Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-26
EXPECTED TRUMP CARD.
Long Chase for Smiths Proved Fruit.
less

1t was expected that the prosecution in
the Nan Patterson trial would play what
they believe to be their trump card today.
From the time the former show girl was
first placed in a cell in the Tombs charged
with the murder of Caesar Young the prose-
cution has claimed that the presence in
court of ]. Morgan Smith, the prisoners
brother-in-law. would convict the girl or
murder. When Smith fed before the first
trial they bewailed his absence and de-
clared that only his presence was neces-
sary to permit them to put in evidence
which would result in conviction beyond a
doubt.
Failure TO reach an agreement at that
trial they professed to believe, was almost
entirely due to the fact that Smith had not
been found.
Through all the months ceaseless search
for the missing witness was prosecuted
and finally just before the girl was again
to face ner accusers, Smith and MS VIE
We're tracked to Cincinnati, arrested as
fugitives from justice and brought back TO
New York ostensibly to answer a charge
of conspiracy in connection with the Pat-
terson case.
$4,000 Spent in the Search.
1t is said that nearly $4,000 spent
by the district attorneys department in the
search for the Smiths, and ii is believed that
the real reason for bringing him back to
fronted with Stern, the pawnbrokec who
sold the revolver with which Young was
shot.
The prosecution claims that the revolver
was purchased from Stern by J. Morgan
Smith less than twenty-four hours before
the tragedy in the cab. This is llatly denied
by the defense. and at the last trial Lawyer
Levy Miss Patterson's counsel, told the
jury that he wished to God it was within
the power of the defense to produce TINS
witness Smith
stern, the pawnbroker, already has con-
fronted Smith since the latter was brought
back to New York, but whether he was
able to identify him as the purchaser of the
revolver has not been made known 10 the
public The only intimation on this point,
which was given by the pawnbroker him.
self was not conclusive.
Stern Not Sure.
Before going to the room where he was
to meet the returned witness, Stern said
he was not sure that he could identify
Smith positively. When he came out few
minutes later he remarked, What 1 said
still goes" Since that time he has declined
to make any statement whatever regarding
1t was believed, however, that the two
men would face each other in the open
court today, and a most dramatic scene
was expected.
The skeleton which played prominent
a part in yesterdays proceedings was still
dangling beside the witness chair when Miss
Patterson came into the court today. 1t
was quickly removed by order of Recorder
Goff. however.
The first witness today was a representa-
tive of a welI-known arms manufacturing
company who identified the revolver which
has figured in the case weapon made
by his company He was followed by DIR.
Charles Phelps of the board of police sur
geons an expert on pistol wounds.
Ruled-Out Evidence Admitted.
Phelps testimony in getting in some evi-
dence which was ruled out by Supreme
Court Justice Davis at the last trial. cns
witness told of experiments he aad made