The New York herald., 1878-08-08
WILL MURDER QUIT
Latest Rumors Concerning the Jer-
sey City Horror.
MRS. SMITHS HYSTERIA.
Blood-Stained Clothing Said TO Have Been
Found in Bennetts Trunk.

Up 10 late hour last night apparently nothing had
,ranspired that could throw light the mystery
rounding the murder OF omcer Smith in Jersey City.
The police appear to be sill busy the case, and
grow rsticsnt IN regard 10 their progress,
II they have made any. Meantime, the community in
which the shocking tragedy occurred is chahng under
The conjectural knowledge that the perperator OF the
crime has not been confronted with evdie noes Of
his or her guilt. and public meetings are to be nsld
purpose of sing the county authorities 10
n proper sense OF Official functions In the
premises 1t is understood that the horrible manner
In which Smith was killsd has caused such profound
feeling OF In the minds OF some oi the people,
especially timid women living at and In the vicioiy
OF Lafayette, as to prevent them from retiring 10
seep close of the day without one or two OF the
family sitting up guard against any possible mid.
night ASSASSIN.
LETTERS IN covEs TRUNK.
Opinion Is siill divided as to the guilt innocence
Of Covert Bennett who since MS Incarceration seems
TO vie with Mrs Smith in setting seal upon his hps
He s treated with less consideration than the widow
of the murdered man, Notwithstanding that
The police have evidence against him other
Than his reticence. While she has comfortable
room, is visited BIZ the doctors, and Ia allowed TO
ielect her own food three times day, he occupies
noisome cell below and is fed on the common prison
are. 1t will be remembered that when Bennett was
Irraigned on Tuesday Justice DAVIS itled aim 10
lwaSt the action Of the Coroners jury. Had the COM
uitment been made out 10 that way tue prisoner
would have been within the Coroners jurisdiction a
IL is evident that the police authorities do not
intend however, TO lose control OF him, aud accord
ngly it was learned yesterday that the commitment
sy authority OF which he is held states that he IL
committed s'.or further examination" by the magis
trutc who remandsd him. Detective O'Nei yesterday
brought Bcnnctts and othcr effects, including
n black eaIhp bap from IN II o
quarters Mr.. Havemsyer, with whom Bennett had
been living in the last named city, informed the de-
tective that Bennett was In Williamsburg through
put Thursday and Friday OF last week.
D'Nen mad asked him day or two ago
whether Bennett at his (Havcmeyer's)
house on Wednesday night, and Havemeyer
said he pot positive about that he thought Ben
nett was and he would try 10 remember
STARTLING DISCOVERY.
During the afternoon Chief Nathan ard Coroner
Rowan made private examination OF Bearetrs
trunk in the room of the former. The sound
produced BY opening the trunk and bag
aud The taking OF their contents was
perfectly audible in adjoining room, an excIsma-
tion OF surprise heard coming from the room and
1t was evident that some clew had been found. The
dispaiching of officers and the arrival In his
carriage OF prominent physician who was
quickly ushered in the instantly conveyed the
that one OF the soarchers pulled out a well
dark blue English cut away coat on the
lett side Of which we're found number OF
spots varying In size from pins head to inch
and a halt The vest made OF the same material
as the coat, showed similar spots on the lower
cot. he spots mainly the lett side,
and that the side where the dead
derer, judging from the position IN which the CIR
cumstances would indica'e he stood, the police
let Confident that the spots were blood. ana the
bood was that OF Smith. To satisfy themselves
the medical gentI, referred 10 was called and his
settle il beyond a DOUBT tho csst and vest
were wrapped up IN separate pieces of
deis tves each carrying one OF the bundles entered
n carriage and were driven 10 Professor Doremus
residence, in this city, where the stained coat and
isit Tor nalysis
Ano her result OF This search, It 10 understood,
was the finding OF four important letters, and
these we're carefully bound together win red tape
placed in an inuer drawer OF the safe at head.
quarters. 1t was quickly rumored mat tnese docu-
mens uad been written py Mrs. smith, and that tncy
contained the most starting revelations regarding the
murder
A SENSATION
When the carriage OF the physician drove
up the door oil Police Headquarters, 1t was
regarded with the most lively interest by half
dozen press representatives,, whose curiosity was
wheitcd TO q razor edge As Ju 20 Davis followed
the footsteps Of The physic few miu ucs, the
rum . dew quickly tha, mat ofnc,ai aOout TO
Mrs. saith the HUDSON county jan and tnat
tbe carnage sti sauaink at the door was IN en- dea
10 convey thther his had the effect OF gathering
small crowu OF spectators, some oil whom looked ~
A tbey would have risKed clubbing IRON the police
rather than forsgo the grsth. stIoD OF seeing the
woman whom II Is generally believed could tell the
whole story OF the murder he BY standers
uisapi oipted, however, as in lew
minutes Chiet Nathan and Coroner Rowan
each carrying bundle wrapped III newspaper.
came down stairs eDtcrcu the coach together aud
were rapidly driven away as stated.
SPECULATION STILL gIFE
Speculation regard to the IDENTITY OF the mur.
derer Ia still rife among the people, theorists
the same occult subject may os encountered on al
every block. II ~ claimed oy some OF these
that several facts have presented themselves
puOIc consideration which serve TO Indicate
committed, ano that nearly all tho circumstances
KNOW u tend ccnDect Mrs Smith with a knewedgc
o. II not active particpaton 10. 'ne murder yet 20
TAR as positive testimony which would convict the
murderer IS concerned, thers al present little or
more ,aa' n ~ooa s.''n sns ,..s, suas upon
the foio iowing:--suppose that Bennett WAS At
Smiths house 10 company with Mrs. smith on last
Wednesday evening that smith was not expected by
bis wIe TO nome SO early. Al al all; that smith
returning home, as he did, before eleven O'Clock, sur
priseu Mrs. Smith and Bonnet but that Bennett mad
time ma opportunity, which he Improved. to get
cut OF the house and away, without Smith actually
seeing him being able 10 intercept hin; that smith,
on entering or soon alter, and when he was ready TO
retire 10 Ted, discovered signs of some one having
been there, or, for some reason, Commenced a
OF Alternating to beat her, he had
donc on iormcr occasions. and tn,t she IN a
moment OF rage aud fear. perhaps IN seli.deience
svzed the nrst weapon at hand, the iron weight or
bar, snd struck the fret deadly blow, and then. IN
psrOxysm of hyserical passion, rapidly completed
the murderous work. On this tneory Mrs smith
alone Is guilty OF the MURDER and Bennett 10
clear OF that crime, but he mad .oeen lDere,
aud that will sufficiently explain why he refuses
tell where he that fatal Wednesday evening.
II s known, Mr. Hsv emeysr says so that Bennett
NJ at Havemeyer's mouse IN Williamsburg thut
kvening. although he there on several
evenings previous sucs. where Ben
uett that evening up TO eleven o'cockf IL he
Smth's hsuse Then there ~ both an
explanation Of tue supposed quarrel between smith
anu vile, aud a ivr benDctrs retcencs ns
10 his Whereabouts o. ttst time. he cansot at
teny TO prove an a5i without satisfactorily account
log for The whole yeriOd O tine, "Wednesday svening
aud night spd g. here supposed.
That wtb00t lssdns up 70 an explanation OF
his relations a. Mrs smitB, and OF what presuma
bly, Iollonss bis prsseuce there, wbetner that was
actually ciscorersd by smith or ODy suspected. Now
TO retutn 70 ibe scene oi tue marder snd to Mr..
smith II do tue kiiisg as supposed, in ft of
uucopttollable Lassion whIcb would account
Tor the borribis anu needless hacking aud