Evening journal., 1898-12-23
MRS.BOTKIN'S DE FENSE
Endeavoring to Break Down
the Prosecutions Case.
ACCUSED WOMAN TBsTIl
MAKES A SWEEPING DENTAL OF
ALL THE CHARGES Made
AGAINST HER-SAYS DUNNING
TOLD HER A PTTIFUL STORY OF
EuS FINANCIAL TROUBLES.

AOlAlNDI ltiilt-olAlo DONNlNN
TOLD HEIR A PGTTFUL STORY OF
HIS FINANCIAL TROUBLES.
San Francsseo. Dec. 2s-Mrs. Ger.
della Botkin testified In her own de-
fense yesterday. N is evident that the
effort on the defense will be to prove
an aiibi, claiming that Mrs. Botkin
not on.y did not buy tins candy which
was aiterward filled with poison al
Haas candy store on the afternoon OF
July 81 but That she never was in the
store at any time during her residence
here.
II the defense establishes this, the
strongest and most vital link in the
chain OF evidence will have been
smashed
Mrs Bc.lxin was called TO the witness
stand Unexpectedly late In the after
noon and told her story calmly and
with deliberation. Her account OF her
meeting and acquaintance with John
p Dunnlng varied but little from his.
She said he had visited her frequently
and after she had moved from vari-
ons p.hces TO No. 927 Geary street,
where her son. Beverly, always was
with her she had enjoyed what she
called "a little eocial life" Dunning,
she said, was her constant attendant,
and accepted her hospitality.
She tod how Dunning one day came
TO her ait her suite Of rooms and un-
lburdencd to her story OF woe that
touched her heart. Dunning told her
What he made use OF the funds in his
care as Western manager Of the Asso-
ciated Pregs. and had been unable 10
make rtuy.gution. She said she gave
Dunning what financial aid she could
to tide over his most pressing needs
b After that, che said he WAS a constant
visitor at her rooms, and she practi-
cally supported him.
BOUGHT NO CANDY.
. In reference to Nne statement OF Mrs.
Rouff that che (Mrs. Bollyin) had dis
ciissed the qualities and potency OF pol-
s SON when M ait Mrs. Rouffs house, Mrs.
Is Botltin said that she had questioned
K the docAOr only in reference TO the
Il toxic prope.Ues OF calcmea which he
mad prescribed for her, fearing thai
: she might take loo large a dose.
a Mrs. Botkin positively denied that
" she had purchased any candy on the
e afternoon Of July 81, 1897, and stated
a that she had not lett her rooms THAI
q day, and that between the hours OF
D. and on that day Dr. Terrin was al
J. her rooms, where she was III. This
n hatly eontradicts the testimony Of th'
a clerks In the candy store who said eh'
" had bought the candy on the afternoon
10 Of july 81.
Ne The first witness introduced by th
e defense yesterday wis DR.. George N
r. lTemill by whom ii WAS attempted q
Sc prove an alibi for Mrs BCakin as &
Sunday Afternoon. July 81. He testi
II fed that he wac called by telephone &
a. visit Mrs. Bctl0in between and o
n, that Sunday. He found her sufferln
lie from nervous prostration and remain
as ed with her about three-Quarters O
k an hour. He had fixed the date by
ly dinner engagement with friend lwhic
he kept Immediately afterward.
III In the cross-eNaminatiOn Prosecut
as ing Attorney Hosmer asked the doctor
ce WAS Mrs. Botlkin so III that she cou'
iy not leave her rOom?"
o. NOT SERIOUSLY ILL.
de No, she cou.i have le.t her rood
@ that afternoon had she so desired.
N. DR.. Terril was pressed closely as
ct his reaEtn for remembering the hou
OF OF his visit and was tangled up COT
en- siderably The witness could not def
nftely fix the time of his visit and ha
re- NO particular reason for fixing u
rs time between 3 and 8 O'Clock. He ha
" made no entry. however. on his Wis
u1 book and rendered no bill for his Sc
No vices.
ere Thomas J. Ford. of the san Fra
ng. cisco post office, testified that the pac
We, age OF candy was not packed accOr
IN ing 10 the rules and THAI II was r
'ef' markab,e that the box reac
lw ed Delaware In good order lie idenr
lth fed the postmarks on the anOnymo
C. letters as being those Of the San Fra
en- cisco Office and described the metho
ler' employed in the caring for letter mai
on John p Dunning was recalled
De- permission and asked II he had tC
Mrs BotlNn THAI his wife and daughi
MS had taken up their residence in Dow
q Del He replied THAT Ne had menhic
zl5 ed the Fact several times.
pei w. l.. Roberts. OF Humboldt coun
ana brother-in-laiw of the accused stai
and that Mrs. Botl1in had been in the
ICY cinity of Eureka between the I'd
June until the end Of the month. 7
prosecution admitted this residence.
VIII be remembered that one OF
AID anonymous letters was dated about
,ssr middle cf June. but the prosecut.
few viii prove that a mai. bag was pla'
the on the whArf at Eureka on stean
days and tht letters dropped in il W
not postmarlSed until the stean
- reached this city.
o. DIR. w. f. AI0rVu.t testified that
, only reliable way to prove arseni
= poisoning was 10y an autopsy.
IVeg John II. Warrington. floor MANA
anu of the CITY Of Paris store. where
so handkerchief was sent Mrs. Dunnin
pi"- little daughter was alleged 90 h
been bought. testified. but nothing
impOrthrce was brought out
pms Butter Eggs. Poultry aud Oyst'