New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-15
DRAMATIC SCENES IN COURT.

y dramatic effect was produced by the
prosecution yesterday morning. at the trial OF Mrs
Smith aud Covert D. Bennett The District Attorney
opened large trunk which contained the bloody gar
mcnts worn by Officer sEith when he was murdered.
and cXniD ted each piece succession TO the jurors and
spectators. officer McHOrEey who had been detailed
to watch Mrs. Smith in the house. called to the
stand. Mr.. McGu took from the trunk the cotton
uDdershrt worn by The dead officer the night OF his
death. The snirt had been torn the body At the
In"rgue and was therefore shspeess IL was covered
with blood. and rent with many holes. Holding up
the garment in full view Of the court room the prosecu-
Tor aSed the witness ibid you that beforc p
Nj MrlIIuey took the uudershirr aud said Yes u
j. The uniC shirt Inch the body OF Officer Smith
he cAt ie murdered" Putting his fingers n lie
holes hc said, " these the cusnadc when the stab
wounds were inflicted"
A this evidence every eve in the turned to
w1ri Mrs smith The jurors, who sat between The pri
'ne ana the witness frequently turu,d heir heads from
rh' garment 10 Mr.. -uIth, ana c.o-cIy watched Ler
couutcu iucr. when the shirt was first shown. Mps
Smiths face turned pale ami few tears trcked down
her cheeks but tie witness referred 10 the cuts IN
tAc SHIRT tie prisoner los, hes .outr5l and wept bit
teriv Low Sob- Verc occasionally hcard ~ she leaned
fOrWi.G char aud coIcca yd Acr Ia with htni-
AerrA,. For Oh, f.s time l.rl- I'd. tr BrEue;; was
seemingly impressed and 81, ewes Wo't'ued "a d, sat
mtcn.y list min. to the replies o. the policeman. A
Whit shirt WIS next shown witness and re raio.
" also uy officer smith, and the holes are
the oil the kll.c. And ms is a .arfaercuet
found ~ cellar II has t,ie blood on it too' dAr"
comforter WAS produced. THIS covered tho part
OF the cody" tue witness said, "uut t4erc 10 blood
s;Das on IT," Il. was asked Do You discover any
holes u t'ati' cannot" ne replied. similar quilt
was shown and tAe sam reply was gwen.
bolster, on one end OF wIica WAS circle o. dry
blood was mex; handed witness. TINS he said
pointing tG- bloody spot l. whei, the officers head
las when 1 saw um ia the bed. His tacc was tucned
slightly 10 the r-u," Notice the other part Of The
bolster where Mrs. smiths mead rest-G," said the Dis
trct-Attorucy; there u blood that glso. DO yJU
know Z blood was there when first saw tie BOZ
stcr ." Il think not" he Teuuei. When tine
bolster was taken from the bed II doubled NJ
and the blood neIug wet Il disgured that end" The
climax Was reached when the pillow was One
SIDE WIS perfectly clean, ana The other presented
sickeulug spec acle OF tack cOtted blood. Tns,'
said he officer continuing, over harry's face and
vas lad that way (.hovIns its pOsitOn) TINS sneet
was under him, and the blood stgcamed down the pill
low and upon the sheet Captain Lennon BANDED me
this towel There tue impression OF hand IN Do0d
on IT," Tue prisoners counsel quickly took up the
EXAMINATION and diverted attention from the gar
by referring to another part OF the OceEs test
rnony.
Che; Nathan testified that be converted wish Bennett
few minutes after bis arrest. The Chief asked Ben
nett Why didn't you over betOrei' And nc re-
Piled, didn't know anything about It until Satur-
day. Why did you not come over then q " ia not
want 10 be locked up over sunday. But they nave
bounded me 30 much came over 10 give myself up
I. Where have you been !" the Chief asked. That
don't propose 70 TELL" he answered. Sergeant simmons
aed that he arrested Bennett IN the street. directly
IN front OF Police Headquarters. Bennett was taking
with friend. and had come over to give himself up
Issac Hughes an inmate OF the jail with Bennett, said
he often heard Bennett talking % himself IN his room
About O'Clock, on the morning OF October H. ne
heard Bennett talking il the bathroom. He said TO
one OF the NEIL Three months ago to-day murdered
a mani don't mean Harry smith, but people may
think co." On cxamEasiDn the witness sad tAaI
Bennett was in habit OF repeating quotations from
shakeskeare He frequently became STACEY aud
nossipy he used those words in dramatic sense" the
witness said Henry TnOrp, another inmate OF the jail
test fed 20 the same thing. He also said he was In
.tructed 70 secure some OF Benefits handwriting lie
saw Bennett wiring one night and aerward saw him
tear ND the paper into small pieces. He watched MIN
throw the pie the sink aud then secured them AL
The next day gave tae scraps Of paper TO the pros
ecutor He also admitted THAI he was told 10 "dtch
Bennett to what he did and st"n to what ne had 20
say The sleeve-buttons which were Identified as the
proper-y OF Officer smith, We're shown 10 the witness
VI "a q he zaw them with Bennett " one Jay
he said Bennett threw them down me tHl ana
eafi tcv might be- used evidence picked them mp
aud handed them oacA 20 l: tn.HAf ,ny ,., o
nation that had been III the Penitent'ary Once ~ ne
state Prison twice and IN jail fnnr times K X quad,
Iuird inmate Of the JAIL testified against Benne'. lie
l.I heard him make the remark about having Nilec
man He also saw Bennett standing hy the WINDOW OF
thr iall The partly open, anu ne concluded
euupft was acting In q suspicious manner On cross
examination IL was ELECTED that be ana bennett we're
NOT ON good t-rInA Did YOU not say - MIN one Day
a.k.I Judge Hoffman yOu Fuisc-i cndlr IN the
ar WI, knock your brains out just the same as you
smashed the brains OF Harry smith = 1ne witness
Indignantly de- led tins -
Th- case was then adjourned until Monday morning
M McCil expects then To produce The letters written
fn "
tualy accused himself % tne crime.