The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-29
BOTKIN CASE ORATORY
CLOSING ARGUMENTS FOR THE PROS
ECUTION AND DEFENSE.
Witness for the State Severely Crit
icised by Attorney Knight-Case to
Go to the Jury on Friday.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 2S.-This was the
most interesting day in the Botkin case since
the trial of the woman for the murder of
Mrs. Dunning commenced, the proceedings
opening 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 the trial He
called attention to the chain of circumstan-
tial 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 on the awful
ness Of the crime and the unsuspectng, de-
fenseless condition of the victims. His argu-
ment lasted all the morning, and during its
progress Mrs. Botkin listened most atten-
lively. 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 an orator and
ability as criminal lawyer attracted an
enormous crowd to the courtroom Many
prominent attorneys were in attendance in
addition to Well-known citizens. Mr.. Knight
talked for nearly three hours and endeaVored
TO convince the jury of the weakness of the
prosecutions case and the lack of motive
for the committing of such crime by Mrs
Botkin. Mr.. Knight urged the jury not to
be influenced by the outcry caused by the
recent acquittal of Walter Rosser. the Ten
nessee soldier who murdered an inoffensive
citizen of San Francisco, and referred to
the Maybrick and Dreyfus cases as instances
of suffering of innocent people because of
public opinion
Mr.. Knight denounced DIR. Bishop, the
Dover physician who attended the poisoned
women. and was most bitter In his condem-
nation of the methods of the San Francisco
police. Mr. Dunning, the husband of one Of
the murdered women, also came in for
share of the attorneys vitriolic sentences
Particular attention was called to the fact
that Mrs. Botkin. the alleged author of the
anonymous letters that were mailed in San
Francisco in June, was in Eureka, Cal, 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 untruthfu and dissolute
woman The testimony of the candy girls
who identified Mrs. Botkin as the woman
who purchased the candy was also vigorous
iy attacked by the lawyer.
In speaking about the alleged purchase of
arsenic by Mrs. Botkin on June l knight
sought to show the improbabiity of her
Keeping the poison until July 81. when she
purchased the candy He did not, however
directly deny the purchase of arsenic Writ
ing Expert Ames. who came here from New
York and testified that Mrs. Botkin was the
author or the anonymous letters and also
addressed the wrapper on the candy was
denounced as coming here and testifying for
the prosecution because he was paid to tes-
uTy that way. Mr.. Knight laid great stress
on the fact that the arsenic found in the
candy was in lump form, whereas Druggist
Grey testified that Mrs. Botkin purchased
powdered arsenic He also said there was no
legal proof that Mrs. Dunning had died OF
arsenical poisoning. An autopsy, he said,
was necessary TO prove the cause of death in
any poisoning case. Mr. Knight contended
that the prosecution had failed to show
motive on Mrs. Botkin's part for the Gem
mission of the crime. 1t had been shown
during the trial that Mrs. Botkin had per-
sistenty refused to allow her husband TO
procure divorce, and this showed that she
had no desire 10 marry Mr.. Dunning Mr.
Knight closed with brilliant peroration. IN
which he described Mrs. Botkin as an inno-
cent, prosecuted woman, and he urged the
jury to acquit her of the horrible suspicion
that had rested on her through the machina-
tons of the police
Tomorrow Attorney MCGOWAN will make
an argument for the defense. and District
Attorney Hosmer will close for the prose-
cution. 1t is expected the case will be given
to the jury Friday morning.