The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-12
young woman had passed the crisis. hav-

Young woman had passed the crisis, hav-.
ing been given an emetic immedi
ately after her condition become known.
Dr. Bradford. however, applied some
prompt remedies. and by the time the
family physicians had arrived had brought
her out of danger.
The only reason she assigned for the
deed was that she was prosecuted. and
she didn't want TO live any longer. Since
her unsuccessful attempt on her life, Miss
Benson has been closely watched lest
another attempt at self-destruction might
be successful Although still much dis
tressed in mind her condition is very
much improved.
IN VIEW OF THE DISCLOSURES
made BY johnson, an application for u
new trial was made on behalf of Craig,
and the case came up to-day for herring.
The defendant wass brought mp from
prison at 10 o'clock and placed in
the dock, but the matter was not
taken up until the regular bust
ness of the day had been disposed of by
Judge Yerkes Gen McCandless who
appeared as private counsel for Miss
Benson, said that the young lady was
too i'll to attend court, and for her sake
he had suggested to counsel on. the other
side that the matter. be heard in private.
Mr.. Heyerlin of counsel for the defend
ant said that he did not wish to give
publicity to the proceedings, in view of
certain testimony that was likely to be
adduced. Assistant district attorney
Breezy said that he had no desire to put
the matter before the public, but for the
protection of the court he thought that
the proceedings should be conducted in
Al nd col . ,..
the letters which had been submitted to
him would be read in private. and he
hear whatever else counsel had to pre-
sent in support of their motion for new
trial. Mr. Heverin said that after Miss
Benson had told her story in court he
was sosthoroughly impressed with its truth
fulness that he had advised his Client
to plead guilty. Since the trial, however,
certain facts had come to his knowledge.
and the motion for new trial was based
on after discovered testimony.
JAMES JOHNSON WAS THEN SWORN.
And said he was an optician, and had
worked for J. w, Queen 81 Co., for five
YEAR,, and had also been in the employ
of John Waaamaker. He was taken sick
on the first of the yeas, and when he
he went TO New York, where
he remained for some time. He had
gone to school with Miss Benson, and
new her quite well. She had CORES
pended with him off and on for two
years He claimed that he lad improper
relations with her in 1880 and 1881, and
he identified number of letters which
she had written to him which corrobor-
ated his allegations. He did not want to
appear in the case at first, because he
thought that Craig would be acquitted
without him When ten years and six
months were given, however, he disclosed
what he knew, and was advised to go on
the stand. She had also told the witness
that she had been criminally intimate
with others. Witness always made a
practice of keeping his letters.
George Macburney, who is engaged in
the oil business or Arch street, declined
to say whether he had taken improper
liberties with Miss Benson, but he iden-
tilted number of letters which it was
claimed she had written to him asking
him to meet her etc He also said that
when he accused her of being gay she
said that a Mr. Ross, druggist, had been
with her.
The Judge was of the opinion from the
testimony that the defendant ought not
to have been convicted, and that a jury
should pass upon the matter He fixed
the bail for Craig at $4,000 which was
entered by William McAdoo, the de
former bondsman.