Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-04
The Murder Of TilIie smith.
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY IN THE TRIAI-A ROPE
FOUND ON TITUS.

FOUND ON TITUS.
The fourth day OF the trial of Janitor Titus for
the murder Of Title Smith at Belvidere, N. J.,
attracted q large attendance, the court room
being crowded. Young girls were excluded.
Charles Munich, the young drummer, testi-
fed that after he and Tillie Smith LETT the
other girls on the night OF the murder, they
walked straight to the institute gate, passed
through IL distance Of about thirty feet, and
stood talking while the lights were being ex.
tngutshed In the institute. He heard some
one lock the front door Oh the institute. Title
then said that she must go, and that she would
enter the institute by the laundry door. Wit
ness looked at his watch, and found that Il was
just ten minutes after 10 o'clock. Tillie started
towards the institute and witness went back TO
the American house. In the reading room Of
the hotel he told his friend Haring in Joking
manner that he had been intimate with Tillie
In the Institute ground. This boast, however,
the institute at the time OF the murder testi-
ned that he stood at the window OF his room, In
the 1,s front on part Of The building few minutes
woman had entered the grounds by the front
gate. They conversed a lew minutes and
separated. Harry Smith, Nivera's roommate,
corroborated Vivera's testimony. Vim. Van
SICKLE testified that six weeks before the
murder Titus had made lascivious remarks
Rev. Or. Whitney, president Of the institute,
destined regarding the duties of Titus. As Jam
ltor and Waterman, Titus, after ringing the bell
at ten O'Clock, should lock all the doors and
close the windows, and during the night attend
TO the furnaces in the basement. The regula-
lions OF the institute compelled the servants out
late at night to enter by the laundry door at
the rear OF the building, through which the state
claims Title did enter, and was assaulted and
ther testified that Titus had told him that be-
lore he rang the last bell ON the night OF the
murder he repaired = bedstead In a students
room. This detained him, and IL was twenty
minutes after len before he locked the doors,
closed the windows and reached the furnace
room in the basement. Alter attending to the
N wa rod md 4 hxa
Institute building, but saw no one. Titus had
also told him that he did not 90 to see Title 8
body after IL WAS discovered, but that he did 20
TO the place where the body was found. Titus
claimed that he first heard of the murder on the
DAY the body Was found. He heard some one
In his yard telling OF 1t as he lay in bed. Sem
ator Snipman asked for an adjournment until
Monday MOI ming, because of the poor state of
Titus health. Senator Shipman said that Titus
mad been unable TO consult with his counsel on
account of his extremely nervous condition, and
he was afraid he would break down. The chief
justice granted the request OF the defense:
The sheriff permitted Titus to exercise in the
jail corridor on Sunday the brisk walk bringing
faint color To his cheeks. Titus will be well
enough to have the trial proceed to-day.
TITUS HAD A ROPE In HIS POCKET.
A special from Belvidere TO the New York
Tribune says IL is tact, despite the denials Of
the officials having him In charge, that Titus
had rope concealed on his person on Wednes-
day. Sheriff Van Camper, who Is resi- onsible
for the safe custody OF the prisoner, acknowl-
edges that he had searched Titus on Wednesday
afternoon after the adjournment OF court. In
the hip pocket OF his trousers the sheriff found
small piece of rope which looked as III IL had
been used as a sash rope In a window. Titus
refused 10 tell where he obtained the rope; but
said It had been in his possession for some time
The rope was less than yard long and had a
knot at one end. The sheriff denies that poison
had been found on the prisoner, or in his cell.
1t is said that the prisoner il almost complete
wreck and he may break down either mentally
or physically NJ any moment Titus lawyers
think that prisoner, one Holbert, now await
ing action OF the grand jury on q charge OF
swindling, gave Titus the rope in the Jail,
and then told the sheriff that Titus had
taken it.