The New York herald., 1879-02-15
THE Smith MURDER TRIAL.
Chastity Mementos of the
Tragedy.
4 WRETCHED WOMAN.
"Cove" Bennett in a Web of Circum.
stahtial Evidence.

The interest in the trial of Jennie Smith ana
Covert D. Bennett indicted for the murder of Oficer
Smith. has not apparently. diminished for yestcr-
day the Hudson County Court House in Jersey City
was just closely crowded ever A HERALD re.
porter visited Mrs. Smith in her cell before the pro-
ceedings began. The accused widow is confined ON
the second tier in cell No. Q of ward No. s. Though
small the cell is scrupulously clean. and the walls
are adorned with pictures from illustrated newspa-
pers. Mrs. Smith standing at the head of the
bed when the reporter entered Pretty as she is in
her mourning suit in the Court House. she looked
far prettier as she stood in plain black wrapper.
without bonnet or veil. in her cell. She said:-"I
have got used to the lies that being told that
may well stand it without iinching." About the
correspondence between herself and Bennett which
is said to be IN the hands of the prosecutor. Mrs.
Smith said she knew nothing except what she had
herself heard.
MEMENTos OF THE MURDER
The Court opened at ten o'clock, and the prisoneSe
were brought in by Under Sheriffs Foley and Peel.
Detective Edward McHorney again called to
the stand. At nod from Prosecutor McGili Con-
stable Locke dived into trunk behind the jury box
and ished up lot of bloody garments At the sight
of them Mrs. Smith began to cry, lowered her head
and closed her eyes. The witness identified the bed
quilts shown those taken from the death bed the
murdered officers blood-covered shirts were shown.
and the officer pointed out in them the cuts where
the assassns knife had passed through. Mr. Col
lns turned to ask his client question about tho
clothing but the widow unable longer to control her
feelings burst into tears. Bennett. the contrary.
fixed his gaze each garment as it was handed to
the witness and showed no signs Of emotion.
The witness identified the quilts bolster. pillow
rto IJa also ed n han6
kerchief shown him found on bench in tho
collar; a second handkerchief shown he said he
knew nothing Of AS one after another of the bloody
exhibits were produced the female portion Of the
audience strained their necks to catch glimpse OF
them and for time there buzz Of "Ohs!" in
the room.
James McGregor recalled and identified tho
bedauilts. In cross-examination he testified that
the night before the murder he saw man looking
over the fence in the yard
Captain Lennon recalled and rs the bedclothes
and the officers shirts put out for his identia-
cation, the widow again began to cry. The witness
identified all the articles shown.
BENNETTs ADDRESS.
william r. Neil, clerk in the Jersey City Post Of
fice testified that the 18th of June last Bennett
called at the Post Office and changed his Post Office
address: he made a memorandum of the change
and handed 1t to the witness. The prosecutor then
nut the memorandum IN evidence; IL was as Io1-
iows:-"C. d. Bennett. 1loh Pacific avenue to caro-
j. ID. Frees, 179 Sixth avenue. New York.
Rev. Spencer Rice pastor OF Grace Cnurcn seI. sa-
sey City testified that he had visited Bennett as his
spiritual adviser; Bennett had written to him, but
he did not have the note in his possession then.
CHIEF NATHAN ON THE STAND.
The State then recalled Chief OF Police Nathan,
who testified that when he had been notified OF Ben
nett's arrest he went to Police Headquarters and
found him in custody of Sergeant Smmons the Ser
peapt said that he had arrested Bennett in Washing
ton place. near headquarters. .when went in.'
<ta Of
hereY he said, Yes; didn't know that You
knew me-. and l said. .Oh, yes, have seen you
in an appearance before and he said. never knew
was wanted until saw my name mixed up with
he didn't come over then and he said. Well. I
idnt.want to be locked up over night, I asked
bounded me so that thought would come over
and give myself up;' asked. Where were YOU all
this timer and he said. i don't propose to tell you
that I said, Don't You think it would be better
to tell me? and he said, No. don't know that 1t
would then ordered him to be locked up
Ex-Coroner Thomas Roman was next sworn ana %
he handled the clothing of the deceased and ident
fed it Mrs. Smith again closed her eyes.
benjamin S. Welsh, one of the coroner's jury.
identified n small vial half filled with chloroform
which he said he had picked up in the wash tub In
Smiths house the day Of the murder.
CoSvIcTs REVELATIONS
Isaac Hughes young confined in the County
Jail, the next witness He testified that ne wss
confined in the witness room in the jail while Ben
nett was there Bennett frequently talked to himself
and spoke in his sleep; about nine o'clock on the
the bathroom and while in there said ''Thrce
months ago to-day murdered man. don't mean
Harry Smith, but some people may think SO
On cross-examnation by exJ udge Holman the Wit
ness said that the bathroom door was open and no
could see Bennett while he spoke; Bennett spoke to
himself il il was joke.
Henry Thorpe who is also prisoner, testified next
that about week ago Bennett had shown him pair
of sleeve buttons; the buttons produced in evidence
were the pair: Bennett, after showing them to him
in the jail said They might be used evidence on
the trial" and he threw one of them all the way
down the hall; witness said that II 1t was good Tor
evidence he had ought to keep it, the witness then
picked up the button and returned IL To kennett;
next saw the sleeve buttons in the hands OF Jailef
Allen who had been inquiring whether any one in
the Jail had lost any buttons the 9th OF February
last saw Bennett writing something, and after he
concluded he read IL and tore IL up; then he walked
to the closet and threw the scraps into the basin
and picked them out: gave the papers to Assistant
District Attorney Nandervoort Ihe papers were
shown and identified.
On cross examination the witness testified that
Bennett throwing away a lot of things when ne
showed him the buttons: he was positive that tho
the buttons in evidence was made Deforo
Bennett threw them away; the witness testified that
he had been in the Penitentiary once, State Prison
twice and County Jail four times.
Alexander Vandervoort, Assistant District Attorney
that he had received the papers shown from
Henry Thorpe he knew them because he had caro-
fully examined them before scaling them mp.
Louis Richard Quaid testified that he was conhneo
in the witness room with Bennett and that he hearu
Bennett remark on October 81, "Thrce months ago
killed man, but 1t was not Harry Il. smith,"
Samuel Smith, proprietor of cigar stcre, tcet-
fed that he knew Officer Smith and also knew the
character OF his dog. Hold on. said Senator win
field the witness left the stand, 'did you know
the dog general reputation?' The witness managcd
get away the stand during the laughter wnicn
greeted the counseis question.
The Court then adjourned until Monday'
g