The herald., 1898-12-29
THE BOTKIN CASE
A Crowd in Attendance-Argum
Ends TODAY

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 2S.-(By Asso-
ciated Press.) This was the most interest
ing day in the Botkin case since the trial of
the woman for the murder of Mrs. Dunnng
commenced. The proceedings opened this
morning with an argument by Attorney
General White of Delaware for the prose
cution. Mr.. White addressed the jury
quietly and proceeded to review the testi-
mony brought out during the trial He
called attention to the chain of circumstan-
tial evidence against Mrs Botllin, and said
that if the jury believed the evidence of the
witnesses for the prosecution that Mrs.
Botkin must be convicted of murder in the
first degree. Mr.. White dwelt upon the
awfulness of the crime and the unsuspect.
ing, defenseless condition of the victims.
His argument lasted all the morning, and
during it's progress Mrs. Botkin listened
most attentively. As Mr.. White concluded
she leaned her head on her arms and
seemed to be greatly affected.
At the afternoon session Attorney George
A. Knight made the principal argument for
the defense. Mr. knights reputation as
an orator, and his ability as criminal law
yer attracted an enormous crowd to the
court room. Many prominent attorneys
were in attendance in addition to many well
known citizens. Mr.. Knight talked for
nearly three hourse and endeavored to con-
vince the jury of the weakness of the pros
ecution's case and the lack of motive for the
committing of such crime by Mrs. Botkin.
Mr.. Knight urged the jury not to be influ-
cnced by the outcry caused by the recent
acquittal of Walter Rosser, the Tennessee
soldier who murdered an inoffensive cti-
zen of San Francisco, and referred to the
Maybrick and Dreyfus cases as instances Of
the suffering of innocent people because of
public opinion.
Mr.. Knight denounced Mr. Bishop, the
Dover physician, who attended the poisoned
women, and was most bitter in his con
demnation of the methods of the San Fran
cisco police. Mr.. Dunning, the husband of
the murdered woman, also came in for a
liberal share of the attorneys vitriolic SEN
tences. Particular attention was called to
the fact that Mrs Botkin, the alleged author
of the anonymous letters that were mailed
in San Francisco in June, was in Eureka
Cal, all that month, and could not possibly
have mailed the letters here. Mrs. Grace
Harris, who identified Mrs Botkin as the
woman who purchased the handkerchief
which was found in the box OF poisoned
candy. was denounced as an untruthfu and
dissoute woman. The testimony of the
candy girls who identified Mrs. Botkin as
the woman who purchased the candy. was
also vigorously attacked by the lawyer.
In speaking about the alleged purchases
of arsenic by Mrs. Botkin on June lst,
Knight sought to show the improbablity of
her keeping the poison until July 3lst. when
l. IL L Z h.,
ever. directly deny the purchase OF arsenic.
Writing Expert Ames. who came here from
New York and testified that Mrs. Botkin
was the author of the anonymous letters
and also addressed the wrapper on the
candy, was denounced as coming here and
testifying for the prosecution because he
was paid to testify that way. Mr.. Knight
laid great stress upon the fact that the
arsenic found in the candy was in lump form,
whereas Druggist Grey testified that Mrs.
Botkin had purchased powdered arsenic He
contended also that there was no legal proof
that Mrs. Dunnng had died OF arsenical
poisoning. An autopsy, he said, was neces-
sary to prove the cause of death in any
poisoning case.
Mr., Knight contended that the prosecu-
tion had failed to show motive on Mrs
Botllin's part for the commission of the
criiie. 1t had been shown during the trial
that Mrs. Botl5in had persistently refused
to allow her husband to procure divorce,
and this showed that she had no desire to
marry Mr. Dunning.
Mr. knight closed with a brilliant perora-
ton, in which he described Mrs Botkin as
al innocent. prosecuted woman, and he
urged the jury to eXonerate her from the
horrible suspicion that had rested upon her
through the Vaccinations of the police.
The case will go on tomorrow. when At
tornev McGowanl will make an argument for
the defense and District Attorney Hosmer
will close for the prosecution. 1t is expected