Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-22
THE BELT CASE TESTIMONY.
Benton Charged With
Perjury.

THE HEARING IN THE POLICE COURT TO-DAY.
There was hearing in the Police Court to-day
in the case of ex-Policeman W lillian T. Benton,
charged with perjury alleged to have been COM
mitted in giving testimony in the interest Of
Eugene Belt, of Baltimore, a party to the cele-
brated divorce case. Benton, it is charged,
falsely and cOrruptly swore before the commits
sioner in the case referred to that while patrol.
ing his beat on which house 17O6 l. street is
situated, in the winter OF 1870 he found the
door OF said house open on three separate occa-
sions and he went in the house each time; that on
the third occasion he heard a lady and gentle
man talking in a bed room; that the lady came
From what he understood he should judge the
lady Mrs. Godfrey (meaning Mrs. Alice
Beltl, and he identified her photograph which
was shown him. The charge against Benton
alleges that the foregoing testimony was false
in every particular. Mr.. Charles s. Moore APP
peared for Benton, and Mr.. Thomas for the gov
Mr. Coyle read the charge to the court, and
referred to the documentary evidence already
offered.
TESTIMONY TO-DAY
Mrs. Mary c. Wysong, 1913 NJ street, testified
that during the fall of 1870 and the spring of
1880 she lived in house No. 1706 L street, and
lived there from 1875 to 1888; Mrs. Godfrey
never lived there; did not remember police
officer coming to her house, nor the door being
left open during that time. Witness did not
know the defendant and did not think she had
ever seen MIN.
Col. William G. Moore, 171O l. street north
west, testified that Mrs. Wysong lived at 1905
L street during 1873 and 1879. Witness did
not know Mrs. Godfrey, nor did he ever hear
the reputation of the house questioned.
Mr.. Moore said that Mrs. Wysong's house
was carried on as respectfully as any house in
the city, and its occupants were as respectable
as those of any other house.
Witness said on cross-examination that Mrs.
aie ey IL twas was about No. TOE n' 'ef u Tue
Maj. j. NJ. Carson, 1908 L street northwest,
testified that during the fall of 1S79and spring
Witness said he called on Mrs. Godfrey on New
Year day. after her arrival in this city; she
was stopping at the Arlington hotel. Witness
did not think Mrs. Godfrey ever lived in the
neishborhood OF Mrs. Wysong's house
was doing duty on beat No. 4, OF the fourth pre-
cinct, on which Mrs. Wysong's house was sit
uated, from October 1, 1878, to November 3Oth
Of the same year, ana from May 1, lSSo, TO
duty he did not remember the defendant ever
relieving him while on that beat; never told
Benton 10 watch the house 17O6 L street, nor
did he ever have any conversation with him
regarding the house.
On cross examination witness said Mrs. Bailey
witness that some goods had been stolen from
Mrs. Baileys house and that he tBenton) recov-
cred them.
Lieutenant Guy, of the fourth precinct, pro-
duced the roll book showing the location of
Benton while doing duty in that precinct while
Lieutenant Boteer testified that from Novem-
Der 7th, 1878 to March 1st, 1879, the defend
ant was not doing duty IN that precinct
Officer Cattell gave evidence as to when Ben
ton did duty in the third precinct.
William Fl. Smith, 91S 18th street, testified
that he took the defendants testimony, given
before the commissioner, ir shorthand, and
identified a copy of the testimony as being that
which was given by Benton.
Mr. Henry Wise Garnett, who was counsel for
Mrs. Belt, gave testimony regarding the evil
dence given by Benton, particularly that pOr-
ton Of his evidence relating to the identitica-
ton of the picture Of Mrs. Belt
This closed the testimony for the prosecution.
JUDGMENT SUSPENDED.
The court suspended judgment and set the
cases of Policeman Harper and Mr.. Benjamin
GOlly for trial tomorrow.