The sun., 1898-12-27
MRS. BOTKlN'S CHRISTMAS.
She Received Presents From Her Son
and Box of Candy
From a Store.

SAN Francisco, Cal, Dec. 26.-The al
legged murderer, Mrs. Cordelia Botkin,
who is on trial charged with sending the
poisoned candy to Dover, Del, that
caused the deaths of Mrs. j. P. Dunning
and Mrs. Deane, passed Christmas as
pleasantly as the Jail confines would per-
nit. When she arose, she found at her
cell door pretty lace cape, set off with
dark-blue ribbons, to which was at
tacbed a card bearing the inscription
"to mother from son." From one OF
her women friends there was large
bunch of American beauty roses that she
divided with the Jail matron, the re,
mainder being pinned to her corsage.
One of her Sacramento acquaintance
sent as Christmas gift "a box of choco-
lates and, as fate DEGREES, they were in
labeled box purchased from Haas candy
store, the same store from which the
chocolates were purchased that spread
death in the Dover home OF former Con-
gresham Pennington. From a Denver
friend came gold brooch and the
women of the Jail, who look upon Mrs.
Botkin as superior person, gave her a
linen handkerchief.
She ate no turkey for dinner, the meal
consisting of light soup, patie de froi
gras, fish, reas, cauliflower, California
oranges and chocolate. Several friends
called and were allowed to converse dur
ing the afternoon. The trial will be re-
sumed on tomorrow morning. The de-
Tense, so far, is regarded as being weak
and if the jury shares the general opin-
ion of the people regarding Mrs. Botkin's
series of denials on the stand, and holds
the same belief regarding the testimony
of the prosecution, Mrs. Botkin will be
convicted.
One Of the most important parts OF the
testimony is that regarding the hand
writing on the candy box sent to Dover,
and its similarity to Mrs. Botkin's PEN
manship. Experts have. testified that the
disguised writing is Mrs. Botkin's and
on this the case virtually hinges, as the
evidence is purely circumstantial
II have not thought much about
Christmas" said Mrs. Botkin. 81 can
hardly realize that the day and the sea-
son of gladness are here. 1t does not
mean much to me this year, and have
tried to forget about it,"
Mrs. Botkin was visited by her sister,
Mrs. w. Fl. Robarts, who brought a
well-filled hamper containing Christmas
dinner. Mrs. Robarts was also there in
the afternoon and the three dined in the
matron's room with the matron, Mrs.
Sinclair between whom and Mrs. Bot
kin there has developed very warm
friendship.
The friends of Mrs. Cordelia Botkin,
accused of the murder of Mrs. John p.
Dunning, have little hope that she will
escape from her terrible predicament.
The evidence of alibs which she pre-.
sented herself is not regarded as sufiici-
emily creditable to offset the contrary
testimony of the prosecutors witnesses.
She remained in her cell Christmas Day
and there was nothing in the outlook to
cheer her. The trial is nearly finished.
All that remains is the presentation OF
testimony in rebuttal and the summing
up of both sides
If a verdict OF guilty be returned, anil
the higher State courts affirm it, an ap-
peal on the question Of jurisdiction may
be made to the Federal Supreme Court.
The ground for this appeal would be the
fact that the crime alleged was consnm-
mated in Delaware, and not in Califor-
MIA, the package Of poisoned candy Of
which Mrs. Dunning parto"k having
been put in the mails in the latter State
and delivered to her in the former. This
appeal, if entertained, would at least
defer the execution OF sentence probably
several months.