The San Francisco call., 1898-12-19
Attorneys for Both the Prescott tion and the Defense Profess
 to Be Satisfied.
The Accused Woman Is the Star Boarder at the Jail, and Has Unusual Privi-
 leges Unknown to the Sheriff.

Mrs. Cordelia Botkin will eat her Christ mas dinner where prison bars cast no dis turbing shadows if the men who are mak- ing her legal battle can break down the strong testimony of the. witnesses for the prosecution, as they claim to be able to do.
 Of those who have already appeared on the stand, Mrs. Harris, who sold the handkerchiefs, has given them the most concern, and they will leave nothing un- done to shake her convincing statements. They affirm that the records of the City of Paris disclose no delivery of the hand kerchefs and that in addition the sys- tenn of securing the addresses of custom CTS is different from that she described.
 Mrs. Ruoff, the former nurse and com panion of Mrs. Botkin, was so severe in her arrai aignment of her that it is thought by the attorneys to have detracted from the force of her testimony. They claim also that no one but a writing teacher or an expert on handwriting would make use of the technical terms that flowed so glibly from her tongue when she identt- fled the exemplars of writing as having been the work of Mrs. Botkin. According to their ideas the average person does not know anything about muscular recoil," "arm and finger movements" and similar terms applied to handwriting. The prose- cution believes that nothing can shake Mrs. Ruoff's testimony, much of which will be given added strength by what John r. Cunning will disclose as to the re- latons existing at one time between him. self and the woman now on trial for her life.
 Here again the defense finds hope. It will bend all its energies toward im- peaching Cunning. To that end the at torneys have subpenaed the managers and editors of the various papers, and through them claim they will show that his repu- tation for truth, Honesty and integrity is not good. It is possible that there will be a futtering among the dove cotes at the reporters tables, as the men and WCmeE working there may be asked to add what knowledge they possess in the premises to that contributed by the heads of departments. The attorneys for the defense profess to anticipate much SatiS- faction from their roSS-eXamnatiOn of Miss LivernaSh, a reporter. She obtained they affirm, all the information she pos seSseS, under a pledge of secrecy and by making strange admissions to Mrs. BOCkin cOndoning her violation of the laws of morality. They will lay bare the methods used by a certain class of reporters in getting their stories.
 The case is expected to run it's course rapidly this week. This morning the prosecution will commence to put on the stand its last witnesses, with possibly q for adjournment this afternoon. The witnesses will include the handwriting ex- pertS, Cunning and Miss Livernash. It will not require long to present the infor nation they possess before the jury. The time will be consumed by the rigid cross examination, through which the attorneys for Mrs. Botkin will take at least two of these witnesses. They are fighting for human life and in keeping with the trust reposed in them by their client will fight desperately, not sparing the feelings of the person sitting in the inquistorial chair
 The defense expects to require but a trifle over two days with its witnesses and then will come the arguments. It las net thought that Attorney General R. c. White of Delaware will make the opening argument for the prosecution, MT. Hos mer closing for the people.
 For the defense George Knight, Sena- tor Frank McGowan and Attorney Vince Ter will all take part in the argument and try to create in the minds of the jurymen that reasonable doubt which means to Mrs. Cordelia Botkin the difference be- tween acquittal and conviction, life and death. If the case goes on as expeditions ly as is expected the question of Mrs Botkin's guilt or innocence should be in the hands of the jury to determine by Friday or Saturday, if Judge Cook would hold court on that day. the end of the on trial for the murder of Mrs. Dunning, and there will still hang over her the cndrSe or taxing the life Of Mrs. Deane
 The rapidity with which the trial is proceeding is due to the respect the attor- heys on both sides have for the ability and fairness of Judge Carroll Cook. There have been no arguments on either side re- Earding decisions on questions of law With vacillating Judge the clever men who represent Mrs. Botkin would try to bring him over to their side on all uues- tons raised. There is no hesitation on the part of Judge Cook. hence no arguments. lie has presided over the proceedings with dignity betitting the trial of a woman for her life. throwing a certain solemnity over the case from the start
 Mrs. Botkin is the star boarder at inc Branch County Jail. out near Ingleside She has won the favor of Dan Boyle. the iailer in charge, and has in conseouence the run of the house. She has a cell fo herself and has adorned it with articles If her own that take from it the prison look When she first went there she asked Sheriff Whelan for q separate room on the upper floor of the Jail, but this was de nied ~
 The Sheriff received his first intimation bs to Mrs. Botkin's illness Saturday from The Call, yesterday. He was angry that 80 important a prisoner should be so iii hs to require the attention of a physican