The sun., 1879-06-10
SENTENCED TO BE HANGED.
NgS. JENNIE SMITH dND COIERT D..
RENNEIT 10 SUFFER- DEATH

kOhhinH ana Mcn w
Mrs Jennie Il. Smith and Covert D. Ben
,c,t who wcrc convicted oi the murder - ro-
li.o O0i,er Richard II Smith. were scutcnced
Yesterday by Judge knapp. in tho Hudson
r,urty Court Of Oyer and Tcrminer. in Jersey
Ctv. TO be hanged on the 25th OF July. The
,risoucra who. since their conviction had suf-
ared intensely in body and mind. slept little
On snudny night. Yesterday morning they
,r,,so carly Bennett dressed himself and then
with the permission OF Jailcr Allen. walked for
nearly an hour Up and down the narrow corri-
dor Of his ward. when the other prisoners
arose he returned to his coll. where he partook
Of light breakfast. He seemed to havc no mp
,ettc and ave his food. consisting Of coffee and
steak without any apparent relish. During
the meal he spoke only twice. to inquire tho
tino nj which he would be brought into court.
Frequently he drew his hand ucross his brow.
as If he were suffering from severe head
ache. and his manner was vacant and ab-
,trnctcI When no had finished his repast
he washed. and after completing his toi-
lst threw himself down on his cot. His
nervous excitement WIS so great that he
was unable to remain quiet. He sprang from
lis be suddenly and busted himself in rum
maging among file Of books and old news
papers that he had collected during his imprs-
onment. Then ho rearrangcd them methodi-
cally and walked to tho entrance OF his cell
where he had suspended an improvised curtain
to protect him from public gaze. Ho spoke to
the waichman who stood at tho door and
questioned him several lines as to how long he
would be obliged to remain in court. On being
told that tho ceremony would be brief he
seemed much relieved and lay down on his bed
with his hands joined behind his head gazing
ht the ceiling in silence.
Mrs. Smith. contrary to the expectations OF
her attendant. ate heartily OF breakfast. and
afterward joined n group Of her fellow prison
ers. with whom she converscd pleasantly. Sub,
scquently she re6ntered her cell and called an
acquaintance. who assisted her in arranging
her toilet. when she appeared again in the
corridor she was Joined Dy group Of women
who. seeing that she was growing restless and
oXcited endeavored To cheer her up She paid
earnest attention TO nil that was said TO her and
tried To appear composed. but tears ran down
tor checks. and at last she broke down SO COM
plrtey that 5 he was taken to her cell. where she
lay down on her cot
IN the court room every available inch Of
space WIS occupied by n surging and excited
throng Of men AMI women. who pushed and
stei each other Hereby in the endenvOr to sc-
cure favorable positions. The gallery ut the
r.ar Of the room was crowded 10 suHocation.
Tie combined efforts OF tho constables and a
disorder and accident that vt first seemed inev-
iah." 1t was feared that the gallery. an old
AMI rick"iy structure. would break down under
th' immense weight ana 10 avoid such q
caaiHty Sheriff Toffey directed that 10 should
br cleared and reserved for women. The aisles
and lobbies OF the room were chokrd with spec
tutlrs. who had been unable To obtain seats and
was only with the greatest difficulty that the
Officers maintained q passage way from the
bench 10 the Judges Chambers.
At about IL O'Clock, when Judge Knapp took
his place on the bench. there vas perfect silence
IN the room. The Judge's face was very pale.
minute later tho court officers with their
slaves. cleared the central aisle. the door was
thrown open and the prisoners and their escort
walked slowly to the enclosure. Mrs. Smith
leaned heavily on the arm OF the officer, She
wore the same SUIT ot black thht she mad worn
at her trial. and held handkerchief to her
eyes. which concealed her features. Bennett
walked firmly. He. too. was dressed In black.
When they sat down Mrs Smith was weeping
ma she seemed on the point 80 i9intng. Mr.;
hs words seemed TO cheer her up. Tho women
IN the gallery craned their necks % catch n
glimpse q her features. but they were disap.
pointed. Benefits face was druthly pale aud
he seemed dazed. sitting with his eyes cast to
the n'or. not even needing for some minutes
Judge Holman. his counsel Who 10 spoke t1 10 him.
Recoverlng. however. he SPOKE in a low voice 10
both. glanced over toward Mrs: Smith. and then
resumed his vacant stare. His hair was dis
ordered, hls necktic was loose and his hands
TIE stiffness was broken by Judge Knapp.
who said: Covert ID. Bennett and Jennie
The prisoners instantly arose from their
seEis. together with their counsel Mrs Smith
he'd her handkeTchlet TO her eyes and was
deeply affected. Benefits hands were clasped
tightly and as he looked at the Judge the
mpsc 81 his face twitched violently.
Jennie Il. smith. you have both been tried and
convicted Of the crime Of murder in the first
degree Tor the murder OF Richard II. Smith.
Have you anything to say why the sentence OF
death should not be- pronounced upon youg
wnaed said In pbI9d pbnhaT II Ts PsHs Smith and Wv by
ne advice Ct her counsel she has nothing to say
Judge Hoffman. in behalf OF Bennett. made
similar reply
Judge Knapp. then addressing Bennett in a
The sentence OF tho law is and il is by the
Court now here niludged. TINT YOU, Covert d.
G-ungtt be taken by the Sheriff OF Hudson
Couniy from the bar Of this court TO the iail OF
lle county from whence you came there To-
confinement until Friday. the 25li day Of
July next, h"ng In the year OF our Lord 1879.
on which day. between the hours Of 10 O'Clock
OF the same day. you b. taken by tho Sheriff Of
me sad county 10 the place of execution pro-
yiNed. or to be provided by him according 70
lnw. and then ana there. you the said Covert ID.
Bennsu, DO hanged by the neck until you are
d.M"
While Judge Knapp was speaking Bennett's
lhriAi eonioriions were terrible TO witness. His
mouth twiMhed and his chin moved con-
NusIX,y; HIS eyes roll led wildly in their sock
eis. HIS hands opened and closed with an In
s"nhlnry muscular action. Big beads Of per
sbrutlon stood on his forehead. His body
hWayod TO and fro. and he rec ed like a drunken
mhnf Ms ch"ess flushed and pulled alternately.
LN-Judgo Hoffman, his counsel who stood NJ
Us sllei supported him and prevented him
Judge Knnpp then turned 10 Mrs Smith. who
glanced at him. and then cast her eyes upon the
! lor Sh" seemed surprisingly free from emo-
tun. Judge Knapp solemuly repeated the
same form u words that hs had usel in sem
fencing Bennett. MrS Smith. in strong con-
trast to the behavior Of Bennett who. seemed
crushed 10y the sentence. and completely broke
n2wn. remained standing for minute. without
showing any evidence that she was affected by
me words of the Judge. and then resumed her
srn' by her counsel, almost with an air Of un-
son 'ern
The effect OF the sentence on tho audience
Ens extraordinary The men uttered low but
l"'p expressions Of disapproval. Wuile the wo-
iqen sohhed aud cried hystercHlly. Judge
hlnpp directed the spectators 10 remain seated.
Whllr the PRISONERS were removed. Mrs. Smith
mhlninlned hcr composurc until she reached
stars leading 10 the main hall. Then she
tad 10 1e almost carried bnck 10 jail, Bennett
followed her and walked quietly by the side of
constable Foley. who had been assigned espe-
ally by the sher n TO watch him. On entering
ne la.l the condemned man and woman hurried
9ihelr cells. whore they broke down completely.
4hey declined 10 receive any visitors rXcet
thrir counsel nnd the Rev. Dr. Rice. The latter
gentleman called on them twice In the day and
cOnyersed and prayed with them.
Bennett Is reported 10 have said that he enter
taus no hope OF procuring a new trial or Of in
du"ing the Court of Purdous to commute his
Sentence. IL was rumOred that be had Intended
~ make nddrrss TO the court oxen nat ing