Evening star., 1886-09-28
Tillie Smiths Murder.
THE STORY OF THE TRAGEDY-pREPARAT
A TIL

THE STORY OF THE TRAGEDY-PREPARATIONS
FOR JANIToR TITUS TRIAL.
The trial OF James J. Titus, the janitor of the
Centenary Collegiate Institute at Hacket,s-
town, n J., for the murder of Matilda Smith, a
servant girl employed in that institution, be-
gins at Beividere n. j., to-day, before Chief
Justice Beasley. There is much interest in the
trial. and MANY people have gone to Belv idere
TO attend the proceedings.
The murder occurred on the night of Thurs.
day, April 3. Tiilie Smith, the murdered girl,
was servant employ ed in the big boarding
school i'll HackettstOwu. She cam. To work at
the seminary about Christmas time. On the
night she met her horrible fate there was some
sort OF an entertainment in Shields halt in
the village, and lille went TO il alone. When
1t was over, Il few minutes before ten o'clock,
she walked rapidly OFT toward the seminary.
After going short distance She tell in with
some girls Oh her acquaintance, and With them
were Two young men, Munich and Aaring,
who were drumlnerS from Port Jervis. They
had arrived in Hackettstown that evening
Munnich asked permission to escort Tillie
10 the seminary ana she consented. AS they
approached tine building the lights in its win.
dows went out, and Iillie remarked that she
was locked out, but that she could get in by the
back door. She st.rted to go around to the
servants quarters in the rear, and that was the
last time sne was seen alive by nyDody save
her murderer.
On the next morning her dead body was
found in an open field which joined the semi
nary grounds. 1t lay just over the fence. The
dress and limbs were composed, the hat had
been placed carefully by her head, and there
been carried TO where they were found and
laid decently upon the ground. On the neck
were plain marks OF the fingers OF mans
hand, which had evidently ciuLcned the throat
with deadly ierocity. the clothing was soiled
ana torn, AN earring was torn out Of one OF the
ears. and it was evident the poor girl had fought
with the fury of a tigress to project her honor.
She had been outraged.
Suspicion turned at once upon the young
drummer Munnich and his companion, and
they were arrested. Both showed unquestion-
ably that they were at the hotel u fe w minutes
alter 10 O'Clock; that they Went to bed soon
aIterward, and tnat there was no possibility of
their having committed the deed. Then a
group ot village boys were suspected, and the
detective who was put upon the case raised the
carried to vacant barn near where her body
was found. This theory was exploded, and the
detective abandoned The case hopeless
mystery.
A careful study of all the surroundings how
ever, led 10 The belief in many peoples minds
that the crime was committed by some one
very familiar with the routine OF Lille in the
seminary, and suspicion turned upon the jani-
tor, James j. Titus He is little more than 30
years Old. lie had borne reputation Tor
sobriety, strong religious leaninss and eau
tious, weli-Ordered lie. But the Ueliet grew SO
strong in the minu Ot the prosecuting attorney
that the murdered girl must have walked
straight into the janitOrs hands alLer she lett
her escort at the gate that lie put Detective
SimOns, VINO is one OF the ablcst detectives in
AL Ibis part Ct New Jersey, at work on the case.
The result was the arrest vi Titus abOuta month
alter the muruer had been committed. II had
plciOn, aud he made preparations TO meet the
wOrDL by employing counsel and consulting
with his frieiiuS. he engaged his cOnnSel
Juuge Chipmau, OF Belviucrc, VINO will be AS
sisted by MIR. Mercer Beasiey, jr., u son OF the
Chief justice vino Is TO presiue al the trial. The
prosecuting attorney, MIR. sylvester Z. smith,
will be assisted by Henry .. Harris. who Ior-
merly represented the district III Congress. 1t
Was expected that Attorney General John F.
Stockton would assist the prosecution, but he
has decided not 10 take part.
The town is already So Iuli OF people, says a
dispatch TO the New York Sum- who nave come
to attend the Trial that il Is Impossible to get "A
room al the hotels. Detective Mcclellan of
suOpOenaS on witnesses ia the case. There arr.
now more than 100 witnesses for the state
alone. II is said the deieuse has subp oeuaed
thlriy-eiSht, anl that many more viii be called
TO be adopted, buL many beiieve that an elIOrt
Will DC lii;iue to get The accused OFT on the
ground OF emotional insanity. IL is understood
that almost all oi the Witnesses SO lar sub
EHnaed by ihc defense havc been subpoenaed
Win u view 10 c:isii!,Sl Il ShLtiow upon the muir.
0ered EirPs character; but OIL Lhe other hand a
crowd vi witnesses CAN be Produced who will
testify to the excellence OF her Character aud to
her dislike Of evil associations.
Titus lS sait by those who have means nf
learning pretty accurately lis conuition tn he
badly broken up. One official expressed it as
his OpiniOa yesterday that Titus would moi
stand IL two u.Js after the stale began 10 pro-
ducc its evidence. Titus Is by no means n man
be secured Tor two or three day s. US Titus law
yerS Will sift tue panel Very thoroughly The
Trial Is likely To last u week or ten davs and
perhaps longer, as there Is u great deal Of ex.
which Will be very carefully Overhauled ON
crOSs-exalnination. Titus aged lnotner his
vile, and several other relatives are exnectad
10 attend tic Trial.