Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-26
BARELY ABLE TO TALK
Man Assaulted on Benning Road Re-
peats Story of Attack.
NOT LONG IN THE JURYROOM
But Twelve Minutes to Tell How He
Was Battered With Hatchet
and Robbed.

Morris Bennett, the victim OF an as
sault with hatchet alleged to have
been made by James Smith on the
Bennfng road early in the morning of
November 20. today narrated to the
grand jury in the city hall the story
Of the attack which he says Smith
made upon him.
1t took the witness just twelve min
utes to repeat the story told by him at
the hospital last Friday. which was pub
liShed exclusively in The Star at the
time he identified Smith as his asSailant
Bennett appeared in good spirits, and
with the exception Of the bandages which
almost covered his head gave no indca-
ton Of the severe ordeal through which
he passed November is and which kept
him in an unconscious or semi-comato tose
condition until last Friday.
The wound in the head made by the
hatchet appears to be healing rapidly.
The broken jaw. however, is still giving
the surgeons some concern. AS there were
several fractures the use of wiring had
to be resorted to, and DR.. w. p. Reeves,
the surgeon in charge of the case, is said
to be considering the advisability of put
ting the jaw in a cast. Should this ac-
tion be taken Bennett will probably be
three more weeks, at least, in the hos
pital.
Recovered Strength Quickly.
Bennett seems to have recovered his
strength quickly. He walked to and
from the grand jury room with g. firm
step and gave no indications Of phys
ical weakness.
When Assistant United States Attor-
ney Harvey Given determined to put
the Smith case before the grand jury
this morning he arranged with the
United States marshaIs office to send
a conveyance to Casualty Hospital for
riage. used by the office of the mar
shall for conveyance of single prison
ers to and from the Jail, was provided
The carriage arrived at the hospital
about 1890 o'clock and DR.. III. w. Jaeger,
resident physician at Casualty Hospital,
accompanied the patient to the court
house.
Dr. Jaeger said Bennett would not be
affected by the trip. as his general health
ID good, and the modified Barton bandage
which held and supported the jaw would
prevent any i'll effects from the ride even
expected it would be several weeks be-
fore he would discharge Bennett as cured.
Spent Happy Christmas.
While not willing to carry on a con-
versation. the patient answered several
questions put to him by the officers and a
representative of The Star as he waited
in the private Office of Detective Clifford
Grant for the assembling of the grand
jury. Bennett said his Christmas was
made pleasant yesterday by a visit from
his wife and baby. who remained at the
hospital about two hours.
The other witnesses examined by the
grand jury were Mrs. Bennett, the wife
of the victim: Capt. John c. Daley of
the ninth precinct. Sergt. Mccormick.
Policemen Trunbo and Strobel and John
Walker. at whose home Smith was living
prior to the assault. and who identified
the hatchet as belonging to the witness
Walker also told the grand Jurors, it is
Understood. that he brought Smith to the
District line from his home in MARYLAND
and put him into the custody of the
police.
Sixteen witnesses in all had been
summoned, as the case looked last
Thursday as if it would have to be pre-
stantial evidence. The awakening of
Bennett last Friday and his identifica-
tton of Smith put new phase on the
matter. and Mr.. Given decided he could
dispense with many OF the witnesses.
The charge which 1t is expected the
grand jury will return next Friday
against Smith will be assault with in
tent to kill. The United States attor-
ney's Office may also ask for an addi-
tional indictment for robbery in the
hope that in the event of a conviction
a double sentence may be imposed on
Smith. The maximum penalty of an
assault to kill is fifteen years impris-
onment and a like punishment may be
meted out for robbery. BY this means,
1t is figured out, a total sentence of
thirty years may be secured for the
prisoner.