The San Francisco call., 1898-09-03

The tragic mystery of which Mrs. Cordelia Botkin Is still the central figure is as far from a practical solu- tton as 1t was when the authorities were informed that a dreadful crime had been conceived in this city. The police have now, however, a logical and defi- nite basis upon which to build a case. . Whether or not the discriminating evil dence will point as a certainty toward the woman under arrest remains to be seen. When the Stockton episode and all it's ramifications faded into nothing the authorities were forced to begin again their search for testimony As the mystery presents itself now the de .tectives know that the candy, which was subsequently, poisoned, was bought at the Market street establishment of George Haas There is presumption. but nothing more, that the purchase was made early in August, perhaps on the third day of the month. Emma Herber, the girl who sold the candy, does not believe that she can identify the person who bought it. but she is willing to try and will be given an opportunity by the police. This covers the ground as far as the candy incident is concerned.
 .. The police have also another baffling :clew. It has been discovered that the fiend who murdered two innocent wo- men bought the handkerchief at the City of Paris. The dainty lace fabric : was neatly folded In the box of pois- oned confections In one corner of it was price mark used in this city only by the City of Paris. The records of this establishment show that on Aug ust some one purchased such hand kerchief for g cents. No one at the store has reason to remember the incl dent. The clew Is lost in the maze of a daily routine where hundreds of sales are made and hundreds of people pass in and out without exciting attention or comment. But Mrs. Botkin is very well known at the City of Paris. She went there time after time and made many purchases. Her face was a fa- miliar one to more than one person at the place, but they cannot say that she bought the handkerchief The trail closes here and there seems to be no way in which it may be found again by the seekers.
 The authorities have drawn from the incident of the purchase, however, a strong hope. The candy and the hand kerchief were bought in the same neighborhood, as the City of Paris is only two blocks distant from Haas candy store. The detectives argue that the poison was also bought in the vicinity. A most thorough inquiry was made yesterday, but nothing was dis covered. Every downtown druggist was closely examined, but not one could recall the sale of arsenic that might shed light on the case.
 Beyond these facts the police have . very little else in the nature of evil dence. The case of the prosecution, as it now stands against Mrs. Botkin, may be very briefly summarized. In the first place she knew Cunning very well and expressed on many occasions the deep : est regard for him. These expressions were made to her friends and in letters to Dunning There Is no doubt that the : woman knew of Dunnings purpose to return to his wife.
 In the second place Mrs. Botkin dis cussed with every evidence of deep in terest the subject of poisons and their effects This was done few days be- fore the box of poisoned candy was sent from this city. Mrs. Rauof and Dr. Stone, the physician who attended Mrs Botkin at Stockton, heard the discus sion and noted how particularly the woman talked about arsenic and its effects. Tn the handwriting of Mrs
 Botlzin and in that of the anonymous letters and addresses there are certain peculiarities indicating that the same person wrote all of the epstles and su- prescriptions.
 The Grand Jury is in possession of