09
NO LIGHT YET.


POLICEMAN SMITHS MURDER STILL YELLED IN
MYsrERY-THE PRISONERS CHEERFUL BUT
BET1cEST-sN INQUEST TO BE HELD TO-DAY.
The Jersey City tragedy aid not assume any new or
remarkable phase yesterday. Although eight days
have passed since the murder OF O1icer Smith II Is
extremely doubtful whether the police authorities
have succeeded in obtaining any ciew that would
lead tho discovery OF the guilty party. For the
time being pubic attention seems to have been with
drawn from Mrs. Smith, the widow Of the Inflated
policeman, aud directed toward Covert Bennett and
the probability OF his connection with tho CRIME or
Otherwise. BY his extraordinary GOODNESS anu SELF
Possession this apparently harmless young man. OF
slightly "stagy" propensities, has since his sdrrcn-
dering himself proved 10 tho police stumbling
block. In his comfortess cell he whistles, huns
sratches OF operate music, orders his "beefsteak
and coireor with the airs and condescension OF u
prince but he will not advance hairDreadtn
in the direction Of ''giving himself away. \"
Aud yet, apart from his suspicious refusal
10 account for himself ut the time
the murder was committed the case looks badly Tor
Bennett His well known intimacy with the wife OF
the murdered and tho positive allegation that he
was scon on Lafayette car between and eleven
O'Clock on the night ofthe tragedy place him IN
serious position The fact that tho sush weight used
IN crushing the skull OF Smith brought from Ben
nets house that OF the deceased less than three
ago is also put forward unlavorable incl
Dent
BENEFITS yRIgyps.
An uncle OF the prisoner arrived in Jersey CITY
yesterday, from his home in Oneida county, in THIS
State. THIS gentleman, who is represented 10 DO oss
respectable and in aifluent circumstances, u. once
engaged the services Mr. James Femming. lawyer,
10 protect the interests OF his nephew ut the
Coroner's inquest, which takes place this evening.
Bennett in his cell yesterday aud renamed with
him about twenty minutes On being askc subss-
quently oy HERALD reporter as 70 ne suosIancs .,
strongly asserts his innocence OF any completely IN
the cr aud satisfactorily explains his Whereabouts
the night the murder was committed put ina.
viii be lett be brought out on tho trial should
Bennett be indicted, It having no connection,
counsel gays, with this case ono thing
being absolutely certain, that he not ut
Smiths house. Mr. Flemming mas every confidence
In benefits statement, aud believes that he knows
no.h ny about the murder and, what Is most singu-
lar confident that he will be able TO prove That no
criminal intimacy as has been alleged sver existed
between Bennett and Mrs. Smith; tnat Smith never
hao any suspicious against Them, but that the
stories had their origin altogether In outside gossip
Cniel Nathan anu himself that he should be present
at the examination OF Benefits cHcs on their arr-
val from WILLIAMSBURG out that MT. Nathan .Issr-
stating as reason that he had been legally ADVISED
10 have the examination conducted privately.
WHAT LAWYER THINKS
The lawyer looks upon tins as an Unfair advantage
taken OF MS CLIENT who he snys has thing fear
from the scrutiny marks said have been dis
covered on soma articles OF clothing found IN Ben
nett,s trunk Counsel said that the treatment of
Bennett was disgrace to Jersey CITY, He lies
in that SIX by cell, no said, without q
BLANKET to cover him anything TO separate
him from the boards, which are MED with
vermn. He added II Is an outrage
To keep him So and that his friends had TO buy
blanket Tor nm yesterday afternoon. He Is re-
spectacle young man, counsel SAID, and should NOT
be treated us common hummer HIS relatives IN
tho anterior oil this StAte, ho remarked arc all re-
Dec "a bic, and the blow taat has fallen upon them
has Frustrated Benefits grandmother and also his
sister both OF whom are now lying dangerously Ill
Mr.. Fismming expressed his beiief In ths innocence
Of Mrs. Smith .t $40 g...,ag.
MRS SMITHS APPETITE
Should the Coroner's inquest result IN verdict
against one or both Of the prisoners the
be- presen ted TO the Grand Jury until next month, as
nat body viii not SIT until then The house where
The murder committed is still under guard and no
person is allowed 10 enter Bennett sent Tor dctcc
Ave Wednesday evening and chaited for nearly
half hour ABOUT dents III his past lilo, but made
auslon whatever to the terrible suspicion on which
ne IL held. So tar as ~ known Mrs. Smith has not
vet secured tho services OF counsel Yesterday
morning she complained OF feeling very fesbs. and
when Warden Mclaughlin inquired what she would
ike lor breakfast she oruered lamb chops For DIM
she selected chicken potpe, and III The evening
she had sliced peaches, "a pot oil tea and somo cake.
Although Chef Nathan statos That Mrs smith % APP.
petite IL very poor the Warden informed reporter
that her appetite is excellent 1t was stated last
evening thai prominent criminal lawyer has been
as her counsel. NNi