Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-18
NET TIGHrENs ABOUT MRS. BOTKrN
Damaging THef',r0ny fr'rg GIVEN
Acninsf Her.

J Managing T"cf'fr1ng fring Gwen
/ Against Her.
| SAN FRANCISCO. CAL, December H.
| One of the strongest bits Of evidence in
! the chain that is being forged in the et-
fort 10 connect Mrs. Botkin with the muir
der Of Mrs. John z. Dunning and Mrs
| Deane. of Dover, Del, was presented yes
| terday
Mrs. Grace Harris, a saleswoman at the
| CITY OF Paris dry-goods store, testlheu
| that she sold Mrs. BOtkin The handker-
chief that was sent with the poisoned
candy to Dover. She was positive that
she marked and sold the handkerchief.
and was sure that Mrs. Botkin was the
woman who purchased If. She remem-
bered, too. that the purchaser had ordered
the handkerchief sent 10 the Hotel VIC
toria. where Mrs. Botkin was living.
The fact was impressed upon her memo
ry by two circumstances-Mrs. Harris
broke a rule OF the house in selling the
handkerchief and she noticed that Mrs.
BOtkin resembed her mother. Mrs.
BotlSin watched the witness intently while
she was giving her testimony. She smiled
complacently at the incrimndting evil
dence, but as the witness grew more posi-
tive under cross-eNaminatlon the smile
faded and the prisoner showed some tom
Der.
When Mrs. Elmira Rouff. formerly an
intimate associate Of Mrs. BOtkin, was
called to the stand. the prisoner ceased
tanning herself and leaned forward that
she might hear all that was said.
Mrs Rouff told Of secret visits made
bv Dunnlng TO Mrs. BOtkin when sh'
was living with her sister in Oakland
The witness let Dunning in so that Do
one else in the house would know TIN
he had called. Mrs. Roum WIS show
the anonymous letters sent TO Mrs. Dun
ming from San Francisco. Mrs. Rouh
looked at them Il moment and replied
positively:
"Thev were written by Mrs. Botkin.
The handwriting is disguised. but it con-
tains many of her characteristics.
The letters adviseds Mrs. Dunning TO
secure a divorce from Dunning and fur
nished information on which she might
act. For instance, they suggested that
the history of Dunning's bohemian lie"
could be obtained from the attaches OF
the house at 927 Geary street, where Mrs.
Botkln once lived. and from his business
associates.
The most sensational evidence that has
vet been given was Mrs. ROun's state
meut OF a conversation she had with Mrs.
Botkin in Stockton in July last, only a
few days before the box Of poisoned candy
was sent
The defendant asked great many
questions about the effects OF poisons
particularly arsenic and strychnne. She
also inquired about postal regulations
and the rate of postage on pound pack
age. Mrs Rouff told how Mrs. BOtkin on
one occasion pretended to be ILL., and when
she asked her If she had taken poison
Mrs. Botkn said she had. but not enough
II did not believe her" said Mrs.
Rouff "as she was too great a coward
to commit suicide. Nnen the doctor
came he prescribed for a fever. and
while he was there she asked him n
number of questions particularly about
arsenic"
After the doctors departure she said
60 me: Something tells me that my as
sociation with Dnnning will yet be very
close"
Mrs. Botkln showed little agitation.
but deep interest, during the recital. Oc-
casionally she nodded approvingy. as If
to corroborate some statement of the
witness, but at other times she shook her
head negatively and talked excitedly with
her attorneys. The trial will be resumed
Monday.