The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-17
MRS. B0TKIN
LAUGHED
When Mrs. Rouff Testified
to Finding Dunning in
Mrs. Botkin's
Room.

San Francisco. Cal, Dec 10-The
strongest bit Of evidence in the chain that
Is being forged to connect MrR Botkiu
with the murder OF Mrs Dunning aud
Mrs. Dcane was presented this morning.
Mrs. Grace Harris, IL salsswoMan, tcsti-
fled thai shu sold Mrs. Botkin haudker-
chief which was sent with tho poisoned
candy. She was positive that she marked
and sold the handkerchief, and was sure
Mrs Botkin was the woman who purchas.
ed 1t. Tho purchaser she remembered
had ordered the handkerchief sent to tho
Hoe Victoria.
This tnct was impressed upon he. menu
DRY b. two circum stu lees. Miss Harris
broke rule o. the house In selling tho
handkerchief, and she noticed that Mrs.
BDtkin resem5!cd her mother.
Airs. Botkin watched the witness intent.
iy whilo she was giving testimony. She
smiled coniplacontiy at tho discriminating
evidence, but as Tho witness grew mors
positive under cross-exuminntiun, tho
smile faded. and tho prisoner showed some
teinper. She gIared at Mrs Harris, 8 rad-
lily, turning for II second every few min
utcs to utter few, short sharp words to
hor attorneys. ....s
Word pictures which an Eastern physl.
ciaE presented Of the death agonies OF the
victims Of the p0isonoi candy, did not nf-
fec Mrs. Botktn. she appeared delight
fully nonchalnnt during Tho reciting of the
narrowing details, at times yawning, as if
they bored her. She takes a livelier inter-
es however in the evidence tao prosecu.
.ion is now presenting as to tho details of
her association with John p. Dunning.
Mrs. flmira Routf formerly an associate
Of Mrs. Botkin, told of secret visits paid Nv
DuIning to Mrs. Botkn when she was liv-
ing With her sister In Oakland. III, wit
ness let Dunning in SO That no one else
would know he had called When Mrs,
Rouff told OF finding Dunning in Mira.
Botkin's room, with II bottle of whiskey,
tho woman being ut ired in a pink silk
nightgown, Mrs. Botkin laughed merri-
ly.
Mrs Rouff said that she believed tho
anonymous letters scut to Mrs. Dunning
were in tho handwriting of Mrs. Botkin.
She had heard Mrs. Botkin talk about q
Bohelnlhn life, nndshe found the same ex-
preston in one Of the letters. 10 her mind
That was n dead give away"
did Mrs. Butkin write this letter."
asked Tho prosecuting attorney. us he
handed Mrs. Rouff q letter addressed 10
Governor Budd soliciting an appointment
as u nurse.
Yes. she did, was the reply.
The handkerchief which was in the box
OF poisoned candy was shown Mrs. Rouff.
"Hnve you ever seen handkerchief like
thntg' was asked
II have. Sometime ago went into the
city with Mrs B ,tkin, and sho pointed out
handkerchiefs aud asked me il thoy We're
not cheap. replied that they were and
noticed that they were marked down in
price"
Mrs. Rouff reviewed conversation she
had with Mrs. Botkin in Stockton in July
last, only few days before tho box Of
poisoned candy was sent. Mrs Botkin
then nsked II great many questions she
said. about he effects of polsons Larticn.
larly arsenic and strychnin.. She also in
qulred about postal regulations and the
rate OF postage on pound packages She
spoke OF lawyers and criminal proceedings
and lredic ed her association with Dun.
ming ini Are would be moro intimate.
Ali Of t, Twas intended to show that
Mrs. Botkin was meditating the use of
mails and of puisons.