Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1899-11-02
siLEM COURTS.
Wiiletts Trial for the Murder of Ex-Coun-
Gilman Bennett

| Gilman Bennett
SALEM. Oct. 26.-There was sensa tion
in the little court room during the trial OF
George Willetts for the murder of ex-
Councilman Bennett this morning, when
Detective Carney declared that he over
heard Willetts say to Mary Morgan, his
white paramour, during conversation
between the two in Jail, some time after
Wllletts' arrest. that he had told no one,
and that dead men could tell no tales.v
This startling declaration on the part of
the prisoner was the first bit of evidence
tending to show that he had made a
partial confession The detective, in his
testimony, declared that he had heard
Wllletts repeat this to other prisoners.
to whom be said that Carney knew moth
ing, as he (Willetts) had told no one.
John News, colored man, whose home
was IN Virginia. and who was confined
in the county Jail with Willetts, heard
the latter make this statement. Before
cross-examining the detective, Mr..
Hiiilard, for the defense, asked that Car
ney's evidence be stricken out, on the
grounds that the detective had related
only portions of the conversations that
had taken place with the prisoner in the
jail. Justice Ludlow refused to so order.
Detective Carney admitted that the
spoon man" was fake, and no more
than detective employed by the State
to get evidence against Willetts.
did he get anything of value to Il g
State from Willetts?" asked Mr. Hilliard
"4es,' promptly replied the detective
Mrs. Phoebe Anderson, white woman.
testified that she saw Bennett and Mary
Morgan in buggy together lates,as tail
william Frlppett testified that he saw
Willetts and Bennett together in West
cotps livery yard shortly after IL O'CLOCK.
The object of the State in bringing ont
this particular hour is supposed to be for
the purpose of showing that the prisoner
dld not take the injured man home at
1870, as he said he did. DIR. Carpenter
said it was impossible to see from the
street man lying in the alley at the place
where Willetts said he found Bennett in
semi-conscious condition. John News.
colored, was called. He said that Will
l is told him at one time, in talking about
the murder. that he Willetts) could not
see what the authorities could do to hin,
as no one knew" Willetts. at anotbar
time, related to the witness that some
colored fellow had told him that Bennett
was in the Ingham orchard with Mary
Morgan, and that when he met Bennett
in the alley he ''throwed it on him. The
alley spoken of is where Willetts claims
tn baUp fOunA
orchard spoken of by Willetts. The
cross-eXamipation was very rigid, bnt
the statements of the witness were not
shaken. At this point the State rested its
case, much to the surprise of every one
present.
Mr.. Hilliard. in opening, said that the
defence would be that no crime had been
admitted; that Bennett, because of his
drinking habits and exposure to the
weather, was likely to fall unconscious at
that time, and that Willett's only connec-
ton with the case was that of helper of
the unfortunate.
Albert Lawrence. who had worked for
Bennett, said that he often complained of
dizziness, and was apt to fall over un-
conscious.
Michael HalliganMsaw Bennett in the
barroom OF the Nelson House. but he did
not take drink. He also saw Willetts
in the Nelson House yard about 1.3O a. m.,
December 2S, and the prisoner showed
the witness watch, which he said was
his. Albert Long, Walter Miller and
Harry Yates testified that Willetts made
no secret of the fact that he had Benefits
watch late the night of the murder.
DIR. Trist declared that the fracture on
Benefits skull could have been caused
by fall as we'll as a blow. Court at this
point adjourned until tomorrow MORN
ing.
SALEM, Oct. 27.-This has been the
most important day in the trial of George
Willett, accused of the murder of Mason
M. Bennett, in this city, on the 9th OF
December last A considerable part of
to-day's session was devoted to hearing
medical testimony given by local ply
sicians as to whether or not Bennett died
of apoplexy. The defense set up this
theory, and attempted to establish it by
DR.. Trist, who prescribed for Bennett for
some time preceding his death. DIR. Trist
was of the opinion that Bennett died of
apoplexy, caused by chronic Bright's
disease.
The State put four physicians on the
stand, two of whom took part in the post
mortem, and they all declared that Ben
nett was not sufferer from Bright's dis
ease, and that his death was not due to
apoplexy. In the main, the prisoner,
Willett, told straightforward story.
When he got in corner on his cross.ex-
animation he aforementioned" every
thing.
Although he stated that he had himself
been drinking liquor early in the evening
of December 27, he thought that Bennett
was Intoxicated when he found him in
the alley because he smelled liquor on his
breath. On several important points,
n nlrtirnIarlv aS m Statanoapts allaooI RI