The San Francisco call., 1898-09-09
PARTNERSHIPS
 STRANGE STORY CORROBORATED Sylvia Heney Says She Sold the Candy. SHE IDENTIFIES THE BOX NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CUNNING TRAGEDY. Legal Complications That May Pre- vent Mrs. Botkin From Re
 ceiving a Fair
 Trial.
SHE IDENTIFIES THE BOX
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE
 CUNNING TRAGEDY.

Another remarkable coincidence that may assume importance for the defenders of Mrs. Cordelia Botkin has forced itself out of the labyrinth of facts and fancies in which the whole mysterious affair s clouded. Another woman has appeared with information that is certainly inter- esting and may be of moment in the case. Her contribution to the confusion of theories is in corroboration of the asser- ton of J. F. Tennessee that he saw a woman resembling Mrs. Botkin post a package shortly before o'clock on the afternoon of August at the ferry postal station.
 This new witness is Mrs. Lena Roth kuh. She does not know Mrs. Botkin, and Is not sure that her testimony is of any value. She simply describes what she saw and feels that, while she wishes to avoid notoriety, her experience was somewhat remarkable in conjunction with other circumstances in the web of testi- mony. She also saw a woman post package at the ferry postal station a few minutes before o'clock on the afternoon of August I. The package. Mrs. Roth kuff says, resembled the wrapped box of poisoned candy. The woman who posted 1t was very like the description published of Mrs. Botkin. The incident is signifi- cant, as Mrs. Botkin can prove that she was well on her way to St. Helena at the time her double appeared at the ferry de-
 Mrs. Lena Rothkuff is a resident of Sacramento. She was In this city on August on business connected with the preparations for the Irish Fair. Having concluded her mission Mrs Rothku1f started for the ferry to return to her home. She intended to take the oclocK boat from this city, but found, upon her arrival at the ferry depot, that she was mare than an hour too early.
 Having nothing else to do she busied 1nVC Cal m lfrlli fA1l ing the movements of the hurrying crowds of men and women who came and went to and fro in the ferry building. While occupied with this diversion Mrs. Roth kuff says she noticed particularly the ac- tions of a woman that approached the package window of the postal station, watcher s attention was specially at tracted by the incidents as one or two scenes at the ferry postoffice had already interested her. A girl had entered hur- riedly with a letter in her hand. She kissed the epistle and then dropped it into the mail. Mrs. Rothkuff watched to see what the next visitor would do.
 A short woman, not unlike Mrs. Bot kin. entered the area in front of the post office. She carried wrapped box that in size and shape resemhled a box of candy such as dealers sell for 50 cents. It was shortly before o'clock and there were two or three men in front of the postoffice Mrs. Rothkuff says she did not notice them particularly, and as far
 
 J. E. Tennessee. Her attention was fixed upon the woman who had approached the package window of the postoffice. The stranger hesitated a moment when she reached the window. She made a mo- ton as if to retire for a few steps and then returned to drop the package in the mail.
 A few minutes later Mrs. Rothkuff was on her way to Sacramento. She thought no more of the incident at the ferry pos tai station and dismissed 1t from her mind as an incident in an idle diversion. When the statement of J. E. Tennessee was pub lished. however, Mrs. Rothkuff recalled her experience. She told 1t to her friends, but took no steps to communicate with the authorities. She can give no more par ticular description of the strange woman than that already indicated. The woman with the package may have worn glasses as far as Mrs. Rothkuff knows, as the watcher at the ferry did not look critically at her face.
 The facts that Mrs Rothkuff has intro duced into the case are of great impor- tance to the defense in any plan to estab- lish for Mrs. Botkin an alibi. If it can be shown that another woman, resembling the accused, mailed package in any way like the box of poisoned candy serious doubt will be inter1ected to interfere with the case of the prosecution. When Fen nessee made his statement no greater im- portance than that of a coincidence was attached to 1t. Both the prosecution and the defense saw its meaning, which Is now greatly enhanced by the recital of Mrs. Rothkuff.
 nlIS RolHhuI Was III Ihe city yesterday afternoon, but returned at night to her home in Sacramento. In an interview yes- terday she described the incident as al- ready outlined. The defense will undoubt- edly use her as a witness when the case of Mrs. Botkin is presented.
 The police have given up all hope of tracing the postage stamps on the box of poisoned candy to their purchaser It is impossible to locate so small purchase, and the endeavor will be given up as hopeless. The inquiry before the focal Grand Jury has also ended. The police injure their own plan of sending Mrs Botkin out of the State. If the inquiry before the Grand Jury were to proceed the prosecution would find itself in a peculiar predicament. It was out of the question for the police to use the off, cial inquisitors simply as agents to ob- tain testimony that could not be secured in any other way. Little has been left