Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-06
Severe ON JanitOr Titus.

HOW HE ACTED AFTER THE MURDERED GIRL 5
BODY WAS FOUND.
The trial OF James j. Titus for the murder of
Tillie Smith. the Hackettstown seminary do
nestle. was resumed at Belvidere Monday.
Rev. DIR. whitney, president of the institute,
testified that he heard that Titus had said when
the servants stayed out late he was not allowed
To let them in the building. He asked Titus
why he had said IL, and Titus said he didn't
know. The witness told Titus that articles in
the New York newspapers against him made out
strong case. Titus said yes, IL looked bad.
Titus complained because detectives aud re-
porters were searching about the institute
building, and expressed wish that they would
Keep away. Titus asked DIR. Whitney II he
wanted the floor In the linen dryingroom
swept. and was told no; but he subsequently
ordered a girl to sweep it. Titus once asked II
he ought TO employ a lawyer, and DIR. Whitney
said no; but when Titus said he would like TO
talk with Lawyer Allen. DIR. Whitney said he
saw no objections. Detective Mcclellan re-
quested an interview with Titus and DIR. Whit
ney I'm the latters study. The detective said 10
Titus: "You know who committed this MUIR
der, or you did IL yourself" Titus stood pale
and still until Detective Mcclellan repeated his
remark several times, when he said: II am
innocent"
At the afternoon session of the Titus murder
trial Nathan Smith, of Waterton, y. j., testi-
ned that the murdered girl was nineteen years
oil age. Titus counsel tried 10 make this wit
ness admit that Title had been wild; but he
Mrs. Ella Ruckle matron of the institution
testified that on the night OF the murder she
was in her bedroom at the time the last bell
was rung. She heard no screams or cries that
night. The next morning she missed Tillie and
asked for her. She was told Tillie had not re-
turned after going down town the previous
night. That evening Titus was I'm to supper
Witness said TO him: "That was a terrible thing
that happened last night" Titus answered
yes, and stated that he first heard Of the
murder at noon. Titus wanted witness TO visit
his mother. lie said: 81 feel very sorry tor my
mot her, tor this will kill her." He also said his
lille had not been as pure as ii ought to have
been. but he would not commit such "A crime as
that. He asked IL the man who killed Tillie
would be hanged.
Titus had told him about going to the potato
cellar with Tiliie. He told Titus that he had
ca'led at his house early on the morning the
body was found to tell HIM about the murder,
out could not obtain admittance Titus said he
had disconnected the Wire of the door-beil, be
cause the ringing of the bell disturbed him too
early In the morning. Witness heard Titus tell
Dr. Whitney he thought Title came in and
went to her room.
Jacob Deremer and Henry Stoddard testified
that Titus was pale, nervous and excited the
morning after the murder before the finding OF
the body.
DIR. John S. Cook described the condition of
the body when found and the post mortem ex-
animation. He testified that death was caused
by straDguiation, and that the murdered girl
was pure at the time She was stricken down.
She was in dying condition when outraged.
Yesterday, DIR. Levi OFT, of Easton, Pa, who
made InIcroscopical examinations of the cloth
Ing OF the murdered girl corroborated the testi-
mony OF Dr. Cook. Neil Maieson a Danish
student at the Institute, assisted Titus in his
work. Titus said he did not want any assist
ance on the night OF the murder. George
that he often took familiarities with Title on
the stairs.