Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-30
SUDDEN CRY
RENDS AIR IN
COURT ROOM
MRS. C0RWELL WEEPS AS SHE
TELLS STORY
SIGHT OF DEAD MANS CLOTHING
BRINGS TEARS
Proceedings Stopped While Women
Minister to Stricken Defendant.
Dramatic Incident Has Marked
Effect on Jury

with cry of grief and heartrendinR
sobs, Mrs. Estelle Corwell, on trial in
the superior court charged with killing
george T. Bennett, yesterday stopped
the proceedings in the case, and for al
most ten minutes friends and relatives
minlstered to the stricken woman,
while IL all parts of the chamber 9TH
er women were affected to tears.
MRS. CorwelPs cry came with a sud-
denness that was startling and at
time when evidence was being intro
duced o.. a character calculated to
produce thoughts of the most serious
nature IN the minds of all present.
Attorney Horace Appel had called
for clothing worn by Bennett while he
lived with the defendant on South Hill
street. The large parcel was placed on
the table and almost directly in front
of Mrs. CorWell AS the wrappings
Tell on eitheI side underclothing col
lars and hanGkerchiefs were revealed,
and the prisoner, turning her eyes
toward the garments which she is
said to have washed and ironed while
hobbling about on crutches, cried out
with an agony of spirit and throwing
her arms about the neck of Miss Ma
mie Spencer, a friend who was seated
near her. sobbed aloud. The jury was
visibly impressed
There was one other woman in the
courtroom whose heart was touched
at the sight OF the mute evidence. The
expression of her grief was more 81
lent than that of the woman on trial,
but none the less pitiful. This woman
was Mrs. George w. Bennett, mother
of the dead man, who sat with bowed
head, weeping quietly.
Form MournfuI Picture
The two distressed women. with the
ali Il
spectators TO; med the most mournful
picture that has been exhibited during
all the long days of the trial.
The proceedings yesterday were not
Without an element of humor. This
was furnished during the testimony of
Mrs. Tillie H. Asman, who at one time
was proprietress of the Venice apart
ment house where Bennett and Mrs.
Corwell are said to have lived as hus-
tand and wife. Mrs. Asman's replies
were given with an earnestness and
characteristic manner that at times
created much amusement, and ii final
1y became necessary for the bailiff to
warn the spectators against further
outbreaks of merriment.
Miss Emma Quinones, who was on
the stand almost the entire session of
court on Tuesday, was again in the
witness chair yesterday morning un-
der cross-examination by Deputy Dis
trict Attorney Blair. Her testimony
given on direct examination remained
practically unshaken when she re-
sumed her seat beside the defendant.
The witness was examined closely
concerning events to the time when
Bennett is said to have thrown Mrs.
Corwell to the floor and kicked her, the
injuries sustained at that time result
ing in compliea tions of a serious ma
ture.
At this point Blair asked if any
physician had been called, and when
The witness replied in the negative the
attorney demaLded: why did you not
call a doctor?"
The witness was in tears as she re-
rlied that she did not have the heart
to do so. I'VE had had so much
trouble, she said. ION account OF
George that I felt we could stand no
more"
on thu da-r of the tragedy, said the
witness. Mrs. Corwell came to the store
in which the witness was employed
and appeared ore excited than usual
laughing historically and talking very
rapidly. She received the note In
which Mrs Corwell said she INTENDED
70 visit Bennett and If he did not go
with her kill herself, about $3.50 O'CLOCK
1haI nlSnl.
Following the shooting. she said, sne
called at the city Jail, but was told she
could not see the prisoner that night,
and it was suggested she return the
following day, which she did.
Blair asked il the witness had taken
the black hat to the city Jail and re-
ceived the reply she had not. She did
not know who had done so, but saw
+he hat on Mrs Corwell the morning of
the day on which the shooting oc-
Cured. THE black veil, she said. had