The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-25

denied all knowledge of the box of
candy, its wrapper or contents stating
positively that the only candy she had
purchased during 18 months was a
small box of lemon drops.
Frank Gattrel, clerk in a candy
store in Stockton tells of a woman who
came to his place of employment about
three weeks ago, when Mrs. Botkin
was in Stockton, and purchased a box
of candy similar to the one sent to Mrs.
Dunning. The woman said she desired
to put some of the candy that she had
with her in the box and fill it up with
candy purchased from the store. Ac-
cOrding to the clerk his customers can
dy was either old or home made. It
almost filled the box, which he covered
with confections in his store. Gattrel
will come to this city to see if he can
identify Mrs. Botkin as the woman for
whom he filed the box.
Post Office Record.
San Francisco, Aug. 25.-It has been
learned that the box of poisoned chOcO-
late which caused the death OF Mrs.
Dunning and Mrs. Deane was mailed
at Station in Market street, near
Larkin, on August f. as hrst-class mail
A woman took the package to the
station, had it weighed and placed the
exact postage on it. The clerk who ac-
cepted the package will visit the prison
and endeaVOr to identify Mrs. BOtkin
as that woman.
the candy as frst-class mail matter SO
that it would be more certain of reach
ing its destination, and would not be
opened by the postal authorities It
contained writing and could only have
been sent legally as firSt-class matter.
The candy was mailed in San Fran
cisco on August and reached its deSti-
nation on the evening of August g. It
was eaten that same evening, and Mrs.
Deane died on August II and Mrs. Dun
ming on the evening of August Y. Mrs
BOtkin was in San Francisco on August
4, for it was on that day she left the
Hotel Victoria. for the home of her sis
ter. Mrs. Mcclure.
Facts are coming out little by little,
concerning the box of poisoned candy,
and they all seem to connect a woman
with it. Chief Lees has seized the trunk
of Mrs. BOtkin, left in the Victoria, as
we'll as personal effects found in her
possession in Stockton. They will be
searched for evidence, but it will be
blind investigation until evidence ar
rives from the east.
Then the paper in which the box was
wrapped and upon which the note was
written will be compared with any that
may be found in Mrs. Botkin's posses
sion.
Chief of Police Lees said today:
"While practically all the evidence
against Mrs. BOtkin is held by the Del
aware authorities, ends of circumstan-
tial evidence that can be picked up here
are such as would direct suspicion tow
ard her. We have not seen the candy
box and its contents, and so have been
unable to work up the case But we
have ascertained, however, what places
Mrs. BotI1in in a bad light, even if she
is not the guilty person.
''I have nothing that tends to impli-
cate any other woman in the crime.
There is no evidence of any conspiracy.
so far as is known here, and there is
nothing to justify the belief that there
was one. The murder was evidently the
act as a singularly vindictive person. I
have received no correspondence from
the Delaware authorities indicating
that they suspect anyone but the per-
son whom they asked me to arrest
Statements that Dunning told some
of his friends that Mrs BOtl1in was Il
cause of the continued separation of
himself and wife are correct. Others
have made similar statements to me-"
The News at Dover.
Dover. Del, Aug. 25.-News of the ar
rest of Mrs Botkin at San Francisco