The herald., 1898-12-17
BOTklN MURDER CASE
BEGINS TO LOOK BLACK FoRjTHE
DEFENDANT
THETELLTALE HAND KERCHIE
Positively Identified as One Purchased
by the Alleged Poisoner-Other
Evidence Equally Damaging

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec l6.-.The defense
in the Bctkin murder trial today received
the worst setback it has experienced since
the case opened. The evidence of two of
the witnesses examined today was OF such
a convincing nature that the chagrin caused
by its introduction was plainly written on
the faces of the accused woman and her coun-
sci. The evidence clearly sho wed that Mrs.
Botkin wrote the anonymous letters sent
to Mrs Dunnirg from this city, apprisine
Mrs Dunnng of the alleged misconduct OF
her husband and informing the deh 4 woman
that she had grounds for commencil 9 a suit
for divorce The handkerchief which was
enclosed in the box of poisoned candN was
proven to have been purchased in this. city
by Mrs. Botkin, another link in the chs IN
of the prosecution.
The first important witness. was Mrs.
Grace Harris. who was employed in the City
of Paris dry goods store during May and
June of this year. Mrs. Harris told of the
purchase of the handkerchief and identified
lively that Mrs. Botkin was the purchaser
She was certain of the identity of the woman
for the reason that Mrs. Botkin so resem-
bled Mrs. Harris own mother that the SIM
larty caused her to wonder. She was cex-
tain of the handkerchief. because is bore the
price mark which she herself had stamped
upon the article. Cross-eXamination rather
as it brought out the fact that Mrs. Harris
took Mrs. Botkin's address. which the pur-
chaser gave as Victoria hotel, where she re-
sided up to the time of her arrest:
Mrs. .Rouff, an aged woman. and resident
of Stockton. California. told of her acouaint.
ance with the plaintiff, which was that of
an intimate She also knew Dunning very
ton when she called Gu Mrs Botkin at her
rooms, the defndant showed her a hand.
kerchief. asking her if it was not beautiful
one for the price. Mrs. Routf recognized
the handkerchief sent to Mrs. Dunning 5
daughter as being exactly like the one Mrs.
Botkin showed her. The witness then iden-
tilted Mrs Botkin's handwriting in the anon
Rouff was familitr with Mrs. Botkin's writ
ing and pointed out its peculiarities. When
shown the note which was enclosed in the
box of candy. Mrs. Rouif stated that she
believed it to have been written by Mrs.
Botkin. She discussed the samples Of writ
ine shown her with the ability of an expert.
She recognized the letters as being that of
conversation she had with the defendant on
the different posons and their qualifications
for killing mice Later Mrs Botkin was
taken sick. and while under treatment, dis
cussed poisons with her physician. She
thought the action of stryehnine too harsh,
and spoke of arsenic as being mild in its ac-
ton, and seemed well informed upon its 9th
symptoms. She told of another visit to her
Stockton home. 1t was made shortly after
the preparation of the crime. Mrs. Bot
kin was greatly excited and talked about
poisons, anonymous letters. and made other
remarks that puzzled Mrs Routf. On one
occasion Mrs. Botkin talked to the witness
about bleaching hats, and remarked that she
had heard that arsenic was used for that
purpose The defendant became agitated
when informed by Mrs. Rouff that she would
have to give her name when she purchase
the poison. Upon crosse examination Mrs.
Rouff ntimated that she thought Mrs Bot
kin's illness at the time she asked so many
questions of the doctors about, poisons. was
sham. She stated that at the time Mrs
Botkin visited her. after the crime had been
committed. she felt certain of Mrs. ,Botkin'
guilt in the matter. but explained her sym
pathv for her and her care fer her during the
brief illness as being impelled by Christian
spirit Several other witnesses were called,
but nothing of great importance was brought
out. The court then adjourned until Mon
day.