The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-17
MRS. BOIlKIy'S I PERIL
Damaging Evidence Against the
Alleged Poisoner.,
IDENTIFIED BY TWO WITNESSES.

Ono Woman Declares She Sold Mrs.
Botllin tho Handkerchicfsentto to Mrs.
Dunning's Daughter and Another
: Identifies Her Handwriting.
San Francisco. Dec. 1.-THE defense
in the Botkin mur Ter trial yesterday
received the worst SETBACK 1t has eX-
perienced since the case opened. The
evidence of two witnesses examined
was of such convincing nature that
the chagrin caused by its introduction
was plainly written upon the faces OF
the accused woman and her counsel.
The evidence clearly showed that Mrs
Botkin wrote the anonymous letters
sent to Mrs. Dunning from this city
apprising Mrs. DunMing of the alleged
misconduct of her husband, and in
forming the dead woman that she had
grounds for commencing suit for di-
vorce. The handkerchief which was
enclosed in the box Of poisoned candy
was proven to have been purchased in
this city by Mrs. ,Botkin, another link
In the chain of the prosecution.
The first important witness was Mrs
Grace Harris, who was employed in the
City of Paris dry goods store during
May and June of this year. Mrs. Har-
rIs told of the purchase Of the hand
kerchief, identified the article which
she sold and stated positively that Mrs.
Botkin was the purchaser. She was cer-
tain of the woman for the reason that
Mrs. Botkin so resemb!ed Mrs. Harris
own mother that the similarity caused
her to wonder She was certain Of the
Handkerchief because it bore a price
mark which she herself had stamped
on the article. Cross examination
rather strengthened her evidence than
otherwise, as it brought out the fact
that Mrs. Harris took Mrs. Botkin's
address, which the purchaser gave as
the Victoria hotel where she resided
up to the time Of her arrest.
Mrs. Rouff I'm aged woman and a
resident of Stockton, Cal, told Of her
acquaintance with the defendant, which
was that of an intimate friend. She
alo knew Dunning very well. Mrs.
R0uff said that on one occasion sha
called on Mrs. Botkin at her rooms
and the defendant showed her hand
kerchief, asking her if it was not
beautiful one for the price. Mrs. Rouif
recognized the handkerchief sent to
Mrs. Dunnings daughter as being eX-
actly like the one Mrs. Botkin showed
her The witness then identified Mrs.
Botkin's handwriting in the anonymous
letter sent to Mrs. Dunning. Mrs.
Rouff was familiar with Mrs. Botkins
writing and pointed out its poculiari-
ties When shown the note that was
enclosed in the box of candy Mrs Rouff
stated that she believed tito have been
written by Mrs. Botl1in ENe discussed
the samples of writing shown her with
the ability of an expert. She recog-
nized the language of the letters as
that Of Mrs. Botkin. Witness told of
conversation she had with the defend
ant on the different posons and their
qualifications for killing mice. Later
Mrs. Botkin was taken sick, and while
under treatment discussed poisons with
her physicians. She thought the action
of strychnine too harsh and spoke of
arsenic of being mild in its action and
seemed well informed upon it's other
symptoms.
Mrs. Rouff told of another visit of
/. Mra Battin to her Stockton home. It
was made shortly after the perpetra-
tion of the crime. Mrs. Botkln was
greatly excitea and talked about poi
sons. anonymous letters, and made
other remarks that puzzled Mrs. Rouff.
On one occasion Mrs. Botkin talked to
the witness about bleaching hats, and
remarked that she had heard that
arsenic was used for that purpose.
Defendant became agitated when in.
.forsled by Mrs. Rouff that ahe would
have to give her name when she pur-,
chased the poison. Upon cross exam
ination Mrs. Rouff intimated that she
thought Mrs. Botkins illness at the
time she asked so many questions of
the doctors about poisons was a sham.
She stated that at the time Mrs. Bot
kin visited her, after the crime had
been committed, she felt certain of Mrs.
Bo,kin's guilt in the matter, but ex-
piained her sympathy for her and her
care Of her during her brief illness as
being impeiied by a Christian spirit.