Defense is making very fair progress in the Bennett case. Arthur Sherlock was the principal witness this forenoon, and was on the stand several hours. Several important witnesses were examined last evening and this morning. Their testimony was in regard to the alleged trail through the slough east of the place of the murder and the finding of a pearl button by Philip Rusie. It tended to establish the fact that scores of men had been in and through the slough before the alleged discovery of a trail through the grass and weeds, and if true, greatly weakens the theory of the missing button and the trace of the supposed assassin through the field. The attendance today was but slightly less than yesterday, although the atmosphere in the court room was excessively oppressive. It is quite evident that this is the most tedious trial, in the way of scrupulous detail, that Judge Weaver has ever “put up with.” The defense will hardly close before Monday. Further evidence follows, beginning at the point reached in Thursday’s issue:

Cross – Have not looked up any evidence in behalf of defendant. Defendant was sickly for a year or more before the murder. Knew nothing of her sickness after the murder until I saw her in the jail. Noticed the lameness in her arm when we were there picking cherries two weeks before the murder. The arm seems to bother her in changing her clothing and doing up her hair; she can raise her hand to her head, by keeping the elbow down and not using the shoulder much. The color or stain on the screen door was darker than that on the fence wire near the body.

Cross – Went into Bennett’s cowyard and looked toward Hill’s because I had heard that a person could look into Hill’s door from there, and went to see. This was after Mrs. Bennett’s arrest. Weeds in the slough were about three feet high; not enough of them to conceal a person. Mr. Bennett sat under and leaning against the cherry tree nearly all the time we were there.

Cross – Think Mrs. Hotop, previous witness, is my mother.

Cross – We went down the diagonal fence for some distance to see if there were any marks on the fence of any one getting through.

Cross – Saw no trail anywhere; couldn’t tramp the grass down so as to make a trail; there was no dew on the grass. Think Rusie was standing twelve or fifteen rods east of the road when he found the button.

Frank Nickerson – Started through the slough before sun up; went through before Phil Rusie did; went northeast, between the two ponds; saw no trace or trail; was unable to make a trail; went into Bennett’s field; Sherm Woodworth was with me. I supposed we were the first ones allowed in the field in the morning. Heard Isenhart talked of as the murderer, soon after arriving at the scene. Girl’s hair was disarranged. Could see blood without the aid of a lantern, but not the wounds very well.

Fred Shoat sworn – Live at Gladbrook; am constable. Heard Henry Rusie say he told the boy to go after Hill, that Anna was murdered.

Cross – Rusie was talking to Pete Howard; said he told the boy Anna was murdered. Understood him to say something about blood on the girl and laying her head over in an easier position.

Re-direct – Four of us went over into slough together about 4:30 a.m., before the coroner’s inquest was over. Number of other men went in. We went through the ponds.

Peter Howard – Am marshall of Gladbrook. Arrived at the scene of the murder about daylight. Talked with Henry Rusie. He said he discovered that the girl was dead, had been murdered; said she was covered with blood and told the boy to go after Hill, that Anna was murdered; said she was lying in the ditch and he lifted her out. We began searching through the slough directly after daylight; I went down to the edge of Bennett’s corn field.

Cross – Rusie was the first man I talked with about the murder; he described the occurrence; said he heard two screams and a moan; took hold of her head and discovered her face was covered with blood, and he told the boy she had been murdered; said nothing about the girl having fainted.

Charles Glass recalled – Stood by the body in the kitchen and saw blood marks on the skirt; seemed to be finger marks on the skirt as if some one had wiped bloody hands on the garment; this was near the bottom of the skirt; blood on dress higher up, but had appearance of having run down; there were a number of the finger marks.

Frank Nickerson recalled – We varied from an easterly course, northward, all the way through the slough to the diagonal fence.

Arthur Sherlock was the next witness. He is the son of the defendant by a former marriage – Is 22 years age; knew Anna Weise and her brother; she was nearly as tall as I am, five feet nine; appeared to be healthy; saw her the last time a week before the murder, at our place, in the road; spoke to her as I came home and passed on in; mother and Anna were talking and laughing, and I talked back and forth with her while I did my chores; she spoke about what she had for dinner; Mr. Bennett was doing his chores at the same time; had no secret conversation with her; nothing was said about meeting her again; heard her say ‘good night’ to mother as she started away; Anna did not go into the house or yard to my knowledge. Saw Anna again at No. 5 school house the same evening; did not go with her or talk to her; saw Isenhart with her after the meeting; had seen her there frequently; had never waited upon her; never asked her if I might escort her home. (This is answer to a juror’s question). Anna had staid all night at our house once prior to the murder; she slept with mother down stairs and I with my stepfather up stairs. She and several of her brothers and sisters visited at our house in the spring. The day of the murder Mr. Bennett was sick all day; we had threshed flax the previous afternoon; had weeds in it. We had picked and eaten cherries frequently before that day. After supper I fed the horses, changed my clothes and then went to Green Mountain on horseback. Mr. Bennett was out after the cows when I started; talked with some fellows in front of the postoffice and dry goods store; think I stayed there till about 10 o’clock. After I turned the corner to go east near Arthur Hill’s I heard voices there, and saw the house was lit up; did not stop, nor go up that way; did not then know that Anna was there; went on home, took care of the horse and went into the house; when I first entered my step-father asked me if I had got any letters; then asked if it looked any more like rain than when I went away, I said “no.” I then went out in the kitchen, got some plums; went up stairs to go to bed; was sitting on the side of the bed when I heard same one call; went down stairs and saw it was Arthur Hill; Mr. Bennett was at the door; had on nothing but his shirt. I at once went back up stairs, got my coat and pants, ready to go out and help search; mother was standing in the room when I came down stairs the second time; then went away with Arthur Hill. When I reached the scene of murder the girl’s hair was disarranged and down over her left shoulder; number of men were there; then went, among others, to warn the neighbors. I was not armed. Left Rusie’s before sun up and when I got down to the place of murder there were a lot of men over in the slough; they were in there before the inquest was over; last witness was being examined when I left Rusie’s house; some were coming out from the field. Had no idea that night, as we rode to alarm the neighbors, who had murdered Anna Wiese. Mother takes care of her milk at the well; uses a cloth strainer; usually washes the strainer and milk things there; saw her wash them there Sunday morning following the murder; there was no bloody water or bloody cloth; mother was washing the milk strainer or a dish cloth when Ed Beebe and Charley Kinney rode up. I went out to the road to see if they had found out anything; they did not ask to water their horse; mother wore this plaid dress both on Saturday and Sunday. Saw the stain on the cow yard gate in November. Last time mother wore the blue waist, to my knowledge, was in April before the murder; her arm had been poisoned by poison ivy, and was swollen so she had to cut one of the sleeves; noticed the metal (pants) button on the waist at that time. Couldn’t see that mother was excited when Barney Shultz was there. Mother was sick two years before the murder; had been complaining both before and after the murder; she was in bed a week or ten days after I took her to the doctor’s. Mother was not well when arrested; her tongue had a blackish coat and she looked sick; she had been complaining of rheumatism in her left shoulder a long time. Have seen her right shoulder thrown out of joint and have helped put it back. She is right handed; writes and eats with her right hand. I painted a threshing machine that summer, and Venetian red was used in painting tanks and other things about the place. Anna and I never talked about her riding with Brown; we were not in the kitchen together alone. Mother never spoke to me about going or not going with Anna Wiese.

Cross by Boardman – Mr. Bennett was coming in with the cows, probably 80 or 100 rods west of the house, while I rode off toward Green Mountain; think I reached the post office about 9 or shortly before; probably remained three-quarters of an hour. Did not hear Anna say “good night” at Hill’s. Saw mother at the well, after the milking, before she had gone to the house. My knife was in my overall’s pocket. (Knife here offered in evidence for the first time by the state, and identified by witness.) Think edge of knife is in about the same condition now as at that time. Mother has complained of her left shoulder joint ever since I can remember; seemed to trouble her for several days after being thrown out, then would get all right again; favored her left arm on account of rheumatism; could not use it very well above her head. Heard mother complain of feeling bad probably a month before the murder. Did not scuffle with Anna Wiese the night she stayed at our house. Did not nudge her with my elbow at the school house. Am not positive that I heard Anna say “good night” as she left our house.

Noon adjournment.

Cross examination of Arthur Sherlock continued. Think it was mother’s right arm that was poisoned; don’t know that it bled any. Have not read the report of my evidence in the former trial. Have been to three or four parties that Anna attended. Might have been in the kitchen alone with her for an instant, at some time. Think mother was washing the milk things in a pail; know she was washing the strainer cloth; saw it.

Frank McKerrel – Handed Mr. Bennett a gun, morning after the murder; said he wanted it to defend his property. Girl’s hair was disarranged; think it was hanging down her back. Was acquainted with Anna Wiese and Arthur Sherlock; they never went together to my knowledge; she seemed to be healthy and strong.

John Knight – Went over into the slough east of place of murder before sun up, on Sunday morning; went in southeasterly direction. There were men all through there when we went in. Went to Bennett’s house on Wednesday, the day of search. Noticed nothing unusual in defendant’s demeanor; went with them to the girl’s funeral; she appeared natural.