The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-15
JENNIE SMITH IN TEARS.
An Exhibition that vivIdIy Recalled the MUIR
der OF her Husband.

A long day was taken up yesterday in the
Jersey City murder trial with the slow weaving
OF testimony tending to the Identification Of
Benefits handwriting. the climax doubtless to
be- whenever In tho estimation OF tho District
Attorney II shall bo timo for 1t. the produc-
tion OF letters written TO Mrs. Smith by her al
legged lover since tho pair have boen confined In
the Hudson County Jail Before. however. that
exceedingly tedious line OF testimony was be-
gun. the story OF Officer Smiths murder was
rehearsed. and the whole bloody paraphernalia
OF tho tragedy was exhibited for Identification.
great trunk. which has stood over since the
beginning OF tho trial Just under tho window to
the right OF tho jury. was unlocked. and Prose-
cutor McGlll drew from IT, and held up for the
inspection OF one witness after another. the sew
eral articles otblood- d-stained bod clothing which
had bcen about the murdered man, tho gashcd
shirts which he had worn. and the towel. with
red nnger-marks upon II. which. IA alleged. had
boon chloroiormed and thrown over tho head Of
the sleeping wife, When this work began. Mrs.
Smith buried her faco in her handkerchief. and
as II won't on she cried bitterly. The witnesses
were questioned as to the mlnutest details and
were handed tho different articles and request
ed 10 turn them over and inspect them narrow
ly. Tho spectators nearly all stood up. and
pushed and crowded in their engerness to get a
view OF these repulsivo evidences OF tho crime.
As tho inspection went on and the exhibition
was repeated again and again. the defendants
lawyers turned their backs to tho prosecutor
and the. witness stand and made a somicircle
about Mrs. Smith, who never looked up. and
whose distress was audible all over tho room.
Bennett regarded tho whole transaction intent
ly from eginninR TO end.
james McGregor, recalled testified that on
tho sunday night before the murder he saw "A
mans face looking through the, darkness over
the north fence OF the yard Of the house in
which the murder WINS committed. II was
o'clock when he saw the face. and he could not
hayo recognized it II 1t had boen known to him.
VIM. Il. Neil. o clerk in the Post ONCE testi-
led To bit OF handwriting left with him by
Bennett on juno Is. whom tho latter had
Chief OF Police Nathan. recalled testified thnt
Bennett was arrested by Sergeant Simmons in
In Jersey City. II was brought out on cross
! eNamin nation that Bennett must havo come for
| 70 the witness that he had read OF the murder
| first in saturdays paper. and that he had
waited until Monday before delivering himself
| as ne did not wish to be locked up over Sunday.
| He refused To tell whore he had been meantime.
Thomas Rohan. tho Coroner, testified that he
| had found bottle t-xhibtedl IN the cellar OF
| smiths house on the morning OF the murder.
| aud that II smclt Of chloroform. Benjamin f.
| Walsh. one ot tho Coroncrs jury. testified that
| the same bottle had been examined by him and
several others OF the jury at the time. II wHA
| without cork or labol. and all noticed that Il
| smelt OF chlorotorm. II lay on wnsh bench.
and n handkerchief supposed To have been
used IN connection with II. was found also In
| thH cellar.
Isaac Hughes. who testified that he was an
| inmate OF the county jail on u civil SUIT said
| that he had overheard Bennett. on Oct. 81, say
| t. man named Iukp. now away. " Three
| months ago | murdered man; people may
| think Il l. Harry Smith. but II Is not To udge
| Hoffman the witness snid that this remark was
| made Is Bennett in n loroec way. Questioned
| IA to the meaning OF "Jocose." the witness at
| first said that It meant - nervous and alter
| ward that Bennett had made the remark 50 rs II
| he didn't mean IT," Louis Quade. also an in
| mate pf the Jail, testified to hearing the Same
| remark but he declared that Bennett uttered
| the words In u tragic tOnc. Witness denied
| having ever held a char over B-nn"tt's head
| out ~ you did Harry smiths Witness de-
| clared that Bennett had plotted and schemed
| against him In Jail. hut that he regarded Bon
| mott in Christian spirit.
| nett writing one morning in Jall; that Bennett
| tore up what he had written und threw II IN ths
| closet AMI that hr twin 'Srl hurrNard r., ov'
| cred the pieces. He identified the pieces vii ic
| ness admitted That he had been twice in S,ats
| prison. twice in the pcnitcniiary, and four
| times IN JAIL
| A lot oi very thin writing paper was traced
| from certain stntioner's shop to the possess or
| OF Bennett. after AN hours labor and the en-
| ployment OF a uumb"r OF wltnrsses.
| Samuel smith, u cigar dealer. nut climax
| upon the days remarkable testimony. He de-
| clared TINT hs had On one ocoGsion and on,
only, been in Smiths yard. He went TO borrow
| a sickle.
MIR. Nj. Dillon that occasion did Mr. Smith.
| dog bark AZ your
| Mltu"ss-No. sir.
Mr. McGnl-Dd you ever hear that log bark
Mr.. Wiahrld-IS the state now proving tn,
| general reputation oi the dog
The Court allpurned untl Monday, the judge
| directing that additional officers should be- pro-
| yded. so thut the jury. IN The moan time, Nigh
| 40 abroad and rrcrcat" themselves.