The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-04
FRANK S. GREY Who Sold Arsenic to Mrs. Bothin. y

the Penal Code. Attorney Knight de-
clares that such an Indictment would not
only prevent the extradition of Mrs: Bot
void. Chief Lees will effectually defeat
his dearest desire-the extradftfon OF the
accused I'd S an procuring ring an indiet
ton in this instance has been illegal and
unjustifiabe He had no right, legal or
ecuting counsel, nor had he any right to
make a statement of his views regarding
the woman's guilt or innocence. Under
the law, the District Attorney is the only
official who can be present at a session of
the Grand Jury, excepting, of course, the
witness under examination. Lees over,
stepped his prerogatives as witness and
became special prosecutor. Lees Is at
tempting to use the Grand Jury as drag
net to assist him in securing evidence
against Mrs. Botkin, and the jurors are
illegally allowing the incompetent head Of
the Police Department to occupy their
official time without reason or justice. If
the grand jurors so desire they can violate
their oaths and prostitute the functions
of that body by listening to Lees pitiful
appeals and granting his prayer In this,
however, they would be wasting their
will come to naught.
Baffled in his efforts to trace the pur-
chaser of the box of candy at Haas
store and the handkerchief at the City
of Paris, Chief Lees now depends wholly
upon the handwriting experts to connect
Mrs Botkn with the murder ss G Of Mrs t; Pun
fuses to allow the newspapers to trace
the reproduction of the defendants let
ters, and contents himself by saying he
is satisfied that she wrote the anony-
nous letters SO frequently referred to. He
angrily declares that he will not give
the newspapers samples of the writings,
because the editors would Immediately
submit them to experts, whose opinions
might differ from his own, and he swears
by all the gold lace on his most gor-
geous uniform that he will conduct his
case without the assistance or interior
ence of newspapers.
Mrs. Botkin's version of the poison
story told by Mrs. Rauof differs widely
from the tale the nurse told before the
with DR.. Stone, when he called to attend
her at Stockton, related only to medicine
containing toxin. which he prescribed
She was suffering from hysteria. due to
er and the physician prescribed valerian
and opium as a tonic and sedative. Mrs
Botkin says she informed the physician
she had never taken opium In any form,
drug She also asked him what the ac-
ton of opium would be on a person of
her temperament. DR.. Stone advised her
to try small doses of the prescription
and If no evil effects followed to con-
tfnue taking the medicine
The preliminary examination of Mrs
Botkin, which is set for Tuesday in Police
Court No 8, will be deferred indefinitely.
all proceedings, except on the main issue
before the Governor. would be trivial and
useless, and they have, therefore, agreed
to fight it out once and for all on extra
dition. All the evidence Chief Lees and
McVey have gathered must necessarily
be presented to the Governor when extra
dition is asked for and the merits of the
case will then be developed.
The police have not secured any addi-
tional evidence against Mrs. Botkin, and
the case against her is not very strong.