The San Francisco call., 1898-08-22
DUNNINGS STATEMENT. He Gives the Names of Three Women With Whom He Was on Terms
of Intimacy.

DOVER, Del, Aug 2.-John P. Dun ming, husband of the younger of ex-Con- gressman Pennington's daughters, who were murdered by eating poisoned candy, has at last consented to make state ment that will surely throw a great deal of light on the hitherto impenetrable mys- tery. There are three women in San Francisco with whom Cunning admits he was intimately acquainted. The chief of these is Mrs. w. A. Botkin of Stockton with whom Dunning's relations were closer than either of the others. He ad- mits having written letters to her that were full of pretty condolences and ex- pressions of love since leaving San Fran cisco. This was at the very same time that he was writing the most affecuonate letters to his wife here in Dover.
 'I know -1rs. Botkin very intimately" he said to-day, but l will not say now whether she was acquainted with my wife She did know, however, that was a married man, and 1t was with this knowledge on her part that many letters passed between us from the time 1 said good-by to her in San Francisco and came East to go to the seat of war.
 T do not doubt that she still has many of those letters in her possession"
 When questioned with reference to the past that he proposed to live down, Dun ming said: ..,,. between myself and the Associated Ass oP Ppess ton with the sending of box of poi soneed candy to my wife. must decline
 Of the history of his relations with Mrs. Botkin Cunning said:
 .'Our first meeting was entirely the re- suit of an accident. It was year and half or two years ago. 1 was riding my bicycle in Golden Gate Park. San Fran cisco when the wheel broke down near bench where two women were sitting One of them was Mrs. Botkin.
 While 1 was making the necessary re- pairs to the bicycle got into converse rrvi~1 1 and Irnn Q down and talk with them after the wheel had been mended. We simply introduced ourselves without the slightest formality, and as there was no objection on Mrs. Botkin's part the acquaintance that was begun there was continued.
 He was then asked if he had any mti- Seeley or Ceeley in San Francisco.
 This he tried to evade, but finally ad- mitted he had He would not go into any details of their relations to each other.
 Another woman with whom Cunning admits acquaintance In San Francisco IS Madame Thompson, teacher or French, who frequently sat in the card parties in Mrs. Botkin's rooms. Of her he said to- night: I met Madame Thompson. I saw her quite often there and sometimes at the race track"
 Have you any reason to suspect that any of these women was connected with the sending of poisoned candy?" Cunning was asked.
 
 now" was his reply.
 Ut is something for the detectives to work out, and my suspicious can have no weight in the natter
 There has been frequent mention of a | blonde woman, thus far nameless, for whom the San Francisco police are said | to be looking in connection with this case. When asked about her, Cunning said:
 '.I have no recollection of any woman of that description who could have any in | terest in the death of my wife,
 Cunning has sent several telegraphic | messages tonight and there is reason to | believe that he is in communication with | friends in San Francisco who are inter | esting themselves in the case. He will not | admit however, that such Is the case, nor | that the mysterious Mrs. e. Is being | looked for by the police of San Fran cisco He says he has had no consulta- ton with the State detectives or any of the officials. He does not know how long he may remain here, but says he may leave within a day or two.
 That steps have been taken to exhume the bodies of the two victims of the candy Is certain. MT. Pennington Is reconciled to this measure, in the hope that some light may be thus thrown on the mystery. Deane strenuously opposes this plan, bet the authorities, 1t Is understood will take the case in their own hands and submit the bodies of the two women to poison analySfS