The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-30
WHISKY BY THE QUART.
Mrs. Botkin and Dunning Had Won
derful Thirsts for LIQUOR.


San Francisco, Aug. 3O.-Fred Nord-
holz, a bartender employed by John
EIadeler at 917 Lake street, corner of
Geary, has added a chapter to the gay
career of the man Dunning and Mrs.
Botkin. He said they bought the best
brand Of whisky he had by the quart
measure.
'Dunning and two ladies who lived at
Mrs. Moore's lodging house, he said,
frequently came to the saloon in the
afternoon or late at night and bought
whisky by the quart. One of them,
was told, was Mrs. Botkin, but the 9TH
er one, who was about five feet two or
three inches tall and of a brunette type,
did not know. On several occasions
the women came alone. Once or twice
while accompanied by Dunning they
have thought they were under the in
fiuence of liquor. They seemed to be
treading very lightly and INDUCED in
rather loud laughter. AS l remember
now, they usually addressed Dunning as
Jack or in terms of rather more ten
der endearment. The three of them
were very speedy and appeared to be
thOroughbreds. don't remember any
of them ever purchasing less than
quart bottle of whisky at one time and
often it was two or three quarts.
George Beck, young drug clerk
across the street, used to come over and
tell me of his visits to Mrs. BOtkfn's
rooms with Dunning and of the glori-
Gus times they had there in the even
ings."
Mr.. Beck, when asked concerning his
relations with Dunning and Mrs. Bot
kin said:
Jack Dunning returned from down
town about 10 o'clock one evening with
a couple of quart bottles of whisky. He
stopped at the drug store and invited
me up to Mrs. BOtkin's room at No. 927
Geary street, in the same block. Dun
ming was feeling jolly and seemed to
be in for a good time, and accepted
the invitation. Mrs. BOtkin was alone,
but upon Dunning's suggestion that
there ought to be another lady present
she stepped out into the hall and in a
moment returned with Nine. ThOmp-
son. A bottle was opened and we had
a round of drinks. Dunning was inter-
ested in the race track, and he and I
fell to discussing horse racing for few
moments, while the ladies conversed
in an opposite corner. A little later
another round of drinks was had, and
some one suggested a game of draw po
ker for small stakes. While Nine.
Thompson was asking to be excused
another lady, not very tall, a brunette,
entered the room, and after cordially
greeting the others was introduced to
me, but I did not clearly catch the
name. It might have been Mrs. Seeley,
do not know. In any event she took
a hand in the proposed game of poker.
Mrs. Thompson watched the game for
fifteen or twenty minutes and after
bidding US good night, retired from the
room. At first each of took consider
able interest in the game, but after an
hours playing it got to be so that ev-
cry time a pot or bet was taken we
had another round of drinks. Though
my memory is somewhat indistinct as
to the minute happenings of the even
ing, yet I am of the impression that
they did not indulge in the liquor as
heavily as Dunning and I.
1.-THE room was rather small, contain
ing a bed, bureau, center table, sofa
and three or four chairs, and about the
time the whisky was exhausted I re-
allied the necessity of going outside for
fresh air I bid the ladies good night,
and DunnIng accompanied me down
stairs to the front door.
Il was invited up again, but declined,
giving as an excuse that the last event
was too speedy for me. Dunning and
Mrs. BOtkin frequently stopped in the
drugstore and discussed the races. She
often came around and gave me tips
which proved elusive and expensive.
IN conversing with Dunning she in
variably addressed him as Jack, but
at no time in my presence did she
evfnce more than a friendly interest in
his welfare. She didn't appear to be
jealous nor conduct herself in a manner
as would suggest she was in love with
him.
stopped in the store one day to tell me
that she had received a letter from
Jack, and that he was homesick, and
aOxiOIlS to return to San Francisco"