The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-28
BENHAM'S FATE AT HAND.
rHB DIsTRICT ITTORHEY Sums UP
TIL CASE AGAINST HIM.

The Arrnyinn 81 Expert AEatuut Expcrt-n1ay
wizard and Hrnhnm's Relations - Her
The Reasonable Doubt Benhnu,s Main
hope. Appareuly-Ns Tsik Of Lyurhing.
BATAv1A. ". v. July 2~7.-Lawyer Mackey to-
day concluded his appeal for tho life of Howard
@. Benham, accused Of wife murder, and at 2
o'clock, after the noon recess, District Attorney
Loseur began the closing address for the people.
MIR. Mackey's speech lasted for nearly eleven
hours and was a mastery effort. The Buffalo
attorney is u logiuian rather than an or tor,
and made but little effort to sway the passions
OF the Jurors. When he had finished his ad.
drs., mis- auditors were convinced that the
prosecution would ind Il a difficult thing to-
break through his line Of reasoning.
A run,or was started yesterday by . sensa-
tional newspaper writer to the effect that there
was an organized band Of $50 mon who were do
termined to lynch Bcnham II tho Jury did not
bring in the right sort of verdict; also that
Justice Laughlin had received an anonymous
communication In which dire vengeance was
threatened on Judge, jury, and counsel In tho
event Of acquittal. here was no foundation
for the story, and Justice Laughlin to-day OK.
pressed considerable annoyance at having his
nam associated with such a rumor.
As the trial 10 drawing to q close interest In
Benham's fate increases, and there was q larger
crowd than ever applying this morning for ad-
mission to the Court House.
Mr.. Mackey to-day devoted his whole atten.
ton to the testimony Of the doctors and the
experts. DR.. Townsend. who swore that Mrs.
Benham died OF prussia acid poisoning. Mr..
Mackey said, was q discredited witness DO.
cause he had changed his mind so often.
DR.. Showerman one day thought the woman
died OF heart failure. and tho next day
decided she died Of prossio acid. and his tosti.
Parlnenter and Br. Morse alleged prussio acid
sssstthfS the sag's we're s1 sf the do o}RPSs,iia to u saii tho siT seifS
phalanx Of the witnesses for the defence-Drs
Wolf Of Rochester. and Drs. Wilton and Skin.
ner. local practitioner.
can Se gou Sase q ve .9 2 3aT u eS Shia % on .S Mss0s sSi;:
aFsSn sn Ioa Dc SS you s b saSS, to . express res !, your o. belief e.
DR.. vanderberGh. tho Buffalo chemist who
stated on the witness stand that In examining
$Srutttssii' denied that he had said nitrate 70 s"' an. ne
s ssSlSSsa for oeas nitric ii Rs eG roo u sfs . i E sHp share Si se q
Mr., Mackey's attention..
say harsh things against him, but must In JUS
mS, to why my client client s Sss. he % L; ,h q d MIiSsss s.a IiSs1 -
bolster up a ruined reputation"
In conclusion. Mr., Mackey said
and np made sGa b Ssl esiia t an orphan TSn tll' 30 s Sou si Sal Eif;
him the inhuman monster the people woule
have you believe Have you o reasonable doubt
All I ask {! you 10 to be brave men. Do no
mind public opinion. You arc not. accountabl,
for II: but you arc accountable to the last grea
to give a verdict according to the courage of m,
convictions I ask you for the life Of Howar
Benham. Give US tho freedom; give us the lif
of this man."
District Attorney Leseur. in presenting tn
case for the people. made o careful review OF tn
testimony. He scoffed at the testimony OF Prot
Wittheus. since BY the New York man's ow,l
acid poisoning In his III . The peoples chemis
had been able to and but little poison in tn
body because prussic acid was volatile, but
they had found i've ounces, said the District A
torney, DR.. Witthaus would not have Doe
satisfied. He was not there for the purpose O
being satisfied with the prosecution. DR.. Pug,
ley, one Of the peoples. witnesses who had test
and who said the symptoms were similar t
those OF Mrs. Benham, was moro entitled {
credence.
May Wizard had been dragged into the cas-
not because Of any desire. on Ne part OF Oh
people to smirch any ones character. but b
cause Of her own misconduct. The defence ha
sworn q cloud of witnesses. who testified this
pleasant. but tho fact still remained that afte
his arrest he stated In Judge Dunham's coui
that be had lived in hell for i've years and b
guessed he could stand this.
Mr.. Leseur concluded to-day q part OF hi
speech with the query why. II Benham ha
really bought the prussic acid for the purpose {
he get his knowledge that the acid was a specif
and why did he not produce the poison on u
stand. 1t is thought that Mr.. Leseur will tai
mp all Of the morning session tomorrow.