New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-16
EVIDENCE IN OLD LETTERS.

DER TRIAL-THE LACHRYMOsE PRISON SPY
| AGAIN on THE sTAND-EXTRACTs FROM BEN
NETI's LETTER.
| The evidence for the prosecution In the Smith
murder trial was closed yesterday by the introduc-
| ton of n letter written by Covert ID. Bennett TO
Mrs. Jennie r. Smith. Much time IN Court was
spent in examining Mrs. Phillips, the spy who Sc
cured the letter after it had been thrown away by
Mrs. Smith. Under cross-examination she confessed
that she was engaged in a conspiracy against the
| prisoners and her behavior was such as TO excite
suspicion that she insane. In his letter, when
abounds in the warmest expressions of love Tor MIS-
Smith, Bennett assures her that they Will Doth es-
cape, and declares that his only regret IS that ne
could not have secured her in some other manner
BITS OF PRISON CORRESPONDENCE.
| The courtroom was thr0nged with specta-
tors during Smith murder trial yesterday In anci-
nation that some startling evidence would be furnished
by the prosecution. The chief interest centered Id inc
letter which Covert ID. Bennett had written TO Mrs Je
ME r. Smith, while they imprisoned In the JAIL ana
which had procured for the DistrictAtorney Dy
Mrs Mary F. Phillips. the woman detective" Ihe prs-
oners took their seats beside their counsel with COM
posed features as If they were prepared for revea-
| tons that might be made The air in the room was
almost sitting but Mrs. Smith continued to wear the
heavy Grape veil which has kept her face half concealed
from view during the trial. Mrs Phillips resumed her
seat the witness stand at the opening OF Court ana IN
answer to questions from DistrctAttorney McGill SAID
that she had written letter early ia January addressed
to Mrs Smith. This letter had been written In Mrs.
Smiths room in the Jail and Mrs. Smith had taken the
letter, saying that she would give 1t to her counsel MI
McGi demanded the letter from Mrs Smiths counsel ana
it was handed him by Mr.. Flemmng. The letter had
been dated January g." but the figure had Deen
crossed and the figure substituted Mrs PM
lips said she aid not make the change ana ava nor KNOW
by whom the alteration had been MADE Inc letter Is III
| part as f0ilOWs: -, 49,. :, r,,,, ,,,s.
| have never felt so befor In my hfe When l came
here first Johnny Allen was always after me, as you
can tell You know that he has been hours IN my room
on my God you did not know that was SPY on you
through him. have been thinking OF wrelng
| don't blame | was lead on by one whom nave
since found TO be a villain, lie used me for MS
he was, but against Mr. Bennett, and void not ty 20
you for IT. Jennie do You Ts n sp ag Sd cs e
other one you did not picked the letter up anu gave
1t Johnny Allen jr.; and he gave II to Mr. McGi ;
t. am most Brokn hearted from the way tDat
they using here IL seems as II they were arau
since you and have spoken to eaen other qt ne mas
to do It. II as small again void be match Tor
ni"' ! "'-0 MARY F. PHILLIPS.
| A FEARFUL WITNESSES CONFESSIONS.
Mrs Phillips was then subjected 10 a long cross-ex-
animation by Mr.. Winfield, during which she faltered
several umes cOntradicted part OF what she had SAID
I'm her direct examination and nearly broke down at Tue
close leaving minds Of the Jury doubt as TO her
Smith had been written the prOmptings Of her own
conscience and that the statements In the letter were
| true. Her admissions showed that there had been
conspiracy watch the prisoners In jail and to procure
evidence against them. Her object In gong into Mrs
Smiths room during her second imprisonment IN the
jail. she said, was TO play the spy upon Mrs. smith
When she Wrote the letters to Mr. McG she said her
| intention to commit suicide Mr. Winfield then
once made poisoning her little boy and he asked her
| II she had really been guilty OF the murder Mrs
intention to xii herself Now the tears rolled down her
cheeks and she sobbed violently as she replied 81 don't
District-Attorney McGl then resumed his questions
and drew from the witness statement that she had
eide, that Mrs. smith had said that the WITNESSES
Mr. wnaed-Did Mr.. McGill, after you had written to
| him about killing yOurselfi
Tears eams into Mrs Phps eyes again as she
tinuedi 81 don't think Mr.. McGlll would care much
persons did consider her insane when she first
d ba ae 9 Raes an sSHf aTd returned
once 10 the TAIL On her way from the courtroom she
sbe snep,s Office where she was restored TO conscious
| ness. She then walked to her room.
| SPECIMEN OF BENEFITS EpIsroLARY STYLE.
John Allen r. testified to receiving letter from Mrs
Phillips in the jail. This the eghtfage letter from
Bennett which Mrs. Phillips had secured after Mrs
Smith had thrown the fragments away. He identified
the letter. After several experts had been examined to
show that the letter had been written by Bennett 1t was
read and admitted IN evidence. Counsel for the prison
ers objected to the letter being received and took
cepons TO the Judges rulings. The letter in part as
| follows:
| MY ANGEL, I am happy to-day compared with my
state the last six weeks and more particularly for
the last ten days Darling see how would have
felt II you had written that would never be yours
| again. | would rather have you convicted ana
me die rather than have you do anything that would be
untrue TO me- am ready at any moment, II anything
convcts you step forward and exOnerate you from
everything; be TO II 10 causes my DEATH
But darling neither or lives Will be required We
| are safe. . " That you was sorry in doing what
YOU had" DO yOu mean that now that have got you
am sorry that did i'll Ifyou so mean say thousand
times no. not sorry now that have got you, but
am sorry that did that wrong should nave got you
| ever 70 No! mol no a thousand times God Is mer
| cul. and III HIS mercy / know He has many happier
hours in store for us than we ever after we came
out OF His trial. May come out OF this trial new and
pure in heart and soul Darling Why
| do you ask such foolish question WI
he ever bring this out about the -, do you think y
| Why | have created In MIN friendship for you the
same as DR.. Rice has for yOu and you might as wei
think OF Dr. Rice going back on US as Tor Mr. f. 70 te
anything about that's that s different from what told
him told L. that you told me that you would take IL
down stairs and put shelf made by the ceiling OF
the cellar II he ever asks you AGAIN zen h you tDh
| Won told me. hear my darling making signals
| for me. i shall in minute feel her toueh ana KISS
something from her sweet little hands-or no. Tor they
are also my little hands What, Is that brute lock-
ing my own little darling upl All he never had charge
OF such Jewel before. aud IL is likely lie never VIII
| again. Good Night dearest; perhaps adieu lor Few
days. Imay ont tomorrow. but VIII see you We'd
| nesday, and every day may have here. may i've
| near here Will always be handy. may call on you
with tho lawyers, but In short time nope 10 meet
never TO part in this world again. pray God that 1t
may soon be so. Daily and hourly am on my
knees much hope you are too, dearest l send many
| keses am yours forever, LUCGUs.
Soon after the reading OF this letter Mr. McG said
the the State complete Mr.. Winfield asked
posp0nement 10 allow the counsel FOR the defence
| tine TO consult and Judge Knapp adjourned tie trial
| a.