Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-06-19
DOOMED.

f Sentenced to te HANGED for tho Mt.rder of
Her Husband:
New: York Special June 81 TO Cincinnati En-
quirer.
There is real and deep seated excitement
in jersey City to-day over the sentence to
death at the hangman's hands of Mrs. Jennie
Smith and Covert D. Bennett, for the murder
of Mrs. Smiths husband. The case has ex-
cited great interest from the first. Both
prisoners are young, Mrs. Smith being under
thirty, and Bennett just over twenty. They
had been much in each others company,
end were confessedly guilty of illicit love
before the tragedy. Smith was fonnd dead
in his bed, his body mutilated with wounds
made by knife and bludgeon.
On the trial Mrs. Smith adhered to the
story told by her on the morning of the dis
covery, and averred that she had found her
husbands dead body by her side ON awaken
ing from stupor which she believed to
have been caused by chloroform admins
tered in her sleep. The State proved no
material fact inconsistent with this story,
Bennett proved that he entered horse car
in that part of Jersey City in which Mrs.
Smith lived, at nine O'Clock on the night of
the murder, and went to the ferry. A young
man, fellow actor, who knew him we'll, saw
ater, which was on his way to his boarding
house in Williamsburg. fellow boarder,
a lady, swore that she admitted him before
midnight, and he went to his room. He
met other inmates of the house at break
fast. Bennett, learning by the newspapers
that he was suspected of this foul murder,
awaited, as he AYERS, for several days to see
whether the real murderer should be arrested.
Then he gave himself up.
Bennett was not shown to have. been an
associate of the idle or the vicious. On the
contrary, he was sentimental, church CO.
ing youth of twenty years, fond of literary
exercises, defamation and debates, which
taste led him to adopt the stage as profess
sion. It was upon the allegations contained
in letter written by Bennett to Mrs. Smith
that the Judge charged strongly for YER
dict of guilty. In it their guilty love was
plainly to be inferred. Most persons believe
that ono or both of them were guilty access
series, but the testimony was very fimsy,
and the verdict was q surprise.
The scene in the court room this morning
beggars description. Each car brought
crowds as early as seven o'clock, while scores
walked to the court h1use, not few bring
ing children with them. A detachment of
police and all the court officers were on duty
| in and around the two buildings, and it was
| with the utmost difficulty that they succeeded
in preventing fatal crush when the door to
the court room was thrown open. Then a
grand rush ensued for front seats, the
women struggling with the multitude of
men. Dresses were torn and >bonnets were
smashed, but this was forgotten in the ex-
element. Ten minutes after the doors
were opened not even standing space was to
be obtained. Above the din could be heard
the smothered curses of men and cries of
women. Eventually. the latter were extri-
Gated from their uncomfortable situation
and were escorted to the gallery at the
front.
When Judge Knapp took his place on the
bench, a deep stiffness prevailed throughout
the room. The prisoners and their escort
walked slowly to the Enclosure. Mrs. Smith
leaned heavily on the arm of the officer
Bennett walked firmly and eyinced a deep
earnestness of manner. He, too, was
dressed in black. When they sat down Mrs.
Smith was weeping, and her head dropped
| as if she was on the point of faiuting.
Jennie Smith, stand up" The prisoners
instantly arose, Mrs. Smiths counsel stand
ing up with her. She still held her hand
kerchief to her eyes, and was deeply affected,
| as could be seen by the violent heaving of
her chest. Benefits hands were clasped
together tightly, and the muscles of his facee
twitched violently, giving to the countenance
terrible expression. Judge Knapp said
"Covert G. Bennett and Jennie r. Smith,
you have been tried and convicted of the
| crime of murder in the first degree. for the
murder of Richard II. Smith. Have Won
anything to say why the sentence of death
should not be pronounced upon your"
Their counsel answered that they had not.
Judge Knapp then, addressing Mrs. Smith,
in a tremulous voice, said:
"Jenuie Smith, the sentence of the law is,
and by this court, that you be taken from
thebar of this court, by the sheriff, to the
Jail of this county, there to remain in close
confinement until Friday, July rs, 1879, and
that then, Between the hours of ten o'clock
in the morning and three o'clock in the af-
ternoon, you BE- taken by the sheriff and be
hanged by the neck until you are dead.''
As the last words escaped his lips the mis-
cradle woman leaned her head upon the
supporting arm of Mr.. Flemming, and sob.
bed audibly. Groans were heard among the
occupants of the gallery, and tears coursed
down the cheeks of many men. The court
then addressed Bennett in the same
language, and while he was listening to the
terrible words his eyes seemed ready to
burst from their sockets, in his efforts to
conceal his internal agony. The police had
all they could do to preserve order as the
prisoners were taken back to their cells.
Bennett, when conducted to his cell, lost
all mastery over his feelings, and threw
himself upon his cot and wept bitterly.
Rev. DR.. Rice strove to comfort hiu, but
without avail. Bennett, weak and humbled,
afterward listened to him, and repeated af-
ter him part of the Episcopal service for
the condemned. Mrs. Smith was much
more calm than was Bennett. The citizenf
of Jersey City are subscribing money to
ward helping Mrs. Smith pay the expense
trying to get new trial.
OPIUM SMOKING.