New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-18
NEVER KNEW Mr.. GREEN.
SETTLEMENT BY MRS. ELIAS
Examined By District Attorney
Negro Pleads mot Guilty.


AS a final combination to the disordered and
insane charges of Cornelius Williams, the negro
who murdered Andrew II. Green. and sought 10
justify his deed by vague. wandering attacks
the character of his victim. District Attorney
Jerome. as the result Of his personal examina-
ton of Hannah Elias. whom Williams accused
Mr.. Green OF hiding. declared that there was not
a scintilla of evidence to show that the woman
had Mr. Green; that both her testi-
mony to him, in the truthfulness of which he
asserted that he believed. and other corrooo-
rating evidence. convinced him of the utter sp-
sence of basis for the negros charges Mr..
Jerome made his statement after carefully
cross-examining the Elias woman at her apart
ments at No. 236 Central Park West. where ne
went with Assistant District Attorney Apple
ton. a stenographer and A. c. Nanz. Mrs Elisss
personal counsel who had earlier in the day In
formed the District Attorney that his client was
unable to go to Mr.. Jeroms's Office.
On his return from the visit Mr.. Jerome said:
have had a talk with Mrs. Elias. or Mrs.
Davis. or whatever you choose 10 can her.
questioned her carefully and she appeared 10
me to talk with perfect frankness and truth
fulness. 1 questioned her in every way that
might throw light on the murder OF Mr.. Green.
and am satisfied, both from her statement and
from other corroborative evidence, that so Tar
she knew, she had never met or seen Mr.
Green. There Is not scintilla OF evidence, so
far as am aware, that she ever saw Mr.. Green
or that he her. I also Of the
opinion that in all human probability Williams
has not seen her. nor she him, for the last
eight years: since 1899 in fact.
An effort was made to get Mr.. Jerome 20 dis
cuss the rumor that claim had been brought
against the estate Of Mr.. Green, or that he
had been visited by a person who conveyed
such an intimation TO him. but Mr.. Jerome de-
clined 20 discuss the matter further, refusing
20 answer any question
Contrary to general expectation. the negro
when arraigned in Special Sessions entered a
plea of not guilty. and his counsel did not ask
for an examination into the sanity OF the pris-
When the suggestion made by Dis
trict Attorney Jerome-whO declared that 1t was
his intention to have as speedy trial posi-
BILE and that. if the defence were 10 be in
sanity, there should be an immediate examina-
ton into Williams's mental condtiOn-his eOun-
sci, \. II. Kafrenburgh, declined to accept 1t.
and stuck to the plea of not guilty. Williams
was then taken back to the TOmbs and his case
was set on the calendar for Monday. During
his arraignment Williams maintained the same
calm demeanor that has marked his attitude
throughout. and showed no signs of anxiety.
After the arraignment Judge Cowing assigned
the firm OF Howe & HummeI as the Negroes
counsel
After the court had formally assigned Howe
6 Hummel as counsel. A. III. Karenburgh. OF
that law firm. who has had charge Of the de-
fence, declared that he intended to put the
negro on the stand in his defence. that he did
not intend to enter plea OF insanity. and inti-
mated that he would subject Mrs. Elias to a
searching cross-examination. Further than that
he declined to outline his plans. In response to
a query to how he would be ready 10
proceed with the trial he answered that he
would ask only two days notice.
The apparent mixup in the birth and death
certificates of the Elias child. which died at the
home of Mrs. Elias, No. 236 Central Park West.
April % of the present year. viii be investf
gated by Commissioner Lederle. The birth
certificate, which is dated October 10, 1902 gives
the name Of the child was Gwendolyn Elias and
that OF the father John Platt- The death
certificate names William Elias the father
and his place OF residence az Pittsburg. DIR. A
r. Robinson, of No. 100 West Forty-ninth-st..
who attended the child. the certificates re-
cord. was quoted yesterday saying that the
change was made at the request Of the family.
and that he knew nothing about the matter.
Commissioner Lederle said last night that he
had seen the certificates and noted the discrep-
ancy; that such occurrences were not entirely
unusual. as families sometimes filed I'm part Of
the certificate. He added
1T is not true that have subpRnaed either
the physician Mrs. Elias. but OF course some
time l shall ask them to explain the matter and
straighten II out"
Stories of the mystery with which the Elias
woman shrouded herself were told freely by her
neighbors yesterday. The fact that time
ago about the time Of the death of the child In
fact she advertised the sale OF a number OF
Paris dresses. set the neighborhoOd all agOg.
and since then the neighbOrs have anxiOusly
watched to the woman. But SO carefully did
she conceal her movements quietly did she
live, that IT was not until last Friday that one
of the neighbOrs finally identified her in the
street
Rumors of large orders placed by her through
n French speaking maid, and paid by check one
order reaching 8 high 5000 were circulated
yesterday: but little definite light has vet
been shed the real personality OF the woman.
A person who "a w Mrs. Elias recently described
her as 4 light colOred woman. showing, how
ever, apparent signs OF African blood. with at
tractiye dark eyes. He placed her age Rt about
forty.