Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-16
DENIES CRIMINAL RELATIONS
WITH ACCUSED MAN
SAYS CRUELTY CAUSED HER TO
LEAVE HUSBAND
Court Room Unable to Accommodate
Crowd That Arrives to Hear
Testimony OF Mrs. Midge
Molster


10 testify in Benefits behalf and TO re-
fute the numerous tnsinuatlons OF ms
conduct on her part, brought to Judge
Willis courtroom yesterday the largest
gathering of spectators since the trlal
was begun more than week ago.
So large was the crowd that before
the beginning of the afternoon session
at REQUIRED the united efforts of three
batliffs to hold it in check until wit
nesses were admitted and given seats
in the first rows Of chairs set apart
for spectators. When every seat was
taken the mo standing in the court
room" sign was again hung out, ana
late arrivals were compelled to remain
In the corridor and from this dlsad-
vantageous position to pick out what
words they could from the generally
low spoken testimony of witnesses.
Mrs. Molster was among the first
witnesses called. Her bearing on the
witness stand showed no change from
that she has maintained throughout
the preceding days Of the trial. dur
ing which time she appeared to be the
least concerned of any person in the
courtroom, even when attacks on her
character were made. Her replies to
questions were given in low tones, but
with the frankness of a school girl, the
only evidence of nervousness being
manifested in half-finished eXplana-
cross-examination by Assistant Dis
triet Attorney McComas.
Denies Criminal Relations
Summarized Mrs. holsters testi-
mony was a general denial of criminal
relations with Bennett whom she re-
garded only as friend, assertions that
she left her husband because of his
cruelty and positive declarations that
Mrs. Cora H. Carpenter, one If not the
principal witness for the prosecution,
never was nor could be her friend.
At one point in her testimony with
reference to her husbands alleged
cruel treatment of her, the witness ap-
pealed to Judge Willis asking him to
make Molster refrain from gesturing.
He has been shaking his finger at
me ever since 1 took the stand,' said
Mrs. Molster.
"No, dear, I have not" protested
Molster in a low voice.
Molster was warned by the court
that repetition of the offense would
mean punishment for contempt
W. j. Wadhams, an intimate friend
of Benefits, was a witness in the late
afternoon, and enlivened the proceed
ings Somewhat by telling how Franz
M. Fowler, secret agent for the Hunt
ington lines and acting in a similar
capacity for the Royston Grocery COM
pany in connection with Benefits suit
for damages against that concern, ap-
peared at the Bennett home the day
after Mrs. Benefits death ana repre-
sented himsf as nwspaper man in
search of details concerning the trag-
edy.- Fowler's face flushed as he list
ened to Wadhams statements, and af-
ter protesting vehemently, but in an
undertone, to Prosecutor McComas, he
left the court room and did not return.
At,
most part, gave testimony concerning
Mrs Benefits disposition and health,
several persons stating she had told
them she was tired of life The session
ended with an argument between Ben
ntt's leading counsel, 2. B. Drake, and
Prosecutor McComas over the proper
definition of the word affinity" the
dispute arising when Mr.. Drake en-
deavored to introduce the testimony of
a physician with reference to the ply
sical condition Of Mrs. Molster. Attor-
ney Drake stated he wanted this testi-
mony to show that Mrs. holsters con-
dition, owing to her husbands cruelty.
was such that she could not be guilty
of misconduct with Bennett, but Judge
Willis sustained the objections Of Mr..
McComas to questions along this line.
Lallah Bennett, the little daughter
OF the defendant, will be the first wit
ness to be called by the defense today,
and will be last witness to testify be-
lore Mr.. Drake announces the closing
Of his side Of the case. The rebuttal
witnesses will number ten or twelve.
and Judge Willis, just before he ad-
Journed court, stated he would expect
all testimony to be concluded today
even if night session was necessary.
1t was stated yesterday the prosecu-
tion has discovered two new and i'm
portant witnesses. ]. F. Powell and his
daughter-in-law, Olive I. Brown, and
that their testimony is expected to
break down many Of the statements
made by Mr.. brakes witnesses. SO
important is Mrs. Browns testimony
regarded that an officer was sent to
Paso Robles Hot Springs to bring her
to Los Angeles. Mr.. McComas refused
TO discuss yesterday what her testi-
mony would be-
Body Was Relaxed
DR.. A. c. Pratt, who attended BEN
nett and his wife the night of Mrs.
Benefits death, was recalled as the
first witness yesterday. He stated that
strychnine was an accumulative medi-
cine, and when taken in small doses
would remain IN the system some time.
His testimony was for the purpose Of
strengthening one theory OF the de-
fense that Mrs. Benefits death was
caused by overdoses OF patent medI-
cines containing strychnine.
Miss Edna Saunders, the nurse who
attended Mrs. Bennett said her BODY
was relaxed and that her face did not
bear the expression OF q person who
had died from the effects of strych-
nine poisoning.
Bennett was recalled, remaining in
the witness chair only two minutes He
denied he conversed with the Royston
Grocery company's attorney or Frank
M. Fowler with regard to the chemical
analysis of the chile concarne the dav
of the inquest on Mrs. Benefits body.
Prosecutor McComas announced he
would cPoss-examine Bennett today.
There was a stir when Mrs. Molster.
the woman on whose account, 1t is al
legged. Bennett poisoned his wife, was
called to the stand by Mr. Drake, who,
without reliminary questions, began
an examination regarding her deser-
tion Of her husband. her feeling for
Mrs. Carpenter and her relations with
Bennett.
The witness gave her name as Lulu
Molster. She had known Mrs. Car
penter a number of years, she said
and came with her to California in
1905. In response TO questions she said
ehe left her husband January 20 be-
cause he was cruel and because she
was advised to take the step by Mrs