The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-29
FIGHT FOR WOMAN's LIFE
Is Nearing It's End in the San Fran
cisco Courts.

Can Francisco. Cal. Dec. 29.-Yester-
dav was the most interesting day IN the
RotHfu case since the trial OF the woman
for the murder Of Mrs. Dunnlng com
snenced. The proceedings opened WIZ
an argument by Attorney George w hlte
of Delaware. for the prosecution Mr.
White addressed the jury quietly ana
proceeded to review the testimony
brought out during the trial. He called
attention to the chain of circumStantlaI
evidence against Mrs. BOtkin and SAID
that if the Jury believed the evidence OF
the witnesses for the prosecution, then
Mrs ROtl,in must be convicted of muir
der in the first degree MI w mite dWelL
upon the aWfulness of the crime and the
unsuspecting, defenseless condltloIn OF
the victims. His argument lasted all
the morning and during its progress
Mrs Botkin listened most attentlVely
As Mr.. White concluded she leaned her
head on her arms and seemed to be
greatly affected.
At the afternoon session Attorney
George Knight made the principal argu-
ments for the defense Mr. knlShI
reputation as an orator and ability as q
criminal lawyer attracted an enormous
crowd to the court room. Many prom
1ent attorneys were in attendance, IN
addition to well known citizens. MI
Knight talked for nearly three hours
and endeavOred to convince the jury OF
the weakness of the prosecution case
and the lack Of motive for the COMMIT
ting Of such crime by Mrs BOIklh-
Mr. Knight urged the jury not TO De IN
fluenced by the Outcry caused by tne
recent acquittal of Walter ROsser, the
Tennessee soldier, who murdered an m
offensive citizen of San Francisco, ana
referred to the Maybrick and Dreytus
cases as instances of the sunerlng OF
innocent people because Of public op1n-
ion
Mr.. Knight denounced DR.. Bishop, the
Dover physician, who attended the pols-
oned women, and was most bitter IN ms
condemnation of the methods OF the
Ezrarr afGlf0 M
husband of one of the murdered women,
also came in for a liberal snare OF Jhe
attorneys vitriOlic sentences Particular
attention was called to the TacI LhaL
Mrs BOtkin, the alleged writer or the
ANONYMOUS letters that were mailed IN
san Francisco in June, was in Eureka,
Cal all of that month and could not
have possibly mailed the letters here.
Mrs. Grace Harris, who 1dent1hed MIS-.
Botkin as the woman who purchased
the handkerchief which was found IN
the box of poisoned candy, was de-
uOunced al an untruthful and d1SSOIute
woman. The testimony of the candy
girls who identified Mrs BOtkln as the
woman who purchased the candy, was
also vigorously attacked by the lawyer
In speaking about the alleged Pur-
chase of arsenic by Mrs BOtkin on June
/ knight sought to show the improb-
ability Of her keeping the poison until
July 81, when she purchased the candy
He did not. however, 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 anOny-
nous letters and also addressed the
wrapper on the candy, was denounced
as coming here and testifying for the
pros ecutiOn 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 purchased powdered ar
senic. He also said there was no legal
proof that Mrs. Dunning had died of
arsenfcal poisoning. An autopsy, he
said. was necessary to prove the cause
of death in any poisoning case. Mr.
Knight contended that the prosecution
had failed to show a motive on Mrs.
BOtkin's part for the commission of the
crime. It had been shown during the
trial that Mrs BOtkin had persiStently
refused to allow her husband to procure
a divorce and this showed that she had
no desire to marry Mr. Dunning.
Mr.. Knight closed with a brilliant
perOratiOn, in which he described Mrs.
BOtkin as an innocent. prosecuted wO-
man and he urged the jury to exOnerate
her from the horrible suspicion that had
rested upon her through the machina-
lions of the police
Attorney MCGOWAN will make an
argument for the defense and District
Attorney HOsmer will close for the
prosecution. It is expected that the
case viii be given to the jury tomorrow
morning