The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-29
ARGUMENT IN BOTKIN CASE.
Most Interesting Day of Trial-Knight' 5
Strong Plea For the Prisoner.

San Francisco. Cal, Dec 2S.-This
was the most interesting day in the Bot
kin case since the trial of the woman
for the murder of Mrs. Dunning com
menced. The proceedings opened this
morning with an argument by Attorney
General White, of Delaware, for the
prosecution. Mr.. White addressed the
jury quietly and proceeded to review the
testimony brought out during tho trial.
He called attention TO the chain of cir
cumstantal evidence against Mrs.
Botkin, and said that if the jury believed
the evidence of the witnesses for the
prosecution, then Mrs. Botkin must be
convicted of murder in the first degree
Mr.. White dwelt upon the awfulness of
the crime and the defenseleSs condition
of the victim. His argument lasted all
through the morning, and during its
progress Mrs. Botkin listened attentive
ly. As Mr.. White concluded she leaned
her head on her arms and seemed to be
greatly affected.
AT the afternoon session Attorney
George Knight made the argument for
the defense. Mr.. Knights reputation as
an orator and ability as a criminal law
yer attracted an enormous crowd to the
court room.
Many prominent attorneys were in at
tendance in addition to many well
known citizens. Mr.. knight talked for
nearly three hours, and endeavored to
convince the jury of the weakness of
the prosecutions ease and the lack of n
motive by Mrs. Botkin for committing
such a crime. Mr.. Knight urged the
jury not to he influenced by the cutlery
caused by the recent acquittal of Walter
Rosser. the Tennessee soldier. who muir
dered an inoffensiye citizen of San Fran
cisco. and referred to the Maybrick and
Dreyfus eases as instances of suffering
of innocent people because of public
opinion.
Mr.. Knight denounced Doctor Bishop,
the Dover physician who attended the
poisoned woman, and was most bitter in
his condemnation of the methods of the
San Francisco police. Mr.. Dunning, the
husband of one of the murdered wo-
men, also came in for share of the
attorneys yitriolic sentences. Particular
attention was called to the fact that
Mrs. BOtkin, the alleged author of the
anonymous letters that We're mailed ia
San Francisco in June, was in Eureka,
California, all of that month. and could
not have possibly mailed the letters here
Mrs. Grace Harris, who identified Mrs
Botkin as the woman who purchased the
handkerchief which was found in the
box of poisoned candy, was denounced as
an untruthful and dissolHte woman. The
testimony Of the candy girls. who identif-
ed Mrs. Botkin us the woman who pur-
chased the candy, was also vigorously
attacked by the lawyer
In speaking about the alleged purchase
of arsenic by Mrs. Botkin ON June LIST,
Knight sought to show the improbabiity
Of her keeping the poison until July 31st.
when she purchased the candy. He did
not, however, directly deny the purchase
of arsenic.
Writing Expert Ames, who came from
New Yor.- and testified that Mrs Botkin
was the author of the anonymous letters,
and also addressed the wrapper on the
candy, was denounced as coming here
and testifying for the prosecution be-
cause he was paid 10 testify that way
Mr. Knight laid great stress upon the
fact that the arsenic found in the candy
was in lump form, whereas Druggist
Grey testified that Mrs. Botkin pur-
chased powdered arsenic. He also said
there was no legal proof that Mrs. Dun
ming had died of arsenical poison. An
autopsy, he said, was necessary to prove
the cause of death in any poisoning case.
Mr.. knight contended that the prosecu-
ton had failed TO show Il motive on
Mrs. Botl<ins' part for the commission Of
the crime.
Mr.. Knight closed with brilliant pero
ration in which he described Mrs. Bot
kin as an innocent, prosecuted woman.
and he urged the jury to acquit her Of
the horrible suspicion that had rested
upon her through the Vaccinations of the
| police.
Tomorrow A torney- General MCGOWAN
will make an argument for the defense,
and District Attorney Hosmer will close
: for the prosecution. 1t is expected that
the case will be given to the jury Friday