Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-08-25
TRYING TO SOLVE MYSTERY
State Authorities Have Mapped
Out a Plan of Action
IN THE DOVER POISONING CASE
Conference With MIR. Dunning
Held Yesterday.
Attornsy-General White Believes He has a
Good CIue-An Officer Sent to stockton, to
Arrest Mrs. Botkin.


ing out the mystery connected with
the poisoning Of Mrs. J. d. Deane and
Mrs. j. Prealey Dunning, and as they
received new information yesterday
afternoon 1t is confidently expected
that the investigation on the line now
laid out will have successful termi.
nation.
Attorney General White, Deputy
Attorney General Cooper and De-
tectives McVey and Witsil we're
closeted with j. Presley Dunuing at
the Capitol Hotel for nearly two huurs
In the afternoon. At tho conclusion
Of the conference Mr.. White told a
representative of the Gazette that
the matter had been laid before them
and they had decided On plan Of action
but it had been agreed by himself
and Mr., Cooper and the detectives
that it would be wise to say nothing
about their plans at the present time.
1t ia presumed, however. that what
was learned simply strengthened Mr..
Whites suspicious that San Fran
cisco woman was at the bottom OF tho
whole affair and that it was either che
or one of her agents who sent the
poisoned candy to Dover Therefore,
there is no reason to believe that any
TO deviate from his intention, which he
made known during the morning, to
request the San Francisco authorities
to arrest On suspicion woman living
in that city. When he stated that he
had come to this conclusion he said be
would also probably ask that another
woman there be taken intU custody,
certain facts which had been learned
indicating that both women knew
something about the tragedy. To what
extent Mr. White believed either OF
both OF them TO he implicated no would
not state, and he declined to mention
any names, although he said he had
the name OF the woman who was sup
posed to have committed tina crims.
He declined to go into the details,
however, and would not say whether
he know the motive for sending the
fatal box.
After the conference Mr.. Dunning
was also spoken to in regard to it, He
said be had told the officials and de.
tectives his whole story and that the
matter had been placed in their hands.
He refused to say what information he
had given, stating that he had been
Instructed by Mr.. White not to talk
about the matter. For that reason he
would not say whether be knew of any
psrson to whom suspicion pointed.
Mr.. Dunning spent much of the day
in talking with relatives and friends.
His uncle, John Dunning, who had
come up from Harbeson, was with him
much of the time. The uncle appeared
to take gruat interest in his nephew
and they ate dinner together. j.
Presley Dunning was at the Office OF
Attorney William L. Smithers several
timea during the day. lie left last
night for New York City, where
he will arrange his business affairs SO
that he can return to Dover. When hs
came from Porto Rico after hearing OF
tbe death Of his wife he was not in
New York long enough to make
arrangements for remaining away from
his business any length OF time
After the conference with Mr. Dun
ming tho State officials held brief
consultation, and before leaving Dover
they went to the residence of Hon.
Johu b. Pennington. father of the tive
women. There they obtained such in
formation HI could be had, and wher
they left Detective McVsy carried {
package, which was supposed to con
tain the box in which the candy hat
been sent, and probably come othe
articles. The detective refused to Civ
any Information about the package
but there is no doubt but that it con
tanned one OF the most important pieue
OF material evidence.
With what waa learned from Mr.
Dunning and other members OF tn
bereavud family, it is understood tina
the authorities have what 10 cobsidere
good clue and il they can succeed il
keeping their movements in the darI
there is little doubt hut that grea
daal can be accomplished, and quickly
too.
The matter Of exhuming the bodis
of Mrs. Deane and Mrs. Dunning wa
also discussed by the officials and d
the conclusion Of the conference il wa
announced that Mr.. White'a plan
would not be changed, and the bodie
will not be sxhumsd unless some I'm
forseun complication should arise tina
would require it. Both DIR. Bishop an
CorUner Walls were spoken to abou
this matter, and, judging from whs
they said, each Is somewhat dil
appointed. although nsither believe
that post norton would make mt
terial difference. They agree. however
that IL q post-mortem should be mad,
the stomach in each case would vi
ooupbtuiy BLOW brHC6H OF dfBonlci
poison, and each averred that the en-
balming fluid would not obliteraI
such evidence. Some of the relatiy,
of the unfortunate women, howeve
expressed hope that such ste
would not be taken. Coroner Wal
had expected to be ordered TO exhun
che bodies, and he was somewhat su
prised when be learned OF Mr.. White
decision in the mattsr.
Attorney General Whits is general
Commended for his diligent work {
the case. He has taken the matter |
with determination to accompii
something and Is being ably assist,
by his deputy, Peter l.. Cooper, Jr
and the State detectives.
Mr.. Pennington. father of the d
ceased women, shows signs of ii
great strain consequent upon the ia
rible affair. He was sick last whit
and was again sick early in the sur
mer, hut when the sad blow came
was in fairly good health, but nc
thnt be has had 50 much to bear sin
that time the strain has had depreS
ing effect.
Another woman who ia being watch
by the San Francisco police ia MI
Seeley. or Mrs Sesloy, Mrs. Susan
Moore, who Kept clearinghouse
which Mrs. Botkin stopped, said toda
This Mrs. Seeley came very fir
guently to my house to play cards wi
Dunning and Mrs. Botkiu. She was
pretty woman. and looked quite youn
although Mrs. Botkin afterward to
me she was about 81. accidental