Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-15
SORRY SHE LET DuNNlNa LIVE.
"why Didn't 1 XIII dim and Spare Bis
Wife," Mrs. Botkin Exclatnasd., /.

o'clock yesterday morning, when, the \
tria1 of Mrs. Cordelia Botkin, charged |
with, lnusdefing Mrs. John II Dun
.nipg'of Dover, Del, was resumed. The
Jury, to which only one person had to
be added, is composed OF the follow
ing: Z. H. Chandler, j. A. Kennedy,
w. B. Harrington and. John f. Myers,
merchants, Aurelius u. Buckingham
and Jacob Heyman, real estate dealers,
s. X. Overguard, clerk, s. I'll, Daniels,
bank teller, M. Marcuse. importer,
grocer, and M. B. Burns, capitalist.
In the opening address, Assistant
District Attorney Hosmer said:
"We will show that on tho afternoon
Of the 4th of August The package of
poisoned candy was mailed at the Ferry
postoflice, addressed to Mrs. John p.
Dunning Of Dover, Del. We will show
that Mrs. Botlsin went fromtthis city
to Healdsburg, where news of the
death of Mrs. Dunning was carried to
her. She made statenent ut that
place TO IL reporter, and told of her in
timacy with Dnnning.
'tAinong other things, she then said:
f'Why did not kill the man, and spare
| the mother of his child
| MRS. Botkin left Heaidsburg and
| went to Stockton. Subsequently, sho
came to this city. When spoken to
about the case, she talkod Of her cor
respondence with Dunping, and tre-
ferTcd to him as hor affinity. She
said if it should happen in after time
sho should marry Dunning, the world
might then raise tho suspicion that
she had sent the box Of candy
Mr.. Hosmer said that he would
prove by testimony of experts on hand
writing that the writing in the note in
| the box of candy was the work of Mrs.
Botkin. He also claimed that he would
prove that the candy III the box con-
tained arsenic. He concluded with
the statement that if the facts We're
proved he would expect a verdict OF
murder in the first degree.
AS soon as Mr.. Hosmer had finished
his address, Attorney Knight asked for
continuance until Monday, which
was granted.
San Francisco, CAL, Dec. 12. An
attempt to further delay the trial of
Mrs. Cordeia Botlsin, charged with
numbering Mrs. John P. Dunning of
Dover, Del. was made on Saturday,
when Louis P. Boardman, attorney for
W. L. Harper, citizen and taxpayer,
applied to the Supreme Court for an
injunction restraining Judge Cook ol
the Superior Court from continuing
the trial on the grounds that the State
has no jurisdiction over the crime
charged and that tho trial would cause
q useless expenditure Of State funds.
No action was taken on the petition.
The Delaware witnesses are well an6
the centre of considerable interest
When the party left Delaware ex-Con
gressman Pennington was not in tht
best,of health, and his relatives ;lne
friends feared the trip and its attend
ant worry would be too greata strair
, upon his strength. Fortunately, hi:
i indisposition was only temporary, ant
he reached the ond Of the journey il
, better health and spirits than when ht
. started.
j. u. Deane, whose grief over tht
terrible death of his wife is undimin
, ished, expresses himself with extreln,
bitterness. "We all feel bitterly ovei
this case, and think the murderess o
, my wife and her sister should hay,
l been sent to Delaware for trial We al
want to get through with the case ant
return home rs quickly as possible
Drs. Bishop and Downes have lef
|
had to turn his official and privat
affairs over to others, and DR.. Wolf j
forced to neglect his duties while ou
! here. We hope the trial will not b
! delayed, and that we can start home
J ward in 10 days, or two weeks, at tn
= farthest.'
John p. Dunning. whose wife is be
= lieved to have been the particular oh
ject of the alleged murderess' hate
! says: Il am here to give testimony i
!. court and not to the newspapers.
:. :. have been in the newspaper business
: great many years, and often criticise
|, people whom | believed ought to hav
: talked for publication; but kno'
I, how it is, and even here among IN
u friends, the men worked with, sha
= not give the substance of my evidenc
a until / am on the witness stand. The
| shall tell all, and the lawyer, and tb
Al newspapers can say what they pleas
about me. Everything evilthat coul
y be said has been printed from here I
!. New York, and am 5calloasefl to ful
u ther attacks. have not gone to th
" devil, and | am not going there. Whe
q left here last March admit was
!. bad way, but went to New YorS
+ get n fresh start. From there ! wer
- W I1uNlfld, WUeTe was tut f1sSOclNtt
g Press correspondent prior to the wal
is When hostilities were opened ! wer
II to Santiago and was all through Ii
10 campaign, and took as many chance
as any correspondent. l underwent tel
rife ordeals, and was working TO II
cover my former standing and was SUI
I, cessful. My only desire was to retur
X to New York, have my family with II
II and again be happy. This desire wa
70 all but fulfilled, when my wife WI
murdered. When the news reached n
e / was in Puerto Rico. returne
~ home Immediately. went to Deli
20 ware and told tho authorities ever.
" thing / knew which had any boarin
ii on the crime. Since August ha,
had several good offers to return
Cube, but | refused in order that
might come here when needed and NJ
9f be accused of attempting to shield
1, criminal with whom / had been fe
" merly associated. 1t is true 1 wrote
ie Mrs. Rotkin, but the charge, by inni
m endo, that in any way conspired
m murder my wife is the grossest il
Id Justice that could be done any man.
n am subject to criticism, know, but
y. am not going to let that deter me fro
laying bare the worst chapter in n
whole life. / want the murderer of II
10 wife punished.
=, siortuary statisrics.