Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-09-29
THE BOTKIN CASE.
A Long Warrant and Documentary Evidence
Sent to California.


Dover, Sept. q. Although still an
invalid, Gov. Tunnel came to Dover
long enough yesterday to attach his
final set of eXtradition papers and de-
mands on Gov. Budd of California for
the release to Detective McVey of Mrs
Ada Cordelia Botkin, the alleged pois-
oner OF Mrs. Deane and Mrs. Dunning.
A long warrant and documentary
| evidence in detail were prepared and
sent by express to the California
| authorities, and Attorney General
White said: ''We feel confident that
these will bring Mrs. Botkin here.
Chief Lees has advised me that Gov.
Budd will hand her over to Mr.. McVey
upon the receipt of these papers. -
OF the hostile attitude OF the Cali
fornia authorities, Gov. Tunnel said (.
"All this quibbling may do for a
while, but for his own good, for the
welfare of tho State of California and
for the sake of the whole country, Gov.
Budd will eventually have to let us
have that woman.
According to San Francisco newspa-
per. Lawyer Knight, in his plea to Gov.
Budd, said: "Justthink of the pitiable
spectacle of the governor of Delaware
signing this warrant before he had any
evidence signing what he doesn't
know. He commits perjury when he
does that. What did the governor of
Delaware know about the Stockton
woman? What did he know about the
pretzel- polishers in Haas store? But
we don't want freedom on the techni-
cal ground of these papers. Mrs. Bot
kin cannot afford to take such free
DOM" Lawyer Knight then referred
To Chief Lees, and accused him of
unlawfully OBTAINING Mrs. Botkin in
the city prison.
In an interview, the chief replied /:
"Yes, Mrs. Botkin is in prison, but
carry your mind back to the little
State of Delaware, and see where two
murdered women are lying in their
graves forever.' In reply to the ques-
tion swell, who did it?" Chief Lees
said: Just give us a chance to show
who did it! That's all that we're after
l believe honestly that, il this extra
dition case is dismissed by Gov. Budd,
Mrs. BotlSin will go scot free. don t
believe there is any law in this State
to convict her of crime committed in
Delaware. l have considered this mat
ter thoughtfully, and Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Hosmer has very care
fully and thoroughly looked up and
studied all the questions involved. He
has worked very hard and faithfully in
this case, and it is after consultation
with him that make this statement. +"
Gov. Budd has struck but one chord
| of sympathy, in commenting upon the
dangers of establishing precedent.
He said: SIT is a question that, If
once established on Mr.. Hosmer's new
construction, without limitation, will
be disastrous in its consequences, and
will lead to more crime and more un-
derhanded crime than anybody can now
realize, and by not extraditing this
woman the way will be opened to un-
limited underhanded murder-a
cowardly type. F"
"Wo are confident of our ground
now" said the attorney general, as he
carried an immense roll to the express
Office, addressed: BERNARD J.nMcVey,
San Francisco, California. In care
Chief of Police Lees. -
II have been advised by Chief
Lees, - said,he, "that upon the receipt
of these papers, prepared as they are,
Gov. Budd will Immediately order her
release to us. We havo complied with
the letter of the law