The San Francisco call., 1898-12-23

ness was brought to a sudden stop by Mir Hosmer. He said the prosecution would
 admit that she was there at that time and remained all the month. This took the defense somewhat by surprise, as it
 had a number of witnesses to prove that fact.
 The witness was turned over to Mir. Hosmer for cross-examination. He asked him few questions, and then said that he would later on try to show that a mail sack was suspended from the gangplank of the steamer and any letters deposited in it were brought to this city before be- ing stamped
 Dr. W. F. McNutt was the next witness. He was asked as to what was the conclu- sive test to determine death by arsenical poisoning. He said the only conclusive test was a post mortem examination To MT Hosmer he described the symptoms of arsenical poisoning, all of which tal lied with the symptoms shown by the poisoned women as testified to by the Delaware physicians.
 At the opening of the afternoon session Mir. Hosmer said that Mrs. Harris de- sired to take the stand to make an ex- planation, as she claimed an injustice had been done her by MT. Knight in his ques- tions during the morning.
 The witness angered Knight, who as- sailed her bitterly. For a time the two attorneys, the witness and Judge Cook were all talking at once. The Judge eau toned MT. Knight from asking improper questions. He had asked the witness about her husband, and she said Please don't bring in my dead husband" The witness explained her discharge from Will & Finck's by saying that articles had been stolen from there and it was decided that as they could not determine who was the guilty one they would discharge a number of the employees. She was among them, although she said nothing had been proven against her.
 She was asked why she did not testify before the Grand Jury that the handker- chief she had sold had been sent to the Victoria, and she said the question had never been asked her; that she testified to only those matters on which she was questioned She told a reporter that she knew nothing about the case. as those were the instructions she received.
 John H. Walkington, a floor walker at the City of Paris, was the next witness. He tried to explain the methods by which sales and addresses are checked out at the store. His explanation was so com pleX that 1t was impossible to understand it, although all the parties at interest took a hand in the proceedings The wit ness had the tags and other receipts in use at the store. After showing that it was impossible for a tag to be lost he passed the book to the jury. It did not take them long to find that slip was missing from the book by which the wit ness was proving his claims that such thing never happened. He told of the search which had been made for some evidence of the sale and delivery of the handkerchiefs which are supposed to com plete the chain of evidence. The search was made at the instance of the police. The witness was taken repeatedly over the ground as to the system in vogue as to the taking of addresses, but there seemed so many exceptions to all the rules that the testimony did not apparent ly enlighten any one. Es
 James w. Mullen of Redington & Co., druggists, was placed on the stand to pass upon powdered and lump arsenic. His testimony did not get in, as 1t was held the arsenic was not from the same pack age as that found in the poisoned sweets. The specimens he produced were finally marked for Identification. The opposing attorneys had a passage at arms as to it's admissibility and Judge Cook felt con- strained to tell MT. Knight to address himself to the court and not to MT Hos mer. 7.
 Professor Wolf was asked to pass upon the arsenic, but declined to do so until he had made a microscopic examination of it. This he promised to do.
 William Lee, shipping clerk at the City of Paris, testified that if the package had been delivered at the Victoria Hotel there should be some record of it. This he had been unable to find.
 Dr. Deas gave expert testimony on poi soning by arsenic, of which he had seen many cases. He held that a post mortem examination was the only sure test to determine that death ensued from arsen- ical poisoning.
 Chief Lees testified that he had not bought any arsenic since the arrest of Mrs. Botkin. He said that the two chem ists took ten Jumps of the candy from the box for joint analysis without any sug- gestion from him. It was subsequent to the time that one had found only lump arsenic and the other powdered arsenic in the candy submitted to them for exam ination. Later they found evidences of both kinds of arsenic. The Chief testi- fled that the exhibits had undergone no change while in his possession.
 Knight called for a witness who was ot in attendance, and then he turned to Mrs. Botkin. After a moments conversation she was seen to unite her veil and those in the courtroom knew the time had ar rived for the defendant to take her place in the inquisitorial chair. Mr. Knight set all doubt in the matter at rest by say ing:
 Mrs. sBotkin, take the stand"
 With an occasional question he drew from the woman on trial for her life the following statement in substance:
 'I have been a resident of this city for eight or ten years. l am married, and my husband is in business at Stockton have known John P. Cunning since 1895, when first met him in Golden Gate Park. At the time l was seated on one of the benches with lady friend, when he came along with wounded bicycle. He stopped near us and then opened a casual conver- sation, making himself known and par doning the intrusion. The next time I saw him was on Post street and Grant avenue. He tipped his hat to me and walked a short distance with me- At that time I resided at 2217 Bush street. where I had been, altogether, nearly two years. Shortly after the time of which I speak of having met MT. Cunning I was very i'll and finally was taken to Oakland. MT. Dunning visited me twice and on each occasion was admitted by my nurse, Mrs. Ruoff
 After leaving Oakland I returned to this city and took apartments at 1901 Bush street where I remained for two or three months My son, Beverly, joined