The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-31

ne vfRDlC1 s IlIyMseNNtNf FOR LlFE
Uke was Accused ct sending = BOX
q lsoisonea Candy Through the
MAfTs 70 Mrs. DWanfng.

sao francisco. Cal. December 30. =
Rather u the general surprise OF those who
have followed tho Botkin trial and to the
entire dismay OF the defendant and her
friends Arz. Coriidia Botkin was tonight
found kuilty Of niaasder in the first degree
for causing the death Of Mrs J. r. Dun
ming by sending box Of poisoned candy
TO her temporary home In Dover, Del. The
condemned murdvress will be spared the
ignonniny Of death on the gailcws, however.
lie Jury that found her guilty imposing the
penalty Of life Imprisonment
Considering the unexpectcdness and
ouickness OF The verdict Mrs. Botkin kept
herself well In hand when the verdict was
announced
Not ,snail the iurymen and most OF the
spectators had left the court room did she
give evidence OF collapse.
Then she sank back half fainting. but
speedily revived when given glass Of
water.
At o'clock word was sent to Judge
Cook that the Jury was prepared to make
q report The court was Immediately con-
yened and at 9:l5 a. M. the verdict was
delivered.
In accordance with the laws Of California.
which empowers The Jury to decide between
hanging and imprisonment In such cases.
the penalty was fixed ait imprisonment for
isfe. After the Jury had been poiied in
the usual manner Judge Cook announced
that the sentence would be pronounced on
Saturday, january I. He then remanden
the prisoner 10 the custody OF the sheriff
to be imprisoned In the county tail until
{ called to pronounce sentence, when she Will
be removed to the penitentiary.
II was late in the afternoon when
District Attorney Hosmer comple;ed~ his
argumea; an. then Judge Cook reaNs MIS-
charge TO the jury. after which II retired
for elaboration. The arguments closed
With District Attorney Hosmer on the
stand He reviewed the case generally
and concluded with scathing attack upon
the prisoner
Mr. Hosmer addressed the jury on the
rights of the witnesses. He commended that
all witnesses were entitled to respect and
crtdt u,til disproved. ana none of the
witnesses for the prosecution. he assertef'
had proven untruthful,
He then broke up Mrs. Betkins testi-
mony. He showed that in spite of Mrs.
Bsfkin's statements ana tie assertions of
the defense to the contrary, she had more
ttan n passing regard fer Dunning. that
her life with him WAS Hcentious and de-
PRAYED. He pointed to Dunn.ng's action
In coming across the continent to prosecute
her and asserted that Duuning would not
have gone through what he had unless he
was certain OF the guilt Of Mrs. Botkin
that he would not have disclosed their
relations and been exposed to the criticism
Of the newspapers anil public without just
reason. Mr.. Hosmer then argued on the
authorship OF tho anonymous letters and
the address on the box Of candy. He went
over the evidence and asserted that Mrs.
Bctkin was the writer Of the letters and
had written the address on tina box Of
candy.
Mr.. IIosmer concluded his address by
asking the jury to return just verdict
verdict OF murtier In the frst degree.
After shedr recess Judge Cook deliy-
cred his charge to the Jury. the reading
OF which occupied more than an hour. The
Jury then retired TO deliberate on the gull,
or innocence Of the accused woman.
Mrs. Hotkln cried bitterly several times
curing the day and during the reading OF
the charge almost lost control CT herself