The Portland daily press., 1882-04-19
JENNIE CRAMER.
Opening of the Trial at New
Haven.
ONLY THREE JURORS IMPANELEB-
REVIEW OF THE SAD AFFAIR.

New HAVEN, April 1S-The trial of Walter
e. Malley, James Malley and Annie Kearns
alias Blanche Douglass, charged with the MUIR
der of Jennie e. Cramer opened in the
Superior Court this forenoon before Judge
Granger. State Attorney Doolittle and Charles
X Bush of Orange appear for the prosecution.
The prisoners arrived shortly before ten. The
crowd before the building to get sight OF the
prisoners was immense: HUNDREDS more tnan
could be accommodated applied for admission,
but Judge Granger will not allow the room
to be crowded. The panel consists OF 20 and
as each name will be closely scanned by the
counsel, each side being entitled to ~ peremp-
tory challenges (the challenges for cause not
counting aud being unlmited) it is expected
that some days will be consumed panelling
jury. That work began this morning and at
1l25 out of 10 OF the panel called two were
chosen as jurors-Silas Benham OF Hamden
and Merwin W. Tuttle Of North Haven. The
defence will claim that Jennie E. Cramer was
an habitual arsenic eater for the purpose OF
improving her complexion and will also claim
that she suicided.
State Attorney Doolittle and Charles
x. Bush of Orange appear for the
Hartford, William G. Case of Simsburg,
Levi N. Blydenburgh and Timothy j. Fox OF
New Haven for the Malleys, Mr. Case APP
pearing for Walter and Mr.. Jones appearing
forsJames. The court has assigned ex-Judge
William b. Stoddard and e. G. Dow to defend
Blanche Douglass The Malley boys were
driven from the jail to the court house in
covered carriage, in the custody of Sheriff
Tucker and arrived at twenty minutes before
ten, going directly to the court room. Blanche
Douglass was brought down by Jailer Stevens,
and large crowds Of both sexes congregated in
front of the court house to get look at Der.
She was attired in black silk dress, with
wide lace collarette, fastened with plain
gold bar. The boys were attired in dark
clothes,
LATER.
Daniel Loyeioy of New Haven was selected
as the third juroe 81 of the jury panel being
exhausted. At 124S the court took recess
till2 p. m.
A Review of the Sad Affair.
The body of Jennie Cramer was found float
ing on the West Haven beach by Asa Curtiss,
clam digger on the morning Of August 9th,
and although there were no marks of violence
on her person, with the exception of slight
bruise on her forehead, it was quickly ascer-
tanned that she had been seen in the company
of the Malleys and the Douglass woman, and
suspicion pointed directly to them. Before
the Coroner's jury had returned a verdict
preliminary hearing was instituted before
Justice Booth by the authorities of Orange,
and the Malley boys were arrested and lodged
in jail. The Douglass woman, by the advice OF
the Malleys, left New Haven for NewYork two
or three days after the finding of the body, and
officers were sent after her, and she returned
being confined at the house Of Sheriff Peck in
West Haven until the conclusion of the pre-
liminary hearing, when she was sent to the
county Jail. Both Malley boys and the
Douglass woman perjured themselves in their
testimony before the Coroner's jury. The
preliminary hearing lasted over two months,
and, at the conclusion, Justice Booth commit
ted the Malley boys to Jail without bail to
await the action of the grand jury, Blanche
Douglass being committed for perjury. The
grand jury found true bill, and, Walter E.
Maley, James Malley and Blanche Douglass
were indicted for murder in the first degree.
The State rest their case upon one count-that
Jennie Cramer came to her death by arsenic
administered by the accused. Before the body
was buried portion of the remains were taken
to be andlyzed by Prof Chittenden of Yale
College, and arsenic was found. A few months
ago the body was exhumed, and other portions
of it taken and thoroughly analyzed by Prof.
Chittenden, and it is asserted that three grains
OF arsenic were found in her system The de-
fence will claim that Jennie Cramer was an
habitual arsenic eater for the purpose of i'm
proving her complexion, and will also claim
that she committed suicide.