Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-28
Chase Taylor Libel Trial Draws q
Huge Crowd.
CROSS EXAMINING THE WITNESSES
Women Testiying as to Actions
of the Recorder. %
WENT INTO MYSTERIES

w ulie ucdFiy every seat III tuc CouEt TIoHi
was filled this morning when the case Of
VIM. Calvin Chase, charged with criminal
ly libeling Mr.. C. H. J. Taylor of Kansas.
the District recorder of deeds, was re-
stunned the great crowd Of moroidly curl
GUS people at the doors were excluded.
This step was taken by Marshal Wilson in
the interest of decency and order, the dis
gusting details developed by witnesses yes
terday afternoon having caused not
little disorder and having given rise today
to a tremendous pressure for admittance
to the court room. Therefore, only MEM
bers OF the bar and those directly connect
ed with the case were admitted. 1t was
surprising. however. how very many were
members Of the bar, and how many insist
ed that they were directly connected with
the case. Before the trial proceeded Judge
Cole cautioned the audience to keep quiet.
and directed the court officers to enforce
the order.
A Characterization.
Miss Benseman, the witness who was on
the stand when the court adjourned yes
terday, was then recalled for cross-ex-
animation.
Yesterday afternoon Laura N. Benseman
had testified that she called to see Mr..
Taylor at the suggestion of the Rev. P. H.
White, who was the first witness for the
government. Mr.. Taylor promised her
place. but told her that she must be his
friend. She met him subsequently at his
private office, 1913 Indiana avenue, where,
according to her testimony, he made a pro-
posal to her which she had declined This
proposition had been renewed on another
occasion.
In commencing his cross-examination of
Miss Benseman today District Attorney
Birney inquired where she got her name.
The witness replied that she got 1t. she
supposed, from her mother. She came here
from Los Angeles, Cal, last April, partly
on business and partly on pleasure. While
here she had lived with Mrs. Jones. She
left her because Mrs. Jones said she might.
The witness denied being made to leave
because of her behavior there with men.
Miss Bezseman admitted that she drank,
hut not harder than other people," She
admitted dancing the can-can at Mrs.
man called Boston or another man were
present. She thought only women were
present. Miss Benseman stated that she
could not say how many times she was
drunk at Mrs. Jones'. From Mrs. Jones'
she went to live with a Mrs. Stokes, on o
street, but the witness refused to say how
many times she had been drunk there, or
whether she had been unduly intimate
with a man there. From Mrs. Stokes she
was hired to go to take care of Mrs. Gar
rett, an old woman. She left there at the
request of Mr.. Taylor. The witness adj
mitted telling Mr.. Boston that Mr.. Tay-
Tor had treated her in a gentlemanly man
ner, but 1t was not true. She first told
Mrs. Jones OF Mr.. Taylor's proposals. and
subsequently told Mr.. Hewlett and others
of it.
At Mrs. CARROTS.
Miss Benseman said that she left Mrs.
Garrett at the direction Of Mr. Taylor,
but denied that he requested her to leave
because of her misconduct. Il left" she
explained, because he said I.see that we
can never become friends" The witness
said that she visited Mr.. Taylor at 1888 In
diana avenue three times and was willing
to accept employment from him because
she needed work.
To Mr.. Langston Miss Benseman stated
that Mr.. Taylor hired her to attend Mrs.
Garrett, he promising to give her the place
in the government printing Office held by
Mrs. CARROTS deceased daughter. On the
objection of the district attorney the wit
ness was not allowed to state what &C.
CURED there between Mr.. Taylor and her.
Mr., Taylor objected to her receiving the
attentions of friend, a barber, as he
could not then introduce her in the society
of Mr.. Langston, Ex-Governor Pinchback
and other honorable gentlemen.
"Ah. that was very kind of Mr.. Taylor"
remarked Mr.. Langston. Now, Miss Ben
seman, you do not drink wine to a greater
extent than most ladies. do your
mo, SIR
You have not been in the habit of be-
coming intoxicated?"
'tNo, sir, ] have been so very seldom"
called upon Mr.. Taylor"
YES sir. Perfectly so.''
That concluded the testimony of Miss
Benseman, and Mr.. Langston called Mrs.
Amanda Hill, colored woman.
Mrs. Hill stated that she was a widow
and lived at 1892 10Th street. Her husband
died the 10th of last July. She then lived
at another number. A number Of persons
employed by Mr.. Taylor boarded with her
fhRra q hor
husbands death. came into her room,
caught her in his arms, kissed her, and
placed his hand Familiarity on her person
Subsequently he called, and, claiming to be
i'll, asked permission to lie upon her bed
She refused to allow him to do so. when he
declared he would get even with her. Her
daughter was employed in the recorders
Office. and Mr.. Taylor subsequently told
her that she could not longer continue in
his employment
Mrs. Hill was asked II a difficulty had
not occurred at her house between Mr.
Taylor and White over some women, but
the question was ruled out. Then, before
Mr.. Birney could proceed to cross-examine
Mrs. Hill, she created quite a sensation
in court by bursting into tears and sob
bing that she was very miserable, with
no one to protect her. She could not be
Gained, and at length Judge Cole directed
that she retire from the court room, to
be called back when she had sufficiently
recovered herself.
wanted Protection.
Court officers then led the woman away,
and Mr.. Langston called as his next wit
ness young colored man, who stated
his name to be c. L. Barnes, and that he
was a pension office employee The witness
testified that he had, been a social and
political friend Of Mr.. Taylor and had fire.
quently visited him at his Office
did you take messages" asked Mr.
Langstoh, from Taylor to women?"
Before I answer that" stated the wit
ness, Il would like to have the protection
of the court, for 1 have been told that
what I said would injure me-"
Judge Cole cut short the matter by
sternly directing the witness to answer the
questions asked him. The witness then
stated that MIR. Taylor directed him to see
two young women in his office one a white
worpan, and tell them that If they wished
to retain Office they must do as he wished.
The witress explained that the young wo-
men were so innocent that he refused to
carry MIR. Taylor's message. Mr.. Taylor
then asked hiEl to carry an invitation to
young colored woman in the office to go
down tho river with him CTaylor) on the
Lady Of the Lake. The young woman re-
fused to go, and subsequently was fur
Laughed, as was the young white woman.
Mr. TAYLOR the yyitneSs said then rano rIr al