The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-26
SHE WILL FIGHT.
Mrs. BOtkin, the Alleged Poison
er of Mrs Dunning,
Will Resist the Efforts of Della
ware Authorities
TO TAKE HER BACK.
1abeas Corpus and All Else
Will Be Invoked.
Postal Clerk Expects to Iden-
tify the Box.

tify the Box.
San Francisco, Cal, Aug. 26.-It is
stated on good authority that Mrs.
Botkin, the alleged prisoner has de-
cided to make a legal fight against the
efforts of Delaware authorities to have
her taken to Dover for trial. Already
two prominent attorneys have been re-
tained. Interesting legal efforts are
to be raised and the writ of habeas
corpus is to be invoked in the struggle
to either restore the prisoner to free
dom or to have the California courts
try the case.
Nothing new has developed in the
case. The accused woman spent a fair
ly good night in the city prison and has
firmly refused to be interviewed by the
newspaper men. The postoffice author
tiles are anxiously awaiting the appear
ance of a letter addressed to Mrs. Bot
kin supposedly from Delaware. A clerk
in the local postoffice believes he can
identify the box which contained the
candy when it arrives here on Sunday
in Detective NIcVey's care.
The clerk says that he received box
answering the description of the candy
box from a woman with an English
accent about three weeks ago and that
it was mailed as first class matter. He
will be taken before Mrs. Botkin to
identify her if possible. The Stockton
candy man, who says he sold a box of
bonbOns to a woman answering Mrs.
Botkin's description several weeks ago
and who he says replaced some of the
candy of his manufacture by candy of
some other make, will be brought to
this city to face the accused for identif-
cation purposes
RequisitiOn Issued.
Dover, Del, Aug. 26.-Attorney Cen
eral White has sent to San Francisco
reQuisition papers for Mrs. BOtkin who
is under arrest there charged with the
poisoning of Mrs. Deane and Mrs. Dun
ming by means of candy sent through
The affidavit to secure the papers was
sworn to by ex-COngressTnan Pennfng-
ton, the father of the two poisoned wo-
men, and the papers charge MRS. Bot
kin with murder in the first degree Be
fore leaving for Georgetown, Attorney
General White said:
1--WE have the murderess and we have
evidence that no defense can shatter
The only thing we fear is Mrs. Botkin's
self f-destructiOn."
Mr. White added that the writing
on the wrap pper of the candy package
and that in the anonymous letters sent
to Mrs. Dunning has been positively
identified by Mr. Dunning as similar
to the handwriting of Mrs. Botk1n. 1t
A woman police matron will go west to
bring Mrs BOtl1in here. The Cali
foruia witnesses will not be summoned
to Delaware until the trial is called, |
but their affidavits will be taken at
San Francisco. The trial will probably
be called in October
Known in Kansas City.
Kansas City Mo-, Aug. 26.-Mrs. Ada |
Botkin, under arrest in San Francisco, |
on the charge of sending the box Of
poisoned candy which caused the ~ oealh
of Mrs. J. P. Dunning and her sister, |
Mrs J. r. Deane of Dover, Del, lived |
in Kansas City II or Is years ago. The
family was prominent in social ana
financial circles for a, number of years.
Mr.. Botkin came here from Joplin, |
Mo, where he had amassed small !
fortune. He became connected with the |
Missouri Valley bank and remained |
with that institution for several years. |
Later he engaged in the grain business !
in a small way. He was never an op- |
orator on the board of trade at least
none of the old time grain men remem- |
Der him.
Mr.. BotIIin was a large man of genial |
personality and Mrs. Botkin was re-
fined, mOtherly woman, who made |
many friends.
Strong Case.
Dover. Del. Aug 26-The authori- |
ties here believe they have wound a |
web around Mrs. Ada Botkin from which /
she cannot disentangle herself. They |
in this city So far they have not met |
with any setbacks, and from the evil !
dence secured and the statements made |
by Mr.. ]. P. Dunning they say it will |
be an easy matter to convict the ac- |
cused woman.
For the first time since the murder of !
Mrs. Ida Deane and Mrs. J. P. Dun !
ming has been under investigation the /
state authorities talked for publication |
today They stated that the case had |
been finished for the time being, and |
that they had no doubt of the cOnvic- |
ton of Mrs. BotIin, who has been ar !
rested, charged with sending the pois- |
Oned candy.
When seen today Attorney General |
White, who has been directing the in |
veStigatiOn, was greatly pleased with |
the success with which his efforts had |
been crowned He said that the requis- |
ition papers to bring Mrs. Botkin from |
Stockton, Cal, to this state have been |
made out and started on their way to |
California They were sent by register |
ed mail and are addressed to Detective |
McVey, in care Of Chief of Police Lees,
of San Francisco. They will reach their |
destination Monday, a few hours be- |
hind Detective McVey.
Mr. White said the case was very
clear one against Mrs. Botkin, and that |
the newspapers had nearly all the facts, |
but lacked details.
After the death of the poisoned Wo- |
men the family turned over to me the |
anonymous letters which gave a c1ew to !
the whole case" said Mr.. White. t'These |
letters had been sent to Mrs. Dunning |
at various times The letters did not |
give the name of the woman to whom |
Dunning had been paying attention but !
alleged she was an English woman This |
gave a cleW as to the identity of the /
Englishman. It is said they were mar
ried in England. It did not take long to
discover the mOVe1r ents of Dunning /
and the woman after the evidence held