Evening journal., 1898-12-19

san Francisco, Dec. ly.-Ine ordeal
Of the past week has been a moet try
ing one on Mrs. Cordeiia Botkin. on
trial fer the murder of Mrs. John P.
Dunning, II Dover, Del.
Mrs. Bolkin WIS SO ill yesterday that
she required the services Of a physi-
clan. The mental strain OF the trial
has weighed heavily upon her. Unnil
Frldhy She affected an air OF unconr
Germ TO disguise her mental suffering
and the distress she endured. On FRI
day she could NO longer conceal her
feelings and was visibly agitated when
Mrs. ROuff. her once closest trlehd'
gave her telling testimony
When Mrs. Botkin returned TO the
Branch county Jail She almost col
lapsed. She ralied, however, and OBJ
tanned rest during the night. Satur-
day morning her condition was such
that the services OF a physician were
demanded. and she has been quite III
since. The case against Mrs. Botkin is
now almost in and has been presented
link by link, each one being made COM
pete before another was begun.
FORGING TFIE F'ETTlERS.
First the Delaware witnesses came
on. They described the receipt Of the
poisoned candy. the death struggles OF
4 the victims. and compared the anOny-
NOUS letters Mrs. Dunning had re-
ceived with ether handwriting OF the
prisoner. Frank Grey. clerk in the
Owl drug store testified that Mrs. Bot
kin. whom he had known by sight for
Z over a year. purchased powdered
3 arsenic Of him, saying she wanted the
chemical to bleach a straw hat Miss
I. Sylvia Heney. Of the candy store OF
George w. Haas & SON, told OF the
customer on July 81 who purchased a
. fancy box and had it almost filled with
= chocolates. saying she wished to put in
q another present. Miss Heney beneVes
e Mrs Botkin was THAT customer.
! Miss Kitty Dittner also testified az
i 20 the-eale, corroborating Miss Heney'e
k testimony She described the woman
e of Mrs BOtkin's appearance and
: tbougbt the prisoner was the customer
of July 81. 1t was the proved thai
the box and candy were from Haas
' candy store. John d. Dunnigan, Of sta
il tion D pOstOffice. remembered tn,
y package sent TO Mrs. Dunning, his al
d tention being attracted by the similar
o ity Of the names John ID. Dunnigan anS
o John p. Dunning
'. Postal Inspector Irwin believed tn
II blurred postmarlk was that Of station
. D. at ferry depot. where Dunnigan
II employed. He showed that the pacl1ag
g leaving here August 4, the day Mrs Bot
kin left for Healdsburg. would reac
Dover on August 8. Testimony wa
then given showing that the portion O
a seal used by George W. Haas & S
was found in Mrs. BOtkin's rooI.
TEII4-TALE HANDKERCHIEF.
The handkerchief incloeed in the DO
sent to Mrs. Dunning was identified a
being from the stock OF the City c
Paris dry goods store. and Mrs. Grac
= Harris. saleswoman, remembered hay
ie ing sold the handkerchief TO the VIC
er man who gave her address az Victori
I'd Hotel. where Mrs. BOtkin roomed. Sh
70 identified Mrs. Botkin as that Gus
&c toner.
IA Mrs E-mira Rouff. nurse and int
In mate friend OF AlIs. BOtkin. told Of th
n prisoners intimacy with Dunning an
how she made inquiries as TO mailin
i. OF a package. and wanted to know
h. she would have to sign her name il eh
50 registered the package The most i'm
g pOrtant testimony of this witness wa
- in relation to Mrs BOtkin making m
y mute inquiries of DIR. Stone, of Stool
81 tom as to the effects of arsenic. Mr.
or Rouf. who corresponded with Mrs. Boz
At kin for two years. identified part Of th
o. writing OF the Anonymous letters &
that OF Mrs. BOtkin.
John p. Dunhing is second on tl
f. prosecutions list of witnesses for q
an day. He Is expected to tell OF his r.
mis- lhtione with the woman whose love Il
n,, him is presumed to be the motive
H., Il
- phss upbn the handwriting Of u
- anonymous letters. address on the fat
package and the note incibsed in q
.oi box Of poisoned candy
w. It is the present intention Of the
. Tense to put on about ten witnesse
ID. CHIEF CT whom will be the defenda
Or herself Attempt will he made to NJ
OF ltfy the testimony of Mrs. Harris al
ers Mrs. Rtuff. The case IF the defen
lr- is eXpefted TO hast two DAYS but mi
em occupy nearly three days. and the ca
will hardly get to the jury before 81
urdsy. q
AAIES TO GIVE TESTIMONY.
TO At the resumption OF the tr
OF DanileI Z. Ames, the fame
OF handwriting expert and editor of
yer Penman's Art Journal, Will take I
hts stand for the prosecution in the Boil
OF case to-day or tomorrow, and test
ore THAT in his opinion there is not
the slightoGt 6oubt that Mrs. BotlSin is
lew person who wrote the anonymous
will ters to her victim. Mrs. Dunning. cs
ing ing the wifee attention TO the dou
life Of Mr.. Dunning and furnish
data to convict that individual Of
moral practices.
Professor Ames says there cannot
cen any doubt. also. that the same per.
ked whU wrote the anonymous letters a
up addressed the poisoned candy and s
new the note .nclosed, signed Mrs c."
EN-. On Fridav evening he held a G
ada ference with Chief of Police Lees ;
ano Assistant District Attorney Hosn
aud explained comparative copies
letters and words taken from Mrs. 2
airs kin's admitted handwriting and lett
lace alleged to have been written by heI
Mar Mrs. Dunning.
1een