The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-15
OFFICER SMITHS MURDER.
4 WITNESS VINO ACCUSED HERSELF
OF KILLING HER CHILD.

OF KILLING HEX CHILD.
Tho Letter that Mrs. Philip. Says Mrs. smith
dictated About Another Letter "thnt
Might be the Means of Hanging Bennett"
The trial Of Jennie Il. Smith and Covert
d. Bennett on the charge Of numbering Police
Officer Richard II. Smith was continued in
Jersey City yesterday. Lewis II. Quade. who
was on the witness stand on Tuesday, resumed
his testimony. He said that he had overheard
Bennett say to a fellow prisoner, This day
three months ago killed man. and some
people may think It was Harry Smith. but 1t
wasn't" The witness could not tell whether
the words were spoken in a dramatic or n
iocose tone. Bennett was accustomed to recte
from Shakespeare.
Miss Rebecca Nathan testified that she lived
with Mr.. and Mrs. Smith four years ago and
that she carried notes between Mrs. Smith and
a man named Faulhaber. Mrs Smith once told
the witness THAT II she dared. she would put
poison in Smiths coffee. The witness was then
ii years old
Mrs Hattie Smith. the wife OF the murdered
mans brother James. testified that Jennie
Smith told her that the lust time Bennett WIS at
Smiths house. Onlcer Smith kicked him of the
stoop. and Bennett said, We will meet again"
About seven years ngo. continued the wit
ness she said 10 me one day when was visit
ing her Hattie. do YOU know AIN turn ing
nGans' Henry 1nd ths sound 2I ms d29'5 dSp
she told me that she felt like taking an axe anu
knocking Harrys brains OUT
Mrs. Mary Phillips. the woman who sur.
rendered herself last summer to the police. and
insisted that she had murdered her child. was
then placed on the stand. She had, she said,
| been requested by Jailcr Allen TO- watch Mrs.
| Smith, with whom she was locked up in the
| quarters reserved for female Witnesses. Ono
| day she saw Mrs Smith reading n lot Of letters.
| " asked her whose they Were" said the wit
!
| her by beau with whom she correspondent be-
! fore she was married. After reading them she
! twisted around and then threw them all into
| the closet ] was with her ut the time and
| and gave u ~ Mr.. Allen. 1t was eight pages
! long but did not read IT. Aft"r Bennett was
inflicted. l told Mrs, Smith what | had done,
! aud she cried and said 1t might be the means Of
| hanging Bennett. then felt sorry and ask I'd
! her If could do ANYTHING 10 helm her, nnd she
| told me to write letter t. her IN which should
! tho eight page letter. and had Ordered me- to
give 70 Jailcr Allen. aud say 1t had been taken
| from Mrs. Smith. She said that II | wrote such
| letter she would give II to her counsel told
| her didn't know McHorney. and then she sue-
! cested that should use the name ~ John Allen.
! Jr. the lailers son. wrote such letter az her
| dictation and delivered i TO her; she told me-
| she gave it To- her lawyer
Produce the letter" said Mr.. McGill. turning
TO Counsellor Fleming; After eonsmltaiion
| among the lawyers for the defence. Mr.. Fleming
| took the letter from his satchcl AMI handed it
| 10 Mr.. McGill. The witness Identified 1t as tho
| letter she said she had written ut Mrs. Smith =
| instance. IL WIS enclosed IN an enNel3p"i on
| which WIS written, Mr. Charles Winl.l id or
| James Fleming. please opnn and read, and
! present thcn To Mr.. \. McGll, District Attor-
ney." The letter was rs follows:
| HupsoS CoUNrr Jan. January IS. 1872
slR IN my note to YOU YESTERDAY ! told YOU would
Tns the last shall ever write aui am ge.n- 60 COM
before Tor ihc murder Of my Bah, Ho, Joiuny AiIc
rlreienfed e. be sorrey 10 me and In the emi De gained
/ = Nt
he had it he wa. no, satisfied with that he might
Rai iorsiye him AMI hep ,Goi MI torsiys BIN ior
what he made ne 70 Mr. Neon When you get this Will
| be dead 81 y Is the truth am pnuns down here
johnny vas asMaks 1iwr me snd ,e wanted me- 70 80
IN ny room sd t,S INV, If ,oi SS tor b ''
aud M return ~ he wood out ct uoahlr.
AMI ~ tie Grand Jury did inde uie be- would get me
out OF this ail into snoiher So promised him to 10
whatever BE- wanted OF me Il was I'M, wod tske ihe
| and then give It back 10 him ami say that she Mrs
closet Wei AID and got out Of here. va. only ,wo
m Wanted AZ me- hS o Ts M Ss So sd sew % a
| aud my Brothers ani NY Father and NY Mother lii
h. had the the and went Win him When soi
s91r onIe 90 y@q re'nen6er how Johnny ,et ol.s me
80 - was hccau;e he was AFRAID void hineh rtn
/ ihl,l, uh Arfrat wrong WoN lr rishiei after nm
o. Doe made slow ot ana would not wan 10 ham .n.
enS a, ior w'n tha' h. ,ct go Htrm Mns lecau'' he
4 LATER person would not hnmhri hn,ch :" Johnny
" hos tFNn great misiAkc from lrSuuu- 90 tut nnt
toll that II would not harm Mrs Smith and hut
have found out that II viii But % cannot harm them
Hi'or M letter mfde Public ! have told Mr. Smith
| knows how WAS bed iu the note sent tuNuu sii
TINT The person that stmr 900 thi, TROUBLED wuul sr
] thc most bv That meant that Johnny void bring
Uuuh. on himself Tor when Nr used to come up g. uN
ruuW Mr. Smith overheard hiW something that u
it.'li alone would send h.m tn prison.
asked Won 90 answer my mote Yesterday. but you dl
not So ] Will make sure ~ this and leave u o. a
person that viii that right dome Bat they have
Intel thoueht that ay thlug like WIS De- lnlt 30 succeed
90 taking my lie, Johnny Allen lr ,s tlc cause Of o. he
has maze mar uut u' me, ami ds-rHrrd nc forever
God help poor Father Hud Mother when they hear N
th, my paru-'s Nv Dear Brothers ami sisters. O..
think that ! WAS Pet Of them aIl AMI that must ta.t
| troulh hnd man. hani But fnreiye him. and pray
| that God Will tOrgve me for this taking INV hfr
never knew awning about Mr. smith ar Bennett
ana all knew about notes was one day was stdndil
az the gate aud woman me tow slip. uf PAPER {.
glve them to Mrs Smith ami did give them o. her. 80,
| wrote something and gave It 10 tho woman ! dom
| help me God, whome soon shall face AMI nothing but
| signed Mrs May p rniturs
| Tconfcss that murdered my Baby BOY and wa, moi
punished tor II so will ~ my Creator AMI De
| punished there. Mr. McGl hope vuu will forgive M,
for any trouble may have caused you by my tasehoot
| 70 you.
| signed Mrs MAEY FRAVcEs PHitLirs Age ~ years
- Mrs. Smith told me-" the witness continued
that II wrote that letter and she and Bennett
| got free they would take care II me-"
Another letter from Mrs. Phillips TO prosecu
tor McGill. in which she announced her deter
! minntlOn not to be a witness. was read. Mrs
| Smith had requested the witness she said. 4
! eght-pRge letter. but he had refused TO say.
Al this point the court adjourned.
|
JOINING THE STRIKERS