Evening journal., 1891-12-02
THE BENNETT CLAIMANT.
MRS. SUSANNA eTHEsIDGE ON
1.-THE STAND.

mhS. oOOANNA - FfEh D6E ON
1.-THE STAND.
william VI. Pyis's TsstIi. ony Raisd out.
His Wife is Allowed TO Testify-rhs
Testimony for the Defence = CIesed.
Colonel Niesds Pats His witnesses ON
ths.stand.
Court met at 2.S0 o'clock yesterday
afternoon.
Miss Bloodgood was the 6rst witness
for the defence In the Bennett will case
She said; Mrs Bennett WAS very in
firm In mind and body 0n Wednesday
Mrs. Bennett came TO their room and said
that she did not know whether they
would kill her that time. On the morn
ing Of the 9th said Miss Bloodgood saw
Mrs. Bennett lying on the bed with her
eyes closed and working her hands. Next
morning at o'clock DIR. Etheridge came
to our room and said he thought Mrs
Bennett was dying, | went down Mrs
Bennett was lying there with her eyes
closed. She was breathing hard She
had choking spell. Mir Etherdge
said that II was the death rattle When
Mrs Benefits brother, Paul Fisher came
upstairs he kissed her Her condition
WAS better on Saturday than it was on
Friday. | rem N 5sred that Me- Emmons
came 70 the house was
in my room. overheard
some Of the onversation Mrs Elmer
idge said 'Auntle, tell him what you
want him to do. Then there was some
conversation about the property Then
Mr.. Emmons asked her II she had
ever made willi She replied, No Mrs
Etheridge said Yes you did, auntie.
You made one ia Trenton After that
went iuto Mrs Bald wins with NV mother
and told them what had aeard | did
not have my ear to the key hole l was
standing or sitting. Mrs Etherldge ard
| never had quarrel. There may have
been hard feelings occasioned by the testi-
moDy before the register We thought
1t strange that they took the lawyer up
the back way through the bathroom
DIR Neids-"Dld you listen par
poselYg'
"Wi'ness-'T zee s. guess did. "
"Did you sec her on Saturday.
Yes l DOM know how many times.
She said, Poor Paul She seemed
to be delighted he said Poor
Hannshr She told my papa that she
had remembered her friends. but that no
one would know what was in the will
until she was In her grave. he had
spoken to her concerning the disposition
of her property"
Miss Bloodgood then left the stand.
APreacher on the stand.
Rev Gsorge NJ. Hickman. pastor of the
First Presby yterian Church. was called
and sworn
''On JAnusry Q, 1891, Was sent for by
Mrs. Bloodgood II was after 3 p m
went to the house. l was taken to Mrs
Benefits room through bath room
found her sitting IN a rocking chair
asked her several times concerning her
health. She did net answer. / helped
put her In her bed at Mrs Etheridge' s
suggestion. ! asked her II she believed
in the Saviour. She said oh, yes
prayed with her. When left she said:
Come again Next day went again. |
was shown into the room in the same
way saw Mrs Bennett in bed. / sug-
gested Scripture reading Mr. E.heridge
said that itwould annoy her. The doctor
wanted her kept quiet began quoting the
2od psalm. ] suggt sted that next day as
would be busy. 1 thought IL would
I tANa1I AOA W cGH nOAAt VI ucI ALItuuH.
Mrs. Etheridge said that the doctor had
forbidden her. l called during the next
week, but did not get TO see her. She
was a very sick woman, and was sur.
pIised to see her out of bed From the
facts aud circumstances connected with
my visit. | am decidedly Of the opinion
that on the days on which saw her she
was In no condition to make a will. Mrs
Etheridge told ms that she kept the doors
leading into Mrs. Benefits room locked
for the purpose Of keeping out a child.
| was there about fifteen minutes. had
never seen her before The answer TO
my question, do you know JesusT was
given just as anyone would say it"
Mr. Nields-"W Would you have prayed
with her II she was unconsciousT
Mr.. Hilles-"Don't answer that
Your homer, he asked the witness If he
would have prayed with her If she was
unconscious. Is that riRht3"
Judge Houston-"DOes Mr.. Nields
doubt the mental capacity of Mr. Hick.
man, to make prayer for an unconscious
personY
Nields-"oh, no. Not in the least. .
Laughter
Witness-"When | asked Mrs Bennett
any questions to make her talk Mrs.
Etheridge was very quick to help her
out. She seemed to follow the answers
made by her niece. do not think that
she understood fully what she said.
The Ex-Postmastsr Sworn.
Ex- Postmaster William NJ. Pyle was
sworn. The question arose as to how far
he, as an executor and beneficiary could
testify. Pending argument upon the
question court adjourned until 10 o'clock
this morning.
The will case drew its weary length
along again this morning before Judge
Cullen and Houston. At 2 80 o'clock
argument as to whether Mr.. Pyle's evil
denee should be admitted began. At
its conclusion the Court ruled his
evidence out
His wife Could Talk
Mrs. William N. Pyle was sworn Il
have known Mrs Bennett for many years.
We were always very friendly. She
visited at oar house We did net use
undue inhusnce. Mrs. Bennett went to
Trenton three tlmss-twice with my
husband and once with my daughter.
After Mrs. Bennett returned to King
street, this city, l went to see her and
was refused by Mrs. Bthsridge. was
admitted to the parlor and we had 9
stormy interview. / did not get to see
Mrs Bennett