Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-28
SURPRISE
AND TEARS
AT TRIAL
TESTIMONY IN C0RWELL CASE
CREATES SYMPATHY
EXCITEMENT CAUSED BY BEN
NETT's MOTHER
Cousin of Defendant Relates Touching
story of Prisoners Experiences
Since Time She Reached
Los Angeles

the proceedings in the trial of Mrs
Estelle Corwell were both worked upon
yesterday at one time, the crowd being
almost brought to it's feet by the eff
fort of Mrs. George w. Bennett to
grasp a portrait of her daughter and
a niece from the hands of Attorney
Appel while for more than an hour in
the afternoon it listened to a touching
recital of the experiences of the de-
PENDANT since her arrival in Los Ange-
les to the day preceding the night on
which Bennett lost his life.
Other than tho defendant herself and
Miss Maize Bennett, both Of whom will
be called to the stand later in the week,
the defense yesterday placed in the
chair its principal witness, and the eff
feet produced was all that could be de-
sired. This witness is Miss Emma
Quinones, cousin of Mrs. Corwell
and her testimony was of such char
acter and told in such manner as
to bring tears to the eyes of almost
every woman in the chamber.
Almost every woman, but not all of
them. One person sat facing the wit
ness and listened with an expression
of scornful contempt. This was the
mother of the dead man, Mrs. George
w. Bennett, and at that part of the
story which detailed almost inhuman
cruelty alleged to have been commit
ted by her son, she laughed almost
aloud.
Watches Trial Closely
Mrs. Bennett has watched intently
the proceedings of the trial since the
opening day. Her demeanor has been
calm and during long hours there has
been no change of expression, no evil
dence of unusual interest until yester-
day
The change from calmness to fury
occurred as Appel took from its paper
wrappings a large framed portrait OF
a sister and a cousin of her dead son.
As the attorney passed in front of
Mrs. Bennett to offer the portrait to
Miss Quinones for Identification the
aged woman sprang forward and tried
to grasp it, declaring it had been stolen.
Bailiff Doyle caught the angry wo-
man by the arm and led her to a seat,
but the court found it necessary to tell
her another such exhibition would re-
suit in her being put out of the cham
Der" before she could be quieted.
The first witness yesterday was ]. p.
Ealsey, 1923 South Hill street, who said
he had seen Mrs. Corwell enter a hack
the night of the shooting. She was
accompanied by a young woman, he
said.
He said he believed the defendant
wore a white dress and black hat at
that time.
was the hat large or smalll?" asked
Appel, and the reply that it was of
medium size appeared to please the at
torney greatly, as he has maintained
throughout the trial that his client
wore a black hat that night.
George A. Dobinson, a professor of
dramatic art, testified that the defend
ant attended his school from August,
1908, until the spring of 1905, and said
he classed her as being somewhat err
ratio.
Had Dramatic Fire
"She was able to exhibit considerable
dramatic fire. said the Witness "an1
the words and scenes in connection with
the character of Lady Macbeth seemed
to affect her to that extent that she
threw a great deal of emotional power
into the character
Miss Emma Quinones was recalled
and identified a number of kilograms
from George T. Bennett, dated at vari-
Gus points in the state, relative to his
movements. They were all addressed
to Mrs. Bennett"
The attorney at this point took from
the table large package, unfolded the
wrappings and displayed a portrait of
two young women. AS he advanced to-
ward the witness with the portrait in
his hand Mrs. George w. Bennett.
mother of the deceased, suddenly rose
from the chair and shouted:
"Give me that picturei"
The attorney placed the picture be-
yond the reach of the woman and con-
tinued toward the witness.
. "IIe has stolen those things from us"
declared the aged woman, in an angry
voice, still endeavoring to secure the
portrait
The bailiff at this moment led the
woman back to her seat, admonishing
her to keep still. Mrs. Bennett con-
tnued to protest, however, until inter-
rupted by Judge Wilbur.
Madam he said, "if you make an
other statement before this jury you
will have to leave the ROOM" He then
told the jury to disregard anything said
by Mrs. Bennett.
Valued Picture Highly
The picture, said the witness, had
been hung in Mrs. Corwells room by
Bennett, who said he valued it most
highly. A smaller picture of Benefits
two sons was also identified as having
been given to Mrs. Corwell by Bennett,
who the witness stated, remarked the
defendant would make a good step
mother for his children. A small scarf
pin with the picture of Bennett and
which is said to have been given to
Mrs. Corwell by the deceased was also
identified.
At o'clock Miss Quinones began the
recital of incidents in the lives of Mrs.
Corwell since she left Arizona for Los
Angeles until the night prior to the
death of Bennett. Miss Quinones an
swers were given only after CONSIDER
ing each question carefully, while at
times she testified with apparent re-
luctance. Her story was frequently in
terrupted by exhibitions of grief, and
it was necessary a.. one time for the
court to order a recess until the Wit
ness could control her feelings.
Miss Quinones told of the school days
or the defendant and said from tho
time she was until she reached the
age OF Ia she was very delicate and
was subject to fainting spells, when
she would fall to the ground and her
eyes would take on a peculiar express
sion. At these time, she said, the girl
would remain unconscious from three
to five minutes.
Mrs. Corwell, she said, married at
the age of 16 years Clover Corwell, with
whom she lived few months. APP
parently the couple were later divorced,
but Attorney Appel was not allowed to
go into this question. In 1900 Mrs.
Corwell came to Los Angeles, shortly
after Miss Quinones reached this city.
The latter's mother and sister followed
within a week, and Mrs. Corwell, who
had taken a room on Spring street,
went to live with them in the Glad
stone building.
Said Wife Was Dead
I'VE first met George Bennett in
1900" said the witness. l heard BEN