The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-02
George Haas Sold the Candy
That Became the Mess
enger of Death.
POLICE ARE AT FAULT.
The Evidence Gathered Against
Mrs. Botkin Vanishes Into
Thin Air.

| Deane.. I felt sure that the shadow Of
suspicion that had been thrown over me
short, time my name, will be removed
from all association with this dreadful
affair, and am more than ever con-
WINGED that l will not be forced to go to
| Delaware.
Il cannot see how It is possible. for
Cumming to charge me with the author
ship of those anonymous letters, and /
refuse to believe. that: he has done so.
There must be some mistake in the re-
ports. My attorneys give me every as
surance' that the end will not be long
delayed; l will, tell the police and the
sened candy. AS far as know I never
was in Haas candy store in my life. 1
have no fear Of investigation. The deep
/ .er and more. thorough the inquiry the
more evident will my innocence become"
When the new discovery was made At
torney Knight called upon Chief. of Police
Lees and offered to discuss the situa-
ton In a purely friendly way. The law
yer wished to meet the Chief half way,
to reveal his clients defense and to learn
what evidence the authorities may pos
sess. If there is nothing serious against
Mrs. Botkin her attorney would like to
secure her immediate release, but this is
impossible. in view of the complaints of
murder already made. These charges
will not be withdrawn; and the Chief of
Police will stand by his first determine
ton TO have the accused woman. extra
dtted to Delaware. AS soon as possible
extradition Chief Lees Will appear be
fore Governor Budd and ask that the
application be granted. Unless some
thing far more material appears in the
nature of evidence the application is not
likely to receive favorable consideration
from the chief executive.
: Another stumbling block was thrown in
the: way OF the. prosecution yesterday
when 1t became known that the official
expert on handwriting is unable to
identify. the known handwriting of Mrs.
Botkin either with the anonymous letters
or with the address and note of the candy
box. 1t is now generally admitted that
the anonymous letters were not written
by the same person who penned the adj
dress and the note. If they We're, the
writer was unusually expert in Disgusting
pert-on handwriting to make any progress
of value to the prosecution is of the most
serious import. The uncertainty of the
expert throws great doubt upon the as
case of the State In it's most vital part.
With the failure of the expert and the
crash of the. Stockton episode it would
seem as if the, prosecution had suffered
Grand jury. was yet to supply another
cause for .dismay. The strongest wit
nesses discovered by the police were ex-
amined by the official inquisitors, and
know nothing that bears directly upon
the commission of the dreadful crime:
They are acquainted with the facts of
Mrs. Botkin's career and know of her re-
latfons with Dunning.. Beyond that they
are as ignorant of the motive and the
perpetrator of the murders as the police
themselves. The official inquiry will be
pursued further, however, with a hope
that some fact of moment may be de-
veloped. Unless some startling fact is
brought out it is extremely unlikely that
Mrs; Botkin viii: ever be injected for
sending poisoned confections- through the
mails.