The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-16
THE BENHAM MURDER TRIAL.
Testimony OF the Defendants Mother-The
Prosecution's witnesses Contradicted.

Prosecutions Witnesses Contradicted.
ROCHESTER,, July 15.-At 3 o'clock this after
noon the defence in the Benham murder trial 40
Batavia announced that its case was in with the
exception OF the expert testimony, and at the
request OF Benham's attorneys court adjourned
until tomorrow at 80 A. NJ, when the first Of
the expert testimony will be offered. 1t now
looks as If the case had resolved itself into Q
battle between the doctors. The people put Q
large number of medical men on the stand who
swore positively to finding evidence of prussia
acid in Mrs. Benham's remains, and the defence.
according to Mr.. Scarlet's opening plea, will
now produce an equally imposing array OF
chemists, who will with equal positiveness
swear that the conditions present at the time Of
the post-mortem examination could be produced
Just as easily by other causes.
The principal interest in the trial to-day CEN
tired in the testimony given by Mrs. Martin G.
Benham. mother OF the defendant. She fatty
contradicted some Of the evidence by the peo-
pies witnesses. In answer to Mr.. Mackey's
question as to what she saw when she was sum
moned to the Benham house on the morning Of
Mrs. Benham's death she said:
when l arrived at the house on the morning
OF Jan. 4 l did not notice the hands. l did noo
uncover the body. just saw the face. After
ward / noticed that the hands appeared in a nat
noticed the feet. They did not seem to
time! Il ns's Mrs Hf Bs%ham fsa ls sas H %sne s 81 say
bowed, and this peculiarly was very
a en F T au tn d s'S Ssr Zee. suit i offend tend n ssf 9 Taa aass
ing, the fall of 1896, thar Mrs. Benham was
strikipsly pale and she COMPLAINED ned often to me
saw her on one occasion get OF the bed and take
a powder. ] don't know what 4 was. TherQ
tried to give her some medicine, 1t was a pow.
der that WAS 10 be taken at that time. She
way she said: 1t Isn't lime for it yet; 1 am
takirC too much medicine On one occasion,
don't want any medicine but DR.. Townsend'S
menicine. l want to 60 90 to sleep and have a good.
i eng sleep &c p Pc, and H. Dr. = T 70 won't nre give me me ANY:
two months OF her life she seemed almost in, a
state Of collapse and was languid and pale. She
Tam Ian NJ never : well; i nm Sick ali the time, Ihsd
q talk with Mrs. Prentice about the death OF
without n struggle. asked, her what she
thought it was. She said she knew it was the
heart, because she had seen her mother the same
Mrs; Bcnham told Of q painting which May
fore her death. "ItoaS the picture, said she.
that Miss Wizard gave Florence, with some
furniture and rugs. to my sons corridor in the
William D. Smith, Benham's most intimate
friend. was next sworn, He contradicted Coach
man klein'S testimony in a number OF important
particulars. Klein, he said, was drunk on the
day in October, 1896, when the DAMAGING cor.
vcrsations testified TO by the coachman occurred.
and was only in the room where the rest were Q
minute, being sent to The barn.
II did not hear Icnham say to Klein, do
clarcd tho witness. "'Do you want to work for
me I either in words or substance; Neither dia
be happy some day, ! was, in the room all the
time with May and Howard"
Mrs. william u. Smith. wife Of Benhalnfu
! chuIn, said: 81 knew Coroner Barringer. no
member OF seeiug him once IN my husbands
store shortly after BenAam's arrest. lie said to
me that hn would take great pleasure in seeing
Brnham executed"
Charles j. CT son proprietor OF Oak Orchard
Inn: Louis Kelley. a Lancaster horscshoer. and
Inv0nt c. NcIii"rc. President Of tho First Ma.
tionnl Bank Of Bllavt, were also sworn, and
tween Benhem and his wife before tho latter's
M stcrious death.