Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-17

OVERCOME BY
TES TIINONY
WOMAN GIVES WAY WHEN BEN
NETT'S FATHER TESTIFIES
CROWDS AGAIN LISTEN TO MUIR
DER TRIAL
Defense Tries to Show That Wound
Which Caused Death of George
Bennett Was Fired in
Scuffle

Long before the hour set for the OPEN
ing of court yesterday morning a large
number of persons gathered in Judge
Wilbur's department and by 10 o'clock
the chamber was filled. An hour later 1t
was necessary because of the congested
condition of the room to open the large
double doors leading into the corridor
and here over hundred men and women
stood, anxious to catch word of the
testimony in the trial of Estelle Corwell,
charged with the killing of George 7.
Bennett.
Inside the court room all eyes were
centered on the prisoner as bit by bit the
evidence was brought out leading up to
the time of her arrival at the police sta
ton on the night of the shooting and
when she is said to have made a confess
sion to the officers. The principal wit
ness to testify concerning this part of
the tragic events of the night of July y,
1897, was Police Lieutenant w. A Murray,
to whom Mrs. Corwell is said to have
delivered the revolver with which the
shooting was done and to have told that
she had killed Bennett
Mrs Corwell watched the witness in
tently while he occupied the witness
chair, but when the weapon, 32-caliber
revolver was produced the witness buried
her face in her black gloved hands, while
her cheeks became pallid.
Administers StimuIants
Miss Emma Quinones, her cousin, who,
together with the prisoners mother, sits
near the unfortunate woman continually
during the long hours Of the trial, placed
a small vinaigrette containing strong
stimulants to Mrs Corwells nostrils and
the pungent odor did much to restore
the woman's self control.
The prisoner gave way to her grief
yesterday for the first time during the
trial. Since the time when she first en-
tered the court room she has almost con-
tinually sat with bowed head ar closed
eyes, apparently giving little ed to
what was taking place. But when George
w. Bennett, the aged father of the dead
man, took the witness stand Mrs. Corwell
bowed her head while she sobbed almost
aloud. Never once did she raise her eyes
while Mr.. Bennett, his own countenance
rejecting the emotion he felt, was telling
of the last hours spent with his son,
week before the tragedy.
One absentee noted in the court room
yesterday was little Grace Welch, eight
years old, a half-sister of the prisoner
This little girl has repeatedly sought to
cheer the prisoner who, surrounded by
relatives ana com1orterS, appears alone IN
her misery.
Child Favorite
The child has become a favorite with
scores of persons interested in the trial
and her dark sparkling eyes and ever
ready childish laugh is the one bright
feature in the sorrowful court drama. But
the atmosphere of the court room has af-
fected the little one and yesterday friends
insisted on taking the child on an outing
trip.
The defense yesterday laid great stress
on the fact that certain jewelry was said
to be missing from the hand and clothing
of the dead man pending the coroner's
inquest.
One witness stated that a shirt stud
worn by Bennett was taken from his per-
son before the body was carried to the
receiving hospital. One ring. the witness
said, was taken from the hand at the po-
lice station and turned over to the desk
sergeant but another finger showed
marks of a ring having been worn and
this article could not be accounted for.
Another point which the defense tried
to. prove was that the same bullet that
had pierced Benefits finger also entered
his head, which they believe might indi-
cate that Bennett was trying to secure
possessi On of the weapon at the time he
was killed.
Saw Jewelry
Police Officer w. H. Osterloh said he
saw jewelry on the mans person before
the body was taken from the house and
declared a woman took a diamond stud
from the dead mans shirt, but did not
know who she was. He took a ring from
one of the fingers when the body was
taken to the station, he said, and gave
it to the desk sergeant He said there
was evidence showing that a ring had
been worn on another finger, but the
digit had been injured The stud, he said,
had not to his knowledge been turned
over to the police.
George w. Bennett, father of the dead
man, testified in the afternoon. AS he
took the stand the prisoner buried her
face in her hands and sobs shook her
frame Mr.. Bennett said he saw his son
alive for the last time about July 10,
when he accompanied him to the train as
the father was returning home after a
week spent in Los Angeles. He did not
again come to Los Angeles until after the
shooting, when he saw the body at the
establishment.
Otto Steiner, who said he was we'll ac-
quainted with Bennett, was the next wit
ness. Steiner said he knew Mrs. Cor
we'll slightly and had had a CONVERSE
ton with her sometime before the shoot
ing in reference to Bennett and Marie
Bennett.
Said Bennett Must "Look Out" :
He said Mrs. j. H. Warren, who was
with Mrs. Corwell at the time, called him
across Spring street and asked him If
he had seen Bennett. He told them he
had heard a rumor that Bennett and
Msis Bennett were to be married and
declared that Mrs. Corwell said He had
better look out" referring to Bennett.
DIR. George w. Campbell, who was cor
oner in July last, told of the post NOR
TEN examination of Benefits body on
July %.
DR.. Campbell said the bullet passed
through one finger, and the fingers were
powder marked, but not powder burned.
would you say the hand had hold of
the weapon?" asked Attorney Appel for
the defense
believe 1t did not" replied the witness.
Mr.. Appel read from the preliminary
examination of DIR. Campbell in which he
was quoted as saying that at the time of
the shooting the pistol could have been
held in Benefits hand, and the witness
said he must have made that statement,
rs it possible that the same bullet that
went through the hand also struck the
head?" asked the attorney.
noiIhfs Storv