Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-07
Benjamin q. Smell Responsible for
Lizzie Weiseuberger's Death.
RESULT OF TEE eOROHER'S INQUEST
Prisoner Breaks Down and Cries
in Presence ofssOfficers.
EVIDENCE
THE
TAKEN

The inquest held at the sixth precinct
station this morning attracted big crowd
of people. There was no effort made by
the officers to keep the crowd from about
the station. Scores of the curious ones
rushed in and virtually took possession of
the station building. Even the back yard
was crowded.
The prisoner, who was handcuffed was
lead from the wagon to the cell by Police
man Pat Creagh, who had made the ar
rest. While all eyes were on him SHELLS
eyes were downcast, and he saw only the
floor. Friends were few, but he hardly
\ recognized those who were there to speak
with him.
When the testimony was all in it took
the jury but a short time to reach a con-
clusion. In very few words Benjamin H.
Smell was held responsible for the child's
death, and on commitment made out by
the coroner he was sent to Jail The
crowd remained about the station until the
big prisoner had been taken away in the
patrol wagon. Quite number OF people
waited until the body of the victim had
been taken in charge by an undertaken
Detective Mattingly, representing the dis
trict attorneys office, started in today to
get the evidence in shape to present to the
grand jury. 1t is thought to be more than
likely that plea of insanity will be made
in SHELLS defense.
The Inquest.
Smell, who was considerably under the in
fuence of liquor when he reached the sta
ton, sobered up during the day. He bore
up well under the strain, and slept most of
the night, but this morning he broke down
and cried as if he We're a child The off
GERS explained to him the nature of the
crime and he denied that he had any
recollection whatever of what had oc-
q
hours.
IF l did it," he said, II am willing to
take the consequences"
1t was about 1870 o'clock when the pris-
oner reached the sixth precinct station in
the patrol wagon from the ninth precinct
Inspector Cross, Lieut.. Daley and Police
men Creagh and Larrick rode in the wagon
The arrival of the prisoner at the sixth
precinct was marked by the appearance
of an immense crowd of men, women and
children, and remarks and threats calcu-
lated to make the big man feel uncom-
Portable We're heard on all Sides The face
OF the prisoner showed evidence of his
having recently shed tears and he hardly
noticed anybody in the station, not even
friends who had called to sympathize with
him Mr.. NJ. B. German and Detective
Philips took the measurements. When this
task was completed the prisoner asked to
see his counsel, Cob Charles p Lincoln.
The attorney was on. hand. and he occupied
a seat beside the prisoner. Col. Lincoln
Cclm was deputy commissioner of pensions.
He is only looking after his interests tenn
porariy.
Acting Coroner Glazebrook swore the
jury in the case, which was composed of
Frank J. Acker DIR. c. b Boyd, Lewis
Holmes, Raps Davis, W. F. Koppen and
w. H. Bowman. After viewing the body
the jurors assembled in the waiting room
to hear the testimony.
Deputy Coroner's Statement.
DR.. P. E. Mcdonald, acting deputy cor
oner, testified that he made an examination
of the dead child yesterday. She weighed
about ninety five pounds. One of her I'M
dergarments vas badly torn. Five wounds
were found, two of which extended almost
around the neck. severing the big blood yes
sells and causing death. Witness found
wound of the thumb and forehead, but they
did not amount to anything. Witness made
an extensive examination of the body and
gave it as his opinion that the child had
been tempered with by somebody, but dis
covered no decorations as a result.
Charles Weisenberger, father of the dead
girl, was next sworn. little after 6
o'clock yesterday morning, he said, Smell
raped on the front door.
Il was in the Kitchen he said; Inc and
my wife,
Mr. Smell, he said, asked for drink of
water, and when the witness found the
bucket was empty he went to the pump,
about seventy-five yards away, to fill it.
w Hef the bucket was nearly IlleQ ne neard
his little boy scream Murder" He then
returned and met Smell. He had in his hand
a razor, and made an effort to cut him, the
witness.
Il said to him. said witness, You
scoundrel, what have you DONE"
Witness said he then gave Smell a kick
and pushed him away. He told of SHELLS
departure and said he told Policeman
Brown about what had happened
Questioned by the coroner, MIR. Weisen-
berger said that his daughter had been en-
ployed in Mr.. SHELLS family for about five
years. She left there two months ago.
DO you know why she left?' the witness
was asked.
|, Yes, sir" he answered. but only what
my wife told me since. My daughter didn't
tell me anything"
Witness said he had lived on 10Th street
for about two months. Previous to this
time he lived on II street northeast, next
door to the power house.
The Mothers Story.
When Mrs. Mary Weisenberger was called
the prisoner. who had been sitting with
closed eyes, broke down and buried his face
in his handkerchief
Mrs. Weisenberger said she heard the
prisoner when he came and asked for a
drink of water. Her husband went for the
water and she thought he away fifteen
minutes. When her husband went out
Smell came in and asked: How do you do
this morning.
Sne told him she was all right, but that
she wanted him to get out of her house.
She told him that Lizzie had told her he
had wronged her and she had no more use
for him.
he then went in the room where Lizzie
was sleeping, and woke her up, said Mrs
w elsenberger. He said something to her
but did not hear what it was
She was still in the kitchen, and while
tnere she heard Lizzie scream Murder
tnree times. Mrs. Weisenberger did not
witness the killing of the child. She went
IN TO see what was going on, when Shell
attacked and tried to kill her. She finally
got RID of him, and when she went back in
the room she found her daughter
Was she dead?" the witness was asked.
NO, she answered, "bttt she was diving.
not answer " ~
Where has your daughter been since she
left Mr.. Sners?' o. " o
AT Policeman Duvalrs, on Riggs street"
,, low long was she there?"
Five weeks.
How old was your daughter?"
Ihlrteen years. q
Ihree and one-hah years ago, she said,
She nVed on Benning roads about square
from Smells house She knew the Smells
Wen she said, and they sometimes came to
She let Lizzie go to Mr.. SHELLS to live be-
cause he said he wanted her for company
Tor MS (Snell's) little girl. Mrs. Wesen-
berger said she had known him by sight be-
fore this time. She slept in SHELLS house