The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-23
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
MRS. B0TKlN'S DEFENSE
DIR. Tyreii Undertakes an AIfbi: Ac-
cused on the stand.

San Francisco, Dec. 22-The defense of
Mrs. Cordelia Botkin for the murder of
Mrs. John P. Dunning opened today, but
the progress made in breaking down the
case of the prosecution was very slight.
DR.. George NJ. Tyrell was the principal
witness for the defense today. DIR. TyrelF
however, was so uncertain in his testi-
mony and cortradicted himself 50 often
that he did the defense but little good.
He testified that he visited Mrs. BotAin
on Sunday afternoon, July 81, between the
hours of 3 and o'clock and treated her
for headache. This IS ;he time ana date
sworn to by Misses Heney and Ditmarr,
of Haas candy store, when they sold Mrs.
Botkin a box of chocolate bonbons DR..
Tyrell, for some reason, made no entry in
his visit book and rendered no bill for
services TO Mrs. Botkin. He could not
specify the time of his visit better than
between and o'clock in the after
noon"
When questioned regarding arsenicaI
poisoning the attorneys for the prosecu-
ton made it very plain that Dr. Tyrell
knew little if anything. of arsenic.
Thomas J. Ford. of the San Francisco
postoffice, testified that the package of
candy was not packed according 10 the
rules and that 1t should have reached
Delaware in good order. He identified the
postmarks on the anonymous letters as
being those of the San Francisco postof-
flee and described the methods employed
in the caring for letter mails.
John Z. Dunning was recalled by per-
mission and asked If he had told Mrs
Botkin that his wife and daughter had
taken up their residence in Dover, Del He
replied chat he had mentioned the fact
several times.
w. L. Roberts of Humboldt county, a
brother-in-law of the accused stated that
Mrs. Botkin had been in the vicinity CT
Eureka between the md of June and the
end Of the month. The prosecution 3D.
mitted this residence. II will be remem-
bered that one of the anonymous letters
was dated about the middle of June. but
the prosecution viii prove that a mail bag
was placed on the wharf at Eureka On
steamer days and that letters dropped IN
were not postmarked until the steamer
reached this city.
Or. W. f. McNutt testified that the only
reliable way TO prove srsenical poison was
by an autopsy
John II. Warrington. floor manager of
the City of Paris store, where the hand
kerchief sent Mrs. Cummings little daugh-
ter was alleged to have been bought. tes-
tilted as TO the methods used in transferr-
ing purchases from one department 10 an
other and the delivery Of goods. but moth
ing Of importance was brought out.
Mrs. Botkin Was called TO the stand a
late hour this afternoon. She told OF her
acquaintance with Duuning. denying many
many Of his statements. She also denied
much Of the testimony of Mrs Lizzie
Livernash. a reporter. who testified 70 the
hysterica1 cond. ton OF Mrs Botkin when
informed OF Mrs. Dupnings death. and OF
several discriminating admissions made by
Mrs Botktn IN interviews with her. She
denied ever having purchased candy OF
Haas or that she ever purchased a hand
kerohief OF the city OF Paris store. She
viii continue her testimony tomorrow
New York. Dec. "a dispatch 20 the
Herald from Valparaiso says: The under
secretary for foreign anairs has been dis
missed from Office under grave charges.