Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-05
SENSA TON
ENDS DAY
nv TRIAL
C0RWELL DEFENSE INDICATES
BIASED TESTIMONY
coRRoBoRATIVE STATEMENTS
MADE REGARDING WHITE HAT
Day Develops Fact That Defense Has
Much information Concerning
Witnesses Called by
Prosecution

III the IIldl OIL 1ASiCAO wi vi SSS~N- 49,
and the session promised to terminate
without sensation until shortly before
adjournment, when the activity OF the
defense in gathering information con-
corning the prosecutions witnesses
and what was expected to be gained
from them was made apparent.
This vigilance on the part of the de-
Tense developed when witness VINO
had given testimony seemingly adverse
to the defendants interests was
brought to sudden halt by question.
amounting almost to an accusation,
that her statements were being MADE
with the expressed intention of injuring
the prisoner.
The witness was Mrs. J. E. McKenna,
at one time the proprietress OF the
Chester hotel, at which Mrs. CorWell
was a guest. She stated that on one
occasion she had told the defendant
not to become too familiar with mar
ried men. as there were many single
men in the community, and had ao-
vised her to marry.
Attorney Appel for the defense began
his cross-examination of the witness.
The strength of the secret knowledge
gained by persons acting in behalf or
Mrs. Corwell, already made apparent
during the trial. was made more evil
dent and developed the fact that IN
this work woman has been pitteo
against woman.
Questions put to others of the prose-
cution's witnesses would also indicate
that the defense has some knowledge,
at least, concerning their movements
prior to entering the court room.
Affections Not Strong
A number of witnesses we're called in
an effort to prove that the aHectlons
of Mrs. Corwell for Bennett were not
so strong that they prevented her from
receiving the attentions of other men.
Some of this testimony, however, was
discounted in the cross-examination.
The statements of witnesses which
apparently annoyed tho defense more
than any others since the beginning OF
the introduction of rebuttal testimony
were those made by three newspaper
reporters concerning the hat worn py
Mrs. Corwell the night of the shoot
ing, Their testimony upheld that of
other witnesses who had previously tes-
titled that the defendant wore a white
hat at the time she surrendered to the
police The defense maintains that a
black hat was worn that night and
this hat has already been placed IN
evidence.
The value of this piece of evidence
arises from the fact that 1t contains
two small holes, claimed by the defense
to have been made by bullet from
the revolver carried by Mrs. Corwell'
and to prove a struggle took place be-
tween the defendant and Bennett on
the night of July % last.
The two sons of George T. Bennett
accompanied the mother of the de-
ceased when she walked into the court
room yesterday morning and sat on
either side of her throughout the fore
noon session listening to the testi-
mony concerning the life of their fath-
err with the defendant. The presence
of the boys did not meet the approval
of the court, however, and Instructions
were given through Bailiff Doyle to
see that they were not allowed to at
tend the trial in the future.
Saw Party at Avalon
w. H. HERON, a saloon keeper at Az
alon. was among the first witnesses
yesterday. He said he had seen Leon
Popoff with a party at Avaon on July
4. 1907. but could not identify the de-
PENDANT as being one of the party.
w. G.. Bolter, a hotel man of Monro-
via, said he had assigned two rooms
to a party of four on February IA, 1907.
consisting of, Mrs. Corwell, Miss q.
Niblock, Leon Popoff and W. S. Ar
mold stopped at the hotel on their way
to Arrowhead springs. He said he had
seen the party five or ten minutes while
there The rooms he said, We're as
signed one to the two women and one
to the men.
on your register" asked Appel on
cross-examination.
Eyes" was the reply.
Lady and gentleman"
"Yes, but not the defendant"
"Oh. Miss MAZE Bennett?"
Eyes"
"And George T. Bennett"
yes
els there one single circumstance
to indicate to you that these rooms
were not occupied as you assigned
them?''
mo; they came and went and paid
hardly any attention to them"
In reply to question by Deputy Dis
trict Attorney Blair witness said Miss
Bennett and George T. Bennett were at
his hotel frequently for lunch and
stayed not later than o'clock.
Jury Is Excused
E. ]. Whitney, proprietor of the Ho-
tel Glenmore at Avalon, was called,
and the jury was excused to allow the
prosecution to show what 1t expect
ed to prove by the witness.
1t was stated by the prosecution that
the defendant was with party at the
hotel on July A. 1907, and that Leon
Popoff had registered himself and Mrs.
Corwell as 81, n. Wilson and wife"
Appel declared the defendant had
nothing to do with the registration, and
after much discussion on both sides the
court said he was persuaded that the
entry was incompetent at present and
that If the register could be connected
with the defendant 1t might be admit
ted but otherwise it was inadmissible.
The jury was recalled and Whitney
was allowed to identify the register as
that of the Avalon hotel. On cross
examination he stated the hotel was
we'll filled on July 3 and 4. He will be
recalled later.
Constant villa, proprietor of the
Beaumont cafe at Fifth and Main
streets, said Mrs. Corwell boarded at
his place four or five years ago. Popoff,
he said, made the arrangements for her
board and she frequently was accom-
panied by other young women who, she
said, were her sisters. He identified
Miss Emma Quinones as one of these.
Witness was not allowed to state
whether Mrs. Corwell was rational or
irrational at that time on the ground
that he was not we'll enough acquaint-