The sun., 1898-12-31
MRS. BO1K|N FOUND GUILTY
Jury Declared That She Com.
mitted Murder in the
First Degree.
The POISONER WAS DAZED
Scathing Address of Assistant Dis.
trict Attorney HOsmer. She was
s Sentenced to imprisonment
For Life by Judge
Carroll Cook.
Special to THE Sun.


y murder Of Mrs. John P. Dunning and
Mrs. Ida Deane, of Dover, Del, has been
avenged as far as the law will allow and
tonight Mrs. Cordelia Botkin was sem
fenced to Imprisonment for life by Judge
Carroll Cook.
This was in accordance with the YER
dict of the jury who, at $50 O'Clock this
evening adjudged Mrs. Botkin guilty OF
murder in the first degree with the
Recommendation that she be sentenced
TO Imprisonment for life.
The trial practically came to conclu-
son this afternoon when Assistant Dis
jct Attorney Hosmer concluded his
Vgument to the jury for the common
- At about $50 o'clock Mr.. Hosmer be.
gan his speech. In high-pitched voice
but without any emotion he asked the
Jury to render verdict OF murder in the
first degree.
He completed his argument to the jury
4 in about an hour and at the conclusion
OF the address Judge Cook adjourned
the court for fifteen minutes.
When court reconvened Judge Cook
began reading his charge. He congratu-
lated the jurors on the close attention
they had manifested during the trial and
then requested them to listen to the law
bearing on the case.
During the reading of the charge.
which consumed an hour and twenty
minutes, Mrs. Botkin wept bitterly in
the arms of her sister.
After the charge the jurors went to
supper and at 7.30 o'clock this evening
hey returned to their room to consider
case.
1.-The court room during the argument
he district attorney and charge to the
was crowded to the doors.
r fr. Hosmer opened by cOngratulating
Jurors for the attention they had
during a long and tedious trial.
- made no passionate appeal and 10
Z flights into rhetoric. He dropped his
voice when he referred to the stricken
househsM and raised it when he de-
nouncA the methods of the defense.
He followed the poisoned candy from
the time it left San Francisco until it
was in the hands of DR.. Wolfe and then
brought back here by Detective j. Ber-
nard McVey, of Delaware.
He ridiculed the contention OF the de-
fense and said that in all cases it was
their custom to condemn the police and
other persons who appeared as witnesses
for the prosecution.
Mrs. Botkin at first did not pay much
attention to the argument, but as it
advanced she became depressed and sank
back in her seat at the bar. She was
apparently overcome with emotion.
Three ballots had been taken by the
Jury at s o'clock, and at the time prev
iously stated the verdict was given.
After sentence Mrs. Botkin was car
ried from the court room to the Jail in a
dazed condition.
At the proceedings of yesterday when
Attorney General White, of Della
ware, called her q "poor, degraded
woman,' and asked for an eye for an eye
and tooth for tooth and the life of
the California woman to wipe away the
death OF the woman in Delaware, she
shuddered.
Mr.. knight also made her shrink when
4 he compared his client to Biblical
women who were not SO good as they
might have been and besought the jury
not to adjudge her murderess because
Of her sins.
When Mr.. White had finished she
wept convulsively, and it was some time
h before her sisters could comfort her, or
bind thicker veil over her red, swollen
face.
When the Deputy Sheriff took her
away at the noon recess she was so weak
and faint that he had all he could do to
get her down stairs.
IA Mrs. Botkin had broken down at last,
\ and by the time the jury brings in it's
H verdict it is the general opinion that she
v will be ready to collapse.
Il Mr.. MCGOWAN bitterly attacked Dun
I ming as immoral. vicious and unworthy
I OF belief, and actuated by desire for
I vengeance, while Mrs. Botkin smiled
With satisfaction, nodding her head in
approval OF his severest terms. Dunning.
from one corner of the court, listened to
4 MCGOWAN with some show of contempt,
but maintained his composure.
Mr., MCGOWAN hauled the police over
the Goals. He charged the prosecution
with all kinds Of infamy in the handling
Of it's case, and severely criticised several
witnesses. He admonished the jury re-
oarding circumstantial evidence, and
limited upon the dishonesty of prosecu-
tors in many cases to procure conviction
on such evidence. He accused Attorney
General White OF appealing to the sym
pathy OF the jury, and said he had made
MISREPRESENTATION especially with regard
to the arrival Of the box OF candy at the
Delaware Post Office. :,
Mr. White flattered the intelligence of
the jury and wandered way into dis,
cnssion OF the beauties Of the sisterhood
Of States and what California had done
toward righting the wrongs OF Delaware,
and finally closed, .o,,
"When 20 back to Delaware and tell
nv peopIe what California has done Tor
The State of Delaware, no matter what
vour verdict, when l tell them this, they
will be satisfied. I only ask you, as !
believe you will, to perform your ya,5 duty y
and your service: Decide II taltnin!!y %
Continued on Page Two.