The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-01-07
Emma Abbott's Death Re-
calls How She Saved
Cove Bennett and Jen-
ME Smith From
the GalloWs.
THOUSAND DOLLARS RAISED.
story of a Famous Trial Revived
by the Great Singers Death
Mrs. Smiths History.

The death Of Miss Emma Abbott, CMrs.
Wetherill in fact), while discharxinz an
engagement in the West. recalls to mem
ory the Drettiest incident Of one Of the
most exciting murder trials New Jersey
has known Of late years. IL may be said
that TO her efforts mainly was due the es-
cape Of Cove Bennett and Mrs- Jennie
Smith from suffering death on the eaIloHs
Tor the brutal murder IN his bed at mid
night OF Mrs Smiths husband Mrs.
smith and Bennett were both lodged in
jail on suspicion. The case the State had
against them was not conclusive one by
any means; but the circumstances point
Ing TO them were Of such q nature that
the prosecuting authorities felt at liberty
to set a spy on them.
THE TELLTALE LETTER
A woman who bad accused herself Of
the murder Of her babe and was sent TO
lai 70 await trial, was set TO watch them
Cove bennett's cell was directly over
Mrs Smiths cell in the County Jail. One
morning letter dangling at the end Of q
length Of cotton, from the cell window
overhead. nuttered outside the barred
window Of Mrs. Smiths cell. She seized
u. read 1t. and threw it away. But the
female spy, who had seen the whole
transaction. secured it snd placed It ia
the hands OF Prosecutor McGfll. now the
Chancellor.
Bennett had written it to Mrs. Smith.
It's purpose no one knows TO this day. Il
was apparently designed to keep up Mrs.
smith g courage and to prevent her from
giving Bennett away. When they were
put on the stand their explanations OF the
misstve were so damaging that the jurors
became satisfied OF their guilt and con-
victed them.
The public OF Jersey City seemed gen
orally 70 approve Of the verdict, and the
couple were led back to jail 20 await the
day OF DOOM But the story Of their con-
viction with descriptions Of Mrs. Smiths
youth and blonde beauty got into the
New York papers. and aroIsed a wide in
terest in their fate. Miss Abbott was
then in New YORK. Her spmpathies be-
came aroused. She came over to the ial
and was smitten with the charms of Mrs
Smiths person and manners.
why don't you appeal 20 the higher
conrtsf' she asked Of the unhappy wo-
I'VE have no money" was the re-
sponse.
How much Will be nesdedfn
dollars"
you shall have it.D
MONEY FOR APPEAL
AS good as her word. Miss Abbott
started OUT 10 raise the funds. She gave
the net proceeds OF an afternoon concert
to fund for the condemned couple and
went around among the rich men of New
York soliciting subscriptions TO save q
beautiful woman from death No one
could refuse an appeal from the noted
songstress in person, and it was not long
before the entire amodnt needed was in
hand, and the appeal from Judge
Knapp's death sentence was put under
way.
While the appeal was pending, Miss
Abbott frequently visited the condemned
pair. and scarcely a sun went down with
ouG gift 70 Mrs. Smith at her hands Of
beautiful bouquets Of flowers. It wa not
long before she had aroused q warm pub
lie sympathy for the woman, and on all
sides the demand came that she be gwen
a second chance for her life The wave OF
popular sentiment reached the Supreme
Court bench and the decision on the ap-
peal, when it was handed down, set aside
the sentence Of death and ordered the
Prosecutor to take them before jury
again
At the second trial the fateful letter
was offered IN evidence again- But nei-
ther the woman nor Bennett went on the
stand TO explain it. Mr.. Winfield, who,
with ex-Judge William T. Hoffman. ex-
Mayor Collins and Counsellor James
Flemming, represented the defence, sur
prised the community, in fact, BY offer
ing no evidence in opposition to the
States.
TIE LEvEE AT THE JAIL
The jurors were absent for an hour
Then they returned with q verdict Of
mot guilty" Mrs. Smith walked back
TO the Jail In triumph, and while await
ing her formal discharge held q levee
that far excelled any fete day the jail had
in to shake hands and offer their cor
Wine bottles popped their
corks and bouquets were sent in by the
score.
The justice Of the verdict, as far as Mrs.
Smith was concerned has not been
doubted since. IL is now known that she
had no part in the murder, anu that the
extent Of her Offending was possibly only
the shielding Of the guilty party. When
they quit the court room. Bennett and
she parted forever. Mrs. Smith would
have nothing 70 do with him. He took
''the road" as player in minor parts,
and is yet connected with some troupe.
but studiously eenceals his identity.
Grace Episcopal Church took Mrs
Smith to its arms, and tried to make an
other and a better woman OF her. But
she dropped ont Of the fold, and, il was
said afterwards. married a young man
whose acquaintance she made at the jail
How true this Is no one Knows II they
ever did marry they separated, and Mrs.
Smith sought living for herself
A H0ODOO.
Two years and half ago Coffee shot
and killed his paramour in the presence
of his wife and family in their rooms be-
hind his little grocery store on Hender-
son street. Enquiry as 10 the other in-
mates in the house resulted in the dis
eovery that Mrs. Smith was tenant Of an
upper floor room. Her fellow tenants in
sisted that she hoodooed the building.
and threatened 10 move out unless she
left. She went away and nothing definite
about her has since been heard. The
rumors about her, however. are not COM
10 her.
She has grown stout and coarse look
ing Of late years, and no one would think
to look at her that she had once BY her
beauty aroused the sympathies Of all the
Eastern section Of the country.
An Artistic Programme.
An attractive feature OF the perfor-