The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-19
SMELL PLACED ON TRIAL
A Motion for Further Adjournment
Denied by the Court.
Eleven Jurors in the box Mt the Time
of Adiournment-Th Defence EXer-
cises But Three of Its Twenty Per-
emptory Cba1lenges-sinty Tales
men Summoned to Complete Jury.

Benjamin H. Smell was put on trial yes
terday for his life for the murder of Lizzie
Weisenberger on August 6 last. The lapse
of time since the commission of the crime
| has not caused the least abatement in pub
lie interest, as was manifef cd by the
crowd which assembled at the City Hall to
see the alleged murderer when he was
called to make his defence against the
charge OF murder.
The parents and sisters and brother OF
Smells victim were in the courtroom when
he was brought up from the cell in the
basement of the building. II was the first
time they had seen him since the day OF
the crime The sight of the murderer was
more than the relatives of the murdered
girl could stand, and as they evidenced a
disposition TO create a scene in the court
room the mother and sisters of the victim
were removed to the witnessroom where
they remained during the remainder of the
day The father and brother Of the muir
dered girl, however, remained IN the court
room and watched the proceedings with
much interest
The aged parents Of the defendant ar
rived in the city yesterday from their home
in Washington county Georgia, but only
the father attended the trial, the prisoners
mother being too much fatigued after her
long railway Journey to be present. 1t is
expected however, that she VIII be in at
tendance today Snelrs wife and daughter
were not present during the day.
When Smell was brought into the court
room he was given a seat Immediately be-
nd and th.ra he at al
paying strict attention to all that was
taking place about him. His actions were
peculiar and noticeable, when compared
with those of George w. Horton. who,
when tried for the murder of Mrs. Jane
Nicholson, also made insanity his de-
Tense. Smell looked careworn and worried,
but did not assume the vacant stare az
fected by Horton during the progress of
his trial. Every now and then during
the proceedings Smell would hold brief
consultation with one or the other of his
attorneys, and at other times would ap-
parently await with much interest the an
swers made by Jurors as they were being
examined as 10 their qualification to serve
during the trial. All the while how
ever. whether in consultation with his
counsel or in listening TO the examination
of the Jurors, his forehead was deeply fur
rowed, as II in serious thought.
W men JAsllte IldDdbEu bOOh MS scat
upon the bench, Charles H. Turner, the
senior counsel for Smell. renewed the |
motion he made on Wednesday for post
ponement of the trial because OF the en-
forced absence Of Representative William |
II. Fleming. who is I'll at the Columbia |
Hospital The motion for continuance was |
opposed By Assistant District Attorney |
Ashley NJ. Gould, and was overruled by |
the court and the trial ordered to be pro- |
ceeded with.
District Attorney Anderson then stated |
that the Government was ready and the |
empaneling of jury was commenced. II |
was evident from the start that the quail |
cations OF the jurors would be very closely |
Investigated by the counsel for the defence. |!
Taking into consideration the delay caused I
by the careful and lengthy questioning CT |
the jurors, great progress was made. At |
the time CT the adjournment of court the |
regular panel for the month OF January |
was exhausted, and eleven Jurors were left |