The New York herald., 1879-02-14
JERSEY CIYY'S MURDER TRIAL.
Unhappy Domestic Relations of the
Dead Officer and His Wife.
MRS. SMITHS PARrIALITY FOR BENNETT
Damaging Evidence Against the Accused
Widow and Her Alleged Accomplish.

the trial. and the crowd in the court room ON the
Grst day dwindled into insignhcancc when compared
with the attendance yesterday. Every available inch
OF space was occupied tho centre aisle being packed
with females, many of whom had apparently passed
their three score years. The crowd in the gallery
great that hung half way over the railing in
snch position that slight push would have sent
them entirely At only few left the court
room. nearly all having provided themselves with
lunch so that they might their seats.
MRS. SMITHS FoREBoDISG.
The first witness examined Mrs. Elizabeth
Smith, pale sad-eyed lady, the mother of the MUIR
derea officer. AS she took the stand the accused
widow covered her eyes with her handkerchief and
wept. She continued sobbing for ten minutes until
her mother-in-law had left the stand. The witness
testified that three four days before the murder
Jennie had called upon her and told her that she
thought Harry wouldn't live long because the night
previous Jennie" the dog. had jumped upon
Harry's bed and mosned three times; the widow had
regarded it as foreboding Of coming evil.
JEALOUSY THE BOTTOM OF IT?
Mrs. Nettie Smith, wife Of the officers brother
Alderman John L. Smith, next sworn. and was
watched intently by the widow while she testlfed--
Ireside at No. 80 Pacific avenue. Jersey City; the
day of Hcurys death visited the house and saw
Jennie; said to her, Jennie how did this happen?
and she replied IT don't know" said that jealousy
probably at the bottom of it, and some man who
wanted her had killed Harry and she said. well, If
any man killed Harry for me he will never get me-"
never saw Bennett with jennie but once and that
time my husband and mother-in-law in the
room; she told that Bennett had a number of
theatrical books. and she studied some Of them
that she could 'sreak them OFF by heart" I
visited her one morning while she living in
Pine street, she told me that Harry wanted to move
,1,o .sr
alone" said she land have Harry pay my board and
then he go where he likes; told hcr, Jennie.
Harry will never consent to that" she made no
answer to the remark.
UNHAPPILY MATED.
The next witness wassRebecca Nathan. a pretty
black eyed Jewess. who spoke in very pleasant and
audible tone of voice. She testified that she
quainted with Harry and Jennie Smith. ! lived
with them she said, in Pine street and in Halliday
street. Jersey City, lived there about year and a
half; they quarrelled very often; it through
jealousy; he was jealous of her and she was jealous
Of him. il she looked out of the window and man
passed he would her of flirting with him. she
told me that she didn't care for him. and said to me-
Il only married him to get homes" remember
,ne night Harry made some trouble on account of
some man Jennie knew; after that while walking in
the street and talking OF Harry she said. III only
dared to would put poison in his coffee"
Senator Winfield. beginning the cross-examination.
salu:-Wcll, now, MISS NHtuan nuVlug gwen us tine
shades of married ife you Ill let me ask you about
the lights of it, Did you ever see Harry and Jennie
kiss? A. Certainly.
married people generally do? 4. Oh, no.
O. 1t was only once in while that cloud would
come their happiness, was it? a. Oh it was
every little while.
JENS1E's OPINION OF COVE"
Zephania Concklin created considerable merr-
ment in relating q quarrel between Jennie and her
husband. He testihed:--I reside with Alderman
Smith knew Officer Smith for twenty -four years;
l..f I,,l.,
recognize the knife shown the on the table
in Smith house At my last visit; met Bennett in
the house but once; he was talking to Mrs. Smith;
had been working at chicken coop in the yard and
Mrs. Smith called me to 20 to the grocery store;
when returned met Mrs. smith talking to Bennett
at tho gate; Mrs. Smith smiled at me and walked
back to my work; Jennie followed me III short
while and said "Did You know that young at
the gate? told her did not and she said. THAT
Mr. bennett who Harry ordered ont of the house:
he has been kind to me that feel sorry for him;
don't you think he is nice looking? said. "He looks
to ME like boy, and she said II think he is dar-
ling"
'.sPoUTING" SHAKESPEARE.
Mrs. Smith smiled a. the testimony The witness
continued;--l remember quarrel at breakfast one
morning: Mrs Smith was reciting Shakespeare, and
Harry said. For the Lords sake Jennie. stop that
O. How did you know it was Shakespeare? A. 1t
sounded like Shakespeare to me.
O. Is that how you knew it9 a. Well it had some
hing in it about '.Bogone thee william. daughter,
in which Bennett and Mrs. smith joinei.)
b In cross-exainnaiion by senator Winfield the wit
ness testified that he never paid much attention to
PLY.
The witness continued: Mrs. Smith was unpleas-
and she would '.spout" to any one; Harry would
tell her. Come on there is one laughing at you,
and she would get mad.
MAnrIS CUMMINGS TESTIMONY
The prosecutor then called Martin j. Cummings.
sn excitable little old man. who instructed exJudge
would answer him. He testified that he resides at
No. l21 Jackson avenue Jersey City HAghts the
night July 81 he LETT his store at haif.past ten
M utlp far hpl
the car had reached Grand street three passengers
got on and one of them asked him for permission to
light ms cigarette at his cigar witness obliged him.
Bennett was asked to stand up. aud Mr.. Cummings
said;-That young man resembles the ono obliged
with light; ! remember him because on the car
noticed that he had very intelligent countcnance
and was much better looking than the ordinar, run
OF young men; went inside the car at the Pacific
avenue canal bridge. aud noticed that turning
into Communipaw avenue latter passing Siniths
house, the young man mad got or
The witness was crossexhipincd by ex-Judgc Hoif-
man. aud he said that nc had been called upon By tho
prosecutor to 30 to the County jan, and there he
picked Bennett out OF about fifteen.
WAS IL Btssxrr rnEY uw?
After recess Jchn johnson, conductor on tho
Central Railroad. testified = reside at No. 100 Pacific
avenue; l with William, Mccall about thrco
o'clock the morning of the murder aud going
home noticed young man st,n'ilng near Lafayette
street; he s@k coat had dark clothes and wore
ban,ikerrnief around his neck; he was about Il 70
feot eight inches in hsyht only him side face
bennett was directed ~ stand up. aud the witness
William Mccall, a railroad cmploya corroborated
the testimony of Johnson md said that. after look
Ing at the man for somc time he thought 1t looked
like.
''Hold on hold ont" interrupted counsel for tho
defence. la one voice eve object 70 thM. and as
they preparing To- prcsont their objections the
witness blurtod out like Chsrles Hicks, and coun
sci sat down amd great laughter.
George Curtis testified that no made sorno repairs
In Bcnnctts house. and while ho was there Jonnia
Smith called and shc and Bennett went away to-
gcther.
srAoH STRUCK.
Mimic Stein, young woman whose face was COW
ered with light veil then took tho stand and 'es-
tiied ~ reside In New York; | know Jennie Smiih;
workod III her house Tor six weeks prior To Marrh
last. when lett; Mrs. smith told one time that
she liked Bennett better than She did her husband.
'sd sad. III ever leave Harry Mr.. Bennett i'll give
mo position ON tho STAGE" sho was very fond of
thcatricals and road Hamlet" n great deal; l
member Harry puarrulhng with Jennie because
size got up from the tabls to ask the witness Tor
knIic for lenncti Harry said, 'Bcnuctts mouth Is
large enough ~ k tor knitc; at another time
heard Harry and Bennett uiarrcliug In the dining
room nsauso Bennett caiuc in at sx O'Clock in the
morning: Dannett said, "lt is my house aud Will
como in when iko; 1 nevcr raw Bennett attempt
any freeiutu with Mrs. Smith. ,ftau saM Mira