New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-30
4 TALH NTH MRS. SU{IH.

SHE sNuINGLY DECLARES HER ISNOCENCB-SUB
sCRlPrIoSS TO PAY THE EXPENSE OF A NEW
TRIAL
A representative of The Jersey City Euoning
Journal has had Il conversation with Mrs. jennie r.
Smith IN her cell she has persistently refused to
any other person from the press. Mrs Smith said she
was 81 overcome by verdict OF guilty, astOnshed
and shocked that she has kept TO the bed the
the tine since saturday She very weak and said that
her mind had been much affected aud her
memory confused during the trial and SINCE it
ended Her apparent camness In the court room
was the result OF her determination 10 retain
her self-pOssessIon so that she might be able
10 tell the truth when she was called TO the witness
stand She no y has an only imperfect idea of much
that was said and done in the court She s0emnly de
claes that she told the whole truth about the murder
and does not see how she could DO convicted. She
showed little emotion.
To the question: Was all you testified 10 true" she
answered. Yes, every word. meant 20 tell the pre-
Csc truth and SO far can rome,nher did" When
asked II she did not think her present condition
IT would be the thing for her to confess, If she
we're guilty, she answered, Yes, know that, and II
were guilty 1 should confess L could not look Mr..
Femming Zone Of her lawyer in she face after he has
been so kind me- and tell him l!e" When the ques-
on was repeated she said. would, II were guilty
own for ths sake Of my mOthern-laW, VINO mas at
ways been soOd 10 me. ~ esuu never na'e S" o
throu III tho trial end faced IL ont TX nad been guty
| should have broken DOWN hFo. cblllu IuItHcI Salu
that had the eigntpage letter after she
first read ~ ana threw 10 away, ana that
when she testified that she did not know what certain
passages meant she intended TO convey the idea
that she could not recall the meaning OF the words
When asked about BeDnets promise III the letter 20
save convicted, by telling the truth. sue
said understood him TO mean that he would tell
lie 10 save me that be meant that he loved me wei
enough to DO that " aud catching her breath IN
half laugh she added. " suppose he thou. nc that nc
ala love me like that" In the interview she admitted
her intimacy with Bennett but declared That Der nus
band suspected tScm and would nave trusted ner
with Bennett sooner than with ny other person. cue
also claimed mat tae eight-page letter was
oily that contained any passa ges which might
hello the state, and that the only one saved she
thought tae es seemed 10 DC against her WOen asked
IL she wnuid confess n new gla was not granted her
she sand. q" Where would be the good OF teLlnS lie
about d IL were guilty ia confess IL now
Daring the interview Mrs smith smiled frequently,
and rer part conversation was carried on IN
.prghtly manner. The Rev. Dr. Spencer NJ Rec. the
spiritual advisor OF both Mrs smith and Bennett mas
boon authorized to take charge OF the subscriptions
toward having the expenses OF trial. which IL y
believed will be prauted An appeal 70 the public was
issued Yesterday afternoon. IL Is signed by the Rev
Dr. Rice the Hon Charles Seder, ex-hayOr OF Jersey
City, ep-COngTessman A. A. Hardrnbergn Postmaster
H. A Greene ana other prominent residents Oh jersey
CITY The appeal sets forth that reasOn9Dle DOUBT
Of the guilt OF the prisoners exists IN tue minds OF many
nerso and they asked to help raise 500 10 cover
The expense OF a new trial.