davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-08-25
Incidents the Arrest and Imprisonment Mrs BoNn the Suspected Po

in-law, N. c. Mcclure, was waiting for me at the depot, and l rode with him my relative until Sunday, August [ On Sunday we drove from St. Helena to my sisters home in ,Healdsburg. distance ffetd of thirtyye miles mill passed week country life. Sunday August IA. I first read of the death of Mrs. Cunning and her sister. 1 was shocked beyond expres- sion at the fiendish act.
 "The next day (Monday) lady reporter on one of the San Francisco papers call- ed on me and asked for an interview I told her everything I knew freely and frankly, and allowed her to examine and copy letters I had received from Mr. Cunning. I wish to state here that I was no not truthfully reported by the paper the very strong suspicion existed that was the person who sent the poisoned candy to Mrs. Cunning, and I gave her every detail of my relation with the dead woman's husband, My sister and discussed the case and she advised me to go to my husband at Stockton, and ferred to asked permission to accompany me, and on the urgent request of my sis ter I consented. We went to Stockton Wednesday, August F, and there I re- mafned until arrested and brought to this city,
 At the conclusion of her statement Mrs Botkin addressed these words directly to Chief Lees: Now I am here. and I have told you all I know about the case"
 The prisoner was then taken to the City Prison and placed in charge of the matron- Her name was not entered upon the prison register, but probably will be, as she was arrested on warrant
 Chief Lees said he did not cross-exam- inc the suspected poisoner. He only ask ed her few questions which were sug- gested in a letter received yesterday from Attorney General White of Della ware.
 The Chief is certain of one noipt however, which Is that the English woman" referred to in the Eastern dis patches and Mrs. Botkin are one and the same person. She has all the physical characteristics of an English woman, and speaks with a decidedly English accent Without knowing her nationality any one would declare she was born in the mother country. The letter received by Chief Lees contains the information that the bonbons arrived at Dover August g, not August 10, as has been printed.
The San Francisco call., 1898-08-25
FORGIVEN BY
 HER HUSBAND
After Separation of Two Years Mir. BOtkin Comes to
 His Wife'S Rescue.

MT Botkin, the husband of the accused woman has acted most nobly in endeav- bring to shield his wife. whether she Is guilty of the awful murder or not Not withstanding the exposure of all her scandalous actions with Cunning. her husband with extraordinary fortitude is preparing to defend her name and save her from conviction, If 1t lies within his power. He remained with her while she made her statement to the Chief of Police and accompanied her to the City Prison, where she was placed in charge of the matron.
 Mir. Botkin fingered but a few mo- ments in the matrons room and then said good-by to his wife. He left the prison and went downtown to consult an attorney.
 MT. Botkin took a long breath when he passed out of the prison and the iron door closed behind him with a rattle and slam He looked worried and careworn, and he walked in a dejected and dis pirited manner. He said to reporter:
 ''There will be nc more interviews with my wife. She has been interviewed too much already. For myself, I have noth- ing to say that has not already appear ed in the papers. l am still convinced that my wife is not guilty of murder or any other crime, and in a short time she will be free. Regarding our future life, nothing need be said
 Regarding Cunning and my wife association with him, I have only this to say. I do not believe there is one iota of truth in the stories which have ap- peared in the newspapers about them Mrs. Botkin was lively and jolly, and she liked Cunning as a friend only. Inese tales about orgies and wildly hilarious doings at 927 Geary street are all lies
 .'The arrest of Mrs. Botkn on suspl- cion only Is hard blow to me and to her. But she has recovered from her 1rlgnl and is now resigned and composed Tier conscience is clear, and she has no ap- prehension as to the final outcome
 For generations my family name . nas never been tarnished, and this IS the IIst S tine to my knowledge. that Botklh has ever been behind prison bars or ac- cused of a crime.
 .I intend to remain here until to-Inor- row and perhaps longer. This IS busy season in the grain business, ana am anxious that my business shali not SUI li- fer. I have never had any troupe oi lliS character to contend with. ana l nave not formed any plans. l shall ITy to se cure the services of George A. hnlgnt or General w. H. l.. Barnes, but botn these attorneys are at Sacramento, anu oo not know when they will return
 ..I have decided on one thing, however I shall see that my wife has every pro lection the law can give her, as l know she is innocent.
 Mir. Botkin was born In Ohio, ana nov ed from his native State to MlsSourl when he was young man. He' hke
The San Francisco call., 1898-08-25
CUNNING HAS
 SUSPICIONS

NEW YORK, Aug. A.-"My lips have been sealed by the State author1tles or Delaware by whom I am instructed not to make any statement in regard to the death of my wife and her sister, caused by eating poisoned candy
 John P. Cunning sat in his room in the Astor House to-day when he made this statement.
 "Were you surprised at Mrs. Botkln's arrest?' he was asked.
 ''No. I wish to say, however, that the stories that I am endeavoring to shield any one connected with this case are ab- solutely false 1 am aiding and 1 intend 10 aid the authorities of Delaware Tn every way to secure evidence and assist them to discover and punish the gulIty
 Dunning said he had asked the Della ware detectives to show him the box or poisoned candy his wife had received an9 also the paper in which It was wrapped and upon which the name and address were written. They did not have 1t with them. however, and he did not see It.
 Did you see the threatening anony- nous letters?" he was asked.
 '.That I do not care to say, as It may be against the instructions received.
 s"Tben you will not say whether you re- coenized the writing of the letters or ..Personally, I see no objection to tell ing what l know, but that must pre-
 aI shall be a witness and intend to tell everything-an I know. I shall shield no one"
 picion as to the guilty person, and also that 1t was on the evidence he gave the Deleware authorities that dectective was sent to San Francisco.
 There are several perons whose names have been connected with the case whom I know are innocent, said he.
 1.-TWO are Mrs. Cordially, who was a good friend of my wife and myself, and Paul Cowles, who worked with me in the Associated Press office in San Francisco. Beyond that I do not care to say any thing, except that 1t is true that I know the women whose names have been con- nected with the case, all of whom live in San Francisco"
 Cunning says he will continue to ob- tain all the evidence he can to convict the person who is guilty of the crime and that person he Is confident he can
The San Francisco call., 1898-08-25
MRS. BOTKIN'S
 STATEMENT
The Accused Woman Tells Chief Lees of Her DoingS
 for the Past Month.

Immediately on her arrival at the City Hall Mrs. Botkin was taken by Detective Ed l.. Gibson to the private office of Chief of Police Lees. She removed her coat and the double veil which she had worn during the trip from Stockton to the city and sat down to await the com ing of the Chief, who had gone to lunch con. Chief Lees returned soon after, and in a few moments MT. Botkin arrived and joined his wife Chief Lees read the tele- grams and letters from the Delaware authorities, which accused her of the murder of Mrs. Cunning and Mrs. Deane, and also handed her clippings from the newspapers which contained details and interviews regarding the crime. Mrs. Botkin read few of them and then looked at the Chief inquiringly. Lees fully explained the circumstances which involved her and then asked her for her statement, which she willingly consented to give Stenographer Otto Heyneman was called in and the suspected woman gave a detailed account of her doings
The San Francisco call., 1898-08-25

since July 27 last. She was calm ia[l ana self-contained, and gave her story in low, well modulated tones. She dropped al aer Sr pressions, which indicated that she ap- preciated the gravity of her situation, She spoke slowly and carefully chose tered would be investigated, ana any discrepancies or contradictions would weigh eg heavily against her before Juryi; ri
 She began her story with general ana emphatic denial of the charges against her and a sweeping refutation of all the interviews which had been published as
 In reply to a question by Chief Lees Mrs Botkin declared that she had not not 6ih bought any candy at any i0It plaee 6e, Iof of lemon drops which she purchased Tn tnis city for little nephew who lives In Mendocino County. Lees then asked her if she did not buy box of bonbons at three weeks ago. Mrs. Botkin, replied very forcefully that she had not. The substance of her statement follows:
 "On the evening of July T last took the boat for Stockton and arrived there the. following. morning. I was very i'll during the trip on the boat, and on my arrival at Stockton I called physician.
 "On Saturday evening, August 30. 1 started my return to this city, and arrived here Sunday morning, August 31. went immediately to the Victoria Hotel at the corner of California and Hyde my illness at Stockton. and suffered relapse on the return trip. I felt so badly after my return that again sent for a Wednesday, August 3. That afternoon began making preparations for visit to my sister. Mrs. Mcclure, who lives in Adventist Sanitarium at St. Helena. gathered up my clothing and trinkets and partially packed my trunk. During, the on Bush street to say good-by to her. From my friends house I returned to night and all the next day, up to the time of my departure for St. Helena This was on Thursday, August 4. The train left about 3 in the afternoon, and I went directly from my hotel to the ferry. did not stop anywhere nor did I post or cause to be posted a box of candy ad- dressed to Mrs. J. P. Cunning at Dover, Del. From this city I proceeded, with out stopover to St. Helena. My brother
The San Francisco call., 1898-08-25

while at her place.
 Did you ever see any one else in her room besides her companion, Mrs. Rauof, her husband and her son?"
 No, I did not" said Mrs. Brueck. No one else ever came there. She did not go out, and her meals were brought to her."
 Last night a bottle of poison was taken from Mrs. Bothin at the sugges- tion of Dr. Stone, who suspected she had it on her person. The physician attended Mrs. Botkin about a month with Mrs. Rauof, a widow who has been her friend, nurse and confidant. At that time Mrs. Botkin had a fever and feared that it would develop into typhoid. Dr. Stone during his atend- ance gave the nurse vial containing four grains of morphine, enough for thirty two doses. Dr. Stone learned of corning the poison. It Is understood that it was found on the prisoner when she was searched at the jail.
 When asked if during his attendance upon her the woman dropped any re- marks showing the state of her mind, or having any bearings on subsequent events, Dr. Stone declined to answer. Mrs Botkin was hysterical during her illness and it was thought that possibly she might have dropped some significant remarks. The doctor said, however. that he had formed his opinion of the case from the first, and that opinion had not been changed by subsequent events. He declined, however, to state what that opinion was.
 The visit of Mrs. Botkin to this city last week was wholly unexpected ac- cording to the story of Mrs Rauof. Last Thursday morning carriage drove up to Mrs. Rauof's house in the northern part of the town and Mrs. Botkin alighted and said she had come to remain few days. She remained at their place until Saturday. when she sought her husbands protection.
 T knew Mrs. Botkin," said Mrs. Rauof, through her sister who is the wife of Professor Mcclure of Healds- burg College. When Mrs. Botkin was sick in Oakland some months ago I
The San Francisco call., 1898-08-25

white enameled boxes labeled Bon Bons." There were no ribbons on these boxes, they having been removed. There were ribbons on the box which carried the poisoned potion, but the sender might have put these on in a position formerly used by the re- moved silk. These boxes did not bear any advertisement of the Wave" and were kept on hand for such persons as bought candy here and wanted the re- cipient to believe that it came from San Francisco. To this end 1t was of course necessary to eliminate the local firms name.
 in the store is a stamp which the boys used in making an American flag on packages. If there Is an impression of flag on the box at Dover, the evil dence of where it came from will be conclusive If it ic not, however, it will be no proof that young Gattrel is mis- taken, as he says the rule of stamping the flag was not invariable and this box might not have contained the flag. It was a "four-bit" box and otherwise agrees with what all the local officers now know concerning the one who con- veyed the poison to Mrs. Cunning and her sister.
 MT Kuhn, the proprietor of the Wave, says: Any candy maker will know his own stock or box used in his store. 1 feel safe in saying that when we get a look at the box from Dover we can state positively whether it came from our store. We have none of the stock on hand now, but do not consider this necessary to an identification
 Gattrell was cautioned by Chief Gall this afternoon to do no talking, and it is believed that the Chief is in possess sion of fuller details than have so far leaked out. This was not done, how ever, until after Gattrell made his statement to The Call correspondent The Chief confirmed the correctness of the statements here given, but refused to say whether he had learned anything tending to corroborate GattreI
 There is rumor, however, that the police have clew to where the poison was purchased. Mrs. Brueck, pro- prietress of the Windsor, where Mrs Botkin was arrested. was asked to-day concerning the conduct of the accused
The San Francisco call., 1898-08-25

kin arrived here on the morning of Thursday, July 2S. She went at once to the home of Mrs. Rauof on Fremont street Mrs. Rauof says that Mrs. Bot kin was in poor health and went out but little during her brief sojourn here. Further than this Mrs. Rauof has nothing to say concerning Mrs. Bot kin's health or state of mind on the occasion of this visit. On the afternoon of the following Saturday she bade Mrs. Rauof good-by, saying she was going to return to San Francisco. Mrs
 Rauof did not accompany Mrs. Botkin to the train, as the latter said her hus-
The San Francisco call., 1898-08-25
ADVERTISEMENTS
MOTHER
Read What CUTlCURA REME. DIES Have Done for Skin-
 Tortured Babies.

My little sister Annie Matthews, La Plata, Charles County, Md J had the cow-pox, when only seven years old. She suffered terribly, and everything we tried did no good. Every time her clothes were taken of, every bit of scab would come with them; she was raw all oyer. One box of CUTIoURA (ointment) and a cake of CUTICURA SOAP, cured her dn three tceeks. Mrs. ELIZA ROVE,
 Feb. g, ,'9S. 12l9 Fourth St., N. W. Wash. D. C. My niece's little baby, two years old, was so badly afflicted with Eczema that he needed constant watching. His face was always full of large sores which he scratched constantly Mornings, his clothes, face and hands were stained with blood. They had medical treat ment, and tried everything. She commenced CUTICURA REMEDIES. The sores left his face and he acas entirely c~red. Mrs. L. J. ROOT, Feb. 1G, 1898. New Scotland, N. Y
 Our little boy was four weeks old when he had Eczema, in the most horrible state. His face was full of scabs, and parts of the flesh were raw. We used CUTIcURA SOAP and one box of CUTICURA (ointment), and in one a0eek this boy was as good as ecer.
 MT. and Mrs. J. c. FREESE,
 Feb. 15 1898. 3Go So. First St., Brooklyn. When my boy was three weeks old, I noticed avery red roughness on his face. We had several doctors, but they did no good. was told to use CUTIoURA REMEDIES, and after using one box and half of CUTICURA Joint mentland CUTIcURA SOAP, he is entirely cured.
 Mrs. ". G. LOVE,
 Feb. 26. '9s. 1913 Wilder St., Phila., Pa. Babies on fire babies burning up babies in agony from .orturng and dis8gurng itching and burning skin and .cnp diseases None but mothers realize how they sui fer. To know that warm bath with CurIcuRA SoAr. and single anointing with CuTrcURA, purest of emo- ent skn cures will afford instant relief permit rest and see D. and point speedy and not to use them Is to fail in your duty, Think of years of sufiefng en- tailed bv such neglect Cures made in childhood are speedy permanent and economical.
 Sold thyoushoutthe world. POTTER DRUG AND CuEM s1- 1ll About Babys Skin, Scalp, end Hair free.
The San Francisco call., 1898-08-25

band was to be at the depot to see her off and had said he would have her ticket purchased for her. Mrs Rauof is very reticent and will say nothing.
 Frank J. Gattrell, a young man of good reputation, employed at the Wave candy y-store as head clerk, believes he sold Mrs. Botkin the box and part of the contents which brought about the death of Mrs. Cunning and her sister. Gattrell fixes his dates from the fact that he spent the latter portion of July in San Francisco on a vacation, re- turning here on the last day or there abouts of the month in order to as- sume his duties in the store at the be- ginning of the new month. He possibly arrived two days before the 1st of August, and as there was a rush at the store he went behind the counter at once. On one of the first days after his return he was at the counter when woman came in who he says was of medium age. My recollection is that she wore a dark dress. She was not tall woman, but rather neat and stout. l cannot give a description now but possibly if I met her I might recognize her. do not say I can identify her. but I might"
 Continuing his story, Gattrell says the woman came up to the counter and asked if she might have a bonbon box The clerk replied that it was against his orders to allow any candy other than that of the Wave to go out under the firm label. She then handed him sack and told him to put the candy it contained in a box and fill 1t out with his own. Gattrell then went to the back of the store and got a box on which was written in script "Bon BCns." He showed this to her and asked her if this would answer, and she said 1t would He then emptied the candy from the bag she brought with her into the box and filled it in from the show case. While the clerk was do- ing this the woman told him to put in mostly chocolates. Gattrell says the candy which she brought with her was a mixture of what is known as French bonbons. He is certain that it was not cheap candy bought on the street Gattrell tied the candy up and the woman left the store.
 He says he would have probably
The San Francisco call., 1898-08-25

nursed her. That is the way we be- came acquainted. I was. therefore, sur prised to see her again last week. After the reports appeared connecting her name with the poisoning of Mrs. Dun ming and Mrs. Deane she became quite nervous and went to her sister, who advised her to come with me. 1 have been acting only as a companion to Mrs. Botkin and have been receiving pay for my services.
 Do 1 believe she is guilty? No, do not" said Mrs. Rauof. She is not the kind of woman to do anything of the sort"
 Mrs. Rauof is widow and quite we'll to do. She owns some property in this city. She was formerly an attendant in the asylum here, but since has been acting as nurse and companion to in- valid women. Last year she returned from trip to Johannesburg, South Africa
The San Francisco call., 1898-08-25
BOX OF DEADLY BONBONS
 PROBABLY FIXED IN STOCKTON

many other venturesome men. has made and lost money, and at present he Is not well fixed financially. He conducts a branch of a San Francisco grain broker firm at Stockton. His son assists him. Some time ago they had an office at Merced but were not successful in that field Mrs Botkin is member of one Of the most respected families in this State the Browns of Mendocino County. She has several sisters, all most estimabla women. She was born in Missouri. and the major part of her life was spent ia that State. She married MT. Botkia when she was IS years old. That was twenty-six years ago. Ten years ago she came with her family to California, and she has since resided in this State. She separated from her husband two years ago and came to this city. He went to Stockton and has been there ever since.
The San Francisco call., 1898-08-25

Mrs Botkin was not questioned about any persons whose names have been mentioned in connection with the mur- der of Mrs. Cunning and Mrs. Deane.
 The suspected poisoner's statement was transcribed and a copy given to her, so she could read 1t and make any correc- tionS she wished
 Mrs. Botkin's trunk was delivered at the Chiefs office later in the afternoon. and 1t was unlocked and the contents carefully examined. The police say they found nothing among her effects which could be used as discriminating evil dence against the accused, nor was there anything in the trunk bearing even in- directly on the tragedy.
The San Francisco call., 1898-08-25
THE CANDY CLERK RECALLS A
 STRANGE CUSTOMER.
Substituted ConfeCtions for Those Originally in the Package-=The Accused Woman Makes a Statement in the
 City Prison.

3 Reasonable doubt as to the 5 guilt of Mrs. w. A. Botkin, the 3 suspected murderess of Mrs. J. 3 P. Cunning and Mrs. Joshua A. Deane, will soon vanish if the statements made by John Cat 5 trell and W. K Kuhn of Stock 5 ton are true and can be sworn } to. Gattrell is the head clerk in 3 the Wave candy-store and he says that about three weeks ago 5 a woman whose description is } identical with that of the woman } under arrest came into the store } and asked him for a box of bon 5 bons, saying she wished to put } in with the store candy some of 5 her own make. The clerk gave 5 her a plain box, as the rule of } the store is that none but candy } made in the establishment is sold 5 under the firms name. The box 3 of candy was handed to the 3 woman and she removed a DOT 3 ton of it and substituted bon 5 bons she had in a small sack 2 The clerk wrapped the box, g gave it to the woman and she 3 left the store. He had not seen 5 her since.
 s Mrs. Botkin was in Stockton 5 July 28, 29 and 30. It was on one 3 of these days the incident oc-
 Q cured.
 5. W. K. Kuhn, proprietor of the g candy store referred to, says he 2 and also his clerk can identify 2. the candy made in his place. and 2 they can also identify the box.
 9 If the box sent to Dover came 5 from Kuhns store and if he iden-
 2 tifies the uneaten bonbons as his 3 manufacture, and then if Gattrell
 Q identifies Mrs. Botkin as the 6 woman who bought them, she
 6 stands convicted of the most dia-
 C boIical, premeditated and cun-
 e ningly executed murder in the
 c criminal annals of the century. e While in Stockton last week
 e the accused woman was i'll and g hysterical, and it is rumored that
 6. she uttered many significant
 2 words bearing directly upon the
 2 tragedy While her mlnd wan 2 dered.
 9 The police have received an in- 2 timation that a woman recently
 2 bought poison in Stockton. This 2 is being investigated.
 g. Mrs. Botkin is now in the City 6 Prison, where she will be de- 6 tained until the arrival of De- 3 tective McVey of Delaware, who 2 is now on the way here to secure 3 her extradition. She made a . statement to the Chief of Police, 2 absolutely denying that she is 2 guilty of the double murder, and 5 gave details of her actions since g August 27, on which date she 2 went to Stockton and remained 2 two days.