Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-14
TRIAL OF
MRS. COR WELL
is BEGUN
WOMAN CHARGED WITH MUIR
DER APPEARS IN COURT
PRISONER SHOWS EVIDENCE OF
SUFFERING
Nine Jurors Secured in Superior Court
to Try Case of Alleged Slayer
of George T. Benz
nett

With the we'll springs of grief exhausted
and the distress of mind plainly visible
in her handsome face, Mrs. Estelle Cor
well sat yesterday, dry-eyed and care
worn, in Judge Curtis D. Wilburs depart
ment of the superior court. Mrs. Corwell
is charged with murder, and her attitude
yesterday, even while she sat surrounded
by friends and relatives and with the low
ing arm of her mother clasped about her
shoulders in affectionate embrace, proved
that she fully realized the dreadful i'm
port of the accusation.
The court room was crowded when the
session began at 10 o'clock, and the gath
ering was made up of well-dressed pros
porous looking men and women; many
perhaps, attracted to the trial from mo-
tives of curiosity, but the larger number
because of their acquaintance with the
defendant and the man she is charged
with killing.
AS Mrs Corwell entered the courtroom
she was surrounded by a number of
friends and relatives, all women. Every
member of the little party was dressed in
the deepest black, and the heavy wells OF
the defendant and her mother hid their
features from the hundreds of eyes CEN
tered on them. Mrs. Corwel carried a
small cane in her right hand and leaned
heavily upon 1t as she walked, the sup
port being necessary because of a weak
ankle.
Surrounded by Friends
With the defendant, Mrs. c. c. WEIGH,
her mother; Mrs. Emma Quinones,
cousin; Daniel WEIGH, her brother; Miss
Spencer and Miss Asman, witnesses for
the Defense and a little 1O-year-old sister
made up the group around which the most
interest conferred.
Another and smaller group occupied
seats near the south window and some
distance away from the defendant The
members of this little party included
Miss Male Bennett, said to have been the
finance of George r. Bennett, the man
Mrs Corwell is charged with Staying; her
mother, and Miss Nellie Bennett, a sister
The costumes of the members of the trio
were strikingly different from the somber
apparel of the women surrounding the
prisoner. Each of the women was gowned
in light colored materials. and they wore
hats brightly trimmed with flowers and
plumes. Miss Bennett is blonde, ap-
parently about q years of age, and her
beauty is in strong contrast to the dark
and still handsome features of her former
rival.
Deputy District Attorney Frank Blair
appeared for tho prosecution and will be
assisted by William H. Beach, an attor-
ney recently from New York. Horace II.
Appel will conduct the defense.
Mr.. Blair read the charge against the
pIlSOlleT 10 the ldleSUeI, ana at Lne IrSt
,ention of Benefits name and the charge
against her Mrs. Corwell's dark eyes con-
acted with pain. As she stood up for
the purpose of Identification her eyes
closed and she nervously drew in the
rather full lips like child about to give
way to it's grief.
Twelve men had been examined up to
noon as to their fitness for jury duty in
the case, and all had been rejected Ii
was not until a half hour of the after
noon session had elapsed that the first
juror was secured in the person of Chas.
r. Rogers.
Nine Jurors Secured
By 4:45 o'clock, after six peremptory
challenges had been presented by the
prosecution and sixteen by the defense,
nine men occupied seats in the jury box.
They are as follows: Charles r. Rogers,
Louis Wriley, A. Monckton, John Weber,
Charles F. Young, Nicholas Glaze, Fran
els e. Judson, John II. Martin and D. w.
Cate.
A recess was taken at that hour until
10 O'Clock this morning.
Some little delay was caused at the be-
ginning of the trial owing to the absence
of a witness for the defense, Mr.. Appel
declaring her presence or a deposition
from her was necessary. This witness is
Mrs. Nance Foulks of Needles, Ariz., and
her husban, appeared in court and stated
it was impossible for her to be present
because of Illness. The attorney said he
did not want to ask for a continuance if
the prosecution would agree to accept
statement of what was expected to be
proved by the witness. After reading the
statement Mr.. Blair agreed to accept it.
The statement was to the effect that
IRIS. Fo lks saw Bennett, accompanied by
members of the Bennett family. riding in
an automobile the night of the killing and
that as they drove by Mrs. Corwell the
latter called out George, oh, George!"
but no attention was given her cry. 1t is
believed the statement is for the purpose
of sho ing the distress under which Mrs,
Corwell wc laboring that night