The evening times., 1898-09-03
INQUIRED ABOUT POISON
Testimony by Mrs. Botkin's
Nurse and Friend.
DAMAGING TO THE ACCUSED
A Statement to the Effect That She
Called In n Young Physician and
Questioned Him Concerning the
Effect Of Drugs-Story Told Before
the Grand Jury.

San Francisco, Sept. 3.-Less than six
weeks ago. or within a week or two of
the time poisoned candy was sent
through the mails to Mrs. Dunnng, in
Dover Del Mrs Cordelia Botkin was
seeking information as to the effect of
various poisops on the human system
and in what quantities they should be ad-
ministered TO cause death.
Mrs. A. Raouf nurse and confidant of
Mrs. Botkin, gave the grand jury some
strong circumstantial evidence against
the accused at its session yesterday. She
said Mrs. Botkin visited her on July IS,
at her home in Stockton.
she was at that time" continued the
witness, lin a highly hysterical condi-
tion, and asked me to call in a young
physician, as one older in years did not
possess the mental sympathy she de-
sired. Dr. T. w. Stone was summoned.
He prescribed a subduing mixture after
which Mrs. Botkin engaged him in con-
versation regarding poisons. She paid
particular attention to arsenic, and OBJ
tanned information concerning the
amount that would be most certain to
Mrs. Botkin laughed and intimated that
she intended to take a fatal potion hei-
self.
The Story Is Confirmed.
DR.. Stone was seen in Stockton by
correspondent. He gave a statement for
publication which confirms all that Mrs.
Raouf told the grand jury concerning
Mrs. Botkin's inquiries as 10 the effect
of poison.
ION the morning of July 2s,'' the doc
tor said, Il called at the house of Mrs.
Raouf to see Mrs. Botkin, and had been
in the room only a short time when she
asked me what effect pOiSOnS of various
kinds would have upon the human sys-
tenn While she did not exactly say that
she wanted TO use some of them, she
gave out the impression that she might
want to commit suicide, and was ask
ing merely TO learn which poison would
kill most swiftly and easily.
Mrs. RaoUf was in the room at the
time" the doctor continued. Il did not
give Mrs. Botkin a direct answer. She
made some indifferent remarks, and then
reverted To the matter of poison. Her
questioning was done in a laughing man
uer. but she wanted information badly.
At first her questions were IN round
about manner. but after she saw that she
more explicit, though at no time dld she
drop her Joking way.
She was overwrought at the time and
nervous. and ! gave no particular atten-
tion to her questions. 1t was on August
L. when | was summoned for second
time to prescribe for Mrs. Botkin. that 4
reporter told me that she was suspected
of the Dover poisoning. l did not con-
, meet her questions with the case and
have given the matter no particular
thought until now
The handkerchief in the Case.
Il has been learned that the linen hand
! kerchief. with imitation lace on the edges,
which was sent TO Mrs. Dunning with
the poisoned candy was purchased al
a store in this city. Chief of Police Lees
obtained an exact duplicate of the hand
kerchief today. Both have the price mark
.'25 cents stamped upon a bit OF paste
board in one corner. A comparison OF
the handkerchiefs shows beyond ques-
tion that the sender Of the candy bought
The fabrics at the San Francisco store.
Mrs Botkin frequently purchased ar
tiCles at this particular store Some OF
the clerk. know her quite well. and eff
forts are being made TO trace the sale
of the handkerchief to Mrs. Botkin.
The police Thursday night overhauled
Mrs Botkin's trunk and took possession
of a mass Of correspondence which il
contained including the letters Mrs. Bot
kin received from Dunung. The police
found a letter from DUnning in which
he told Mrs. Botk.n that he must sep
arate from her and reioin his wife and
child in Dover. This letter was written
by Dunning when he left this city for
Porto Rico.