Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-14
NEW EVIDENCE
INTRODUCED IN
BENNETT TRIAL
DEFENSE MAKES STARTLING
STATEMENTS
INSISTS WOMAN DIED OF PTo-
MAINE POISONING
Testimony Indicating stryohnlne Was
Found in Stomach VIII Be
Given to Show Suicide
Was Attempted

show that Mrs. Eugenia Thompson
Bennett was peculiar woman, that
| no one ever saw her laugh; that, If she
died from strychnine poisoning, she
administered the poison herself. 1t
| will further show Bennett did not
know his wife was the mother of
child when he married her and that
the father of the child was Senator
Richard Coke of Waco, Tex"
Still maintaining that Mrs. Bennett
died from the effects of ptomaine
poisoning after eating chill concarne,
although expressing the doubt that
must be in the minds of every one ex-
cept, perhaps, the defendant himself,
as to the real cause of death, e. b.
Drake, leading counsel for Harper E.
Bennett made the foregoing statement
in his opening remarks to the jury yes
terday. u
| The theory that Mrs. Bennett, mel
ancholy and brooding over the secret
impaired to her husband only after
their marriage, took her own life Is
new one. and it's utterance created a
sensation in Judge Willis crowded
courtroom.
Foundation for the introduction of
this testimony was laid when DIR. l.. B.
| Stookey one of the chemists who eX-
amned the contents of Mrs. Benefits S
stomach after her body was exhumed
in May, stated he found several raisins,
one bearing no evidence of mastica-
ton, undigested and containing under
it's thin skin traces of strychnine.
State Closes Case
With the exception of the testimony
of two witnesses, whose examination
will be short, Assistant District At
torney McComas announced the close
Bf the prosecution in the Bennett case
at $3.50 o'clock yesterday, and Attorney
Drake Immediately began his opening
statement to the jury.
Outlining the defense, he said he
would place Bennett on the stand and
that his testimony alone should be suf-
ficient to show he did not poison his
wife.
'"rhe testimony will show there Is no
affinity in this case" said Mr.. Drake,
land that 'Midge' Molster left her hus-
band, not because she loved Bennett,
but because her husband treated her
cruelty and his bad temper and jealous
disposition, aroused by his conversa-
tons with Mrs. Cora H. Carpenter
compelled her to appeal to somebody
for assistance"
He declared the testimony would
show there had been no improper re-
lations between Bennett and Mrs.
ter as a witness he said conversa-
tion between the latter and Bennett,
following his wife's death, would be
repeated on the witness stand to prove
her motives were mercenary.
1--WE will show Mrs. Carpenter told
: Bennett she was worth $1,000 in the
: damage suit filed by him against the
, grocery on account of his wife's death
!, and it was for him to say what side
! she would take" said the attorney.
: Then coming to the theory of sui
: eide Mr. Drake gave numerous rea-
: sons for advancing this idea Despite
! testimony of witnesses, he said, Ben
/, nett and his wife never discussed a
t separation.
Says Actions Unusual
, February 13, the day she died, Mrs.
: Bennett had her hair dressed, some-
thing that was unusual. She donned a
new dress and after a short conversa-
, ton with Benefits business associate,
: shook hands with him and said good
by, something she never did before.
= We expect to show members of her
, family have been afflicted with insan-
g ity and that she was addicted to the
a use of drugs containing strychnine
which she carried in tablet form in her
/ purse.
4 "The testimony will show that Mrs;
Bennett was a peculiar woman, that
. no one ever saw her laugh; that If she
died from strychnine poisoning she
took the drug herself. We will show
= her disposition was a melancholy one
3 and that she had a suicidal tendency.
r "We will prove Mrs. Bennett had a
/ child before she married Bennett and
that Senator Richard Coke of Texas
was the father of that child. She told
her husband about 1t after the mar
| 1,n obi
: was adopted by family named Ad-
: ans, living in Galveston. 1t was then
year old
The great flood of 1900 came and 1t
Is believed the Adams family and their
adopted child were drowned, as Mrs.
Bennett never could get into COM
munication with them after that time.
1.-TWO years ago she went to Texas
? and spent $500 in a search for the
,, child. She returned to Los Angeles
, and became more melancholy, and we
| ! will place her little stepdaughter, Lal-
, lah, and another witness on the stand
to testify that Mrs. Bennett said she
, would kill herself"
Finds Poison In Stomach
: Preceding Mr.. brakes statement, Dr.
: L. B. Stookey one of the chemists
, who examined the contents of Mrs.
Benefits stomach, said he found about
| OnG-JonIn grain OI SCHiihCt NhiNh
5 was not a large dose, although he
; could not say how much, If any, had
J entered the blood.
During a cross examination of Dr.
George w. Campbell, who was recalled,
Attorney Drake read from text books
to show that two ptomaines at least
have been discovered the symptoms of
i which are markedly similar to those
following the administration of poison
Gus doses of Strychnine.
The forenoon session was taken up
. with testimony concerning Benefits
relations with "Midge" Molster, his
alleged affinity. e. C. Molster, the
husband, said he knew little about
Bennett and did not know why his
wife had deserted him until he was
told by Mrs. Carpenter. Mrs. Eunice
Rapette and Mrs. Anna E. Parker, pro-
prietors of rooming houses, said Ben
nett brought Mrs. Molster to their
lplaces and registered as man and