The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-31
rnE norK1N mrRpen cAsE.

THE BOTI<IN MURDER CASE
The Botkin murder case in San Fran
cisco which was concluded yesterday with
the conviction of the accused, is one Of the
most interesting and sensational Of recent
times. 1t is interesting, not because muir
der was committed. but because of the IN
usual details connected with the crime
and the trial of the accused. Three ,hous-
and miles separated the alleged murderer
from ner victim. The crime was commit
ted with poison. and the poison was sent
through the mails.
There were, as a matter of fact, three
victims of the poison in the case; two wo-
men and a child. The child was the daugh-
ter Of the deceased woman whose name has
become most prominently associated with
the MATERIALS Dunning. The Dunnfnss
resided at Dover, Del. Some months ago
they received a box of candy through the
mail. II bore California post mark, and
in a strange handwriting was the message:
with love and best wishes, from c.
Mrs. Cunning, her child and her friend ate
Of the candy. The two women died, ard
the child narrowly escaped death after
much suffering.
Certain circumstances led the officers of
the law to suspect Mrs Botkn, who re-
sides in California, as being the person who
sent the poisoned candy. II was ascer-
tanned that Mrs Botkin had purchased
candy of a similar kind from the dealer
whose name appeared on the package re-
ceived by Mrs. Cunning. The candy had
been "doctored" with arsenic. and it was
ascertained that Mrs. Botkin had pur-
chased arsenic. A motive for the crime
was then sought and it was learned that
Mrs: Botkin and the husband of the dead
woman, John p. Cunning. had been on cx-
tremely friendly terms. Mrs Botkn was
living apart from her husband and il
seems that the Cummings had been some
what estranged. It was the theory that
Mrs. Botkin had desired to get Mrs. Dun
ming out of the way. in order that she ard
Dunning might be married.
Following the inquest and the formula
ton of these theories, the Delaware au-
thorites made a requisition upon the Cali
fornia authorities for Mrs. Botkin, in Or
der that she might be tried in that state.
The requisition was denied by the Gov
ernor of California. on the ground that
il had not been shown that Mrs Botl1in
was a fugitive from justice in Delaware.
The California Supreme Court upheld this
view. 1t was further held by the court
that II Mrs. Botkin had committed the
crime, she had done so in California, and
"a n ooA
jurisdiction. The woman, therefore, was
put on trial in that state. Witnesses were
carried to San Francisco from Dover, and
Attorney General White of Delaware,
went on to that city to assist in the pros
ecution of the case. AS might be ex-
pected in a case in which the murder was
begun in one state and concluded in an
other clear across the continent. where
there had been a conflict of authority and
there were no precedents to be guided by
there were many technical bitches an
delays. Nevertheless the case pro-
crossed in such manner that 1t is not be
Iieved the regularity and correctness of
the proceedings can be successfully. ques-
toned
The evidence against the accused woman
was of circumstantial character
Her friendship for Cunning was prov
ed, even by Dunning himself. 1t was
shown that she purchased candy as al
legged, and also arsenic, and a handker-
chief similar to the one found in the box
of poisoned candy. Al the same time
the testimony of every witness was
assailed. and in some instances the as
sauls were very effective The ar
senic purchased by Mrs. Dunning, for in
stance, was stated by the clerk who sold it
to her to have been in different form
from that in the candy. The handkerchief
purchased by her and the one found in
the box were such handkerchiefs as might
be purchased in almost any dry goods
store. Mrs Botkin had persistently re-
fused to assist her husband to secure a
divorce, indicating that she had really no
desire TO marry Dunning. and therefore
no reason to wish Mrs. Dunning out Of the
way.
The legislature of South Carolina will as
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