The San Francisco call., 1898-08-23
Says He Was Her Friend, but Fears That She Has Some
 Malignant Enemy.'
Repudiates Examiner Interviews and Talks of "That Awful, Fiendish Double Mur-
 der"--Arrests Expected.

often said. Tt would be far better for them If 1 were dead.
 He carried a life insurance of SIP 800 and often went without food to meet the premiums so his family would be pro- vided for after his death.
 When he realized that his dedication would be discovered he wrote to his wife telling her of his rash acts and then threatened to commit suicide. 1 expected every day he would kill Himself. When his shame became known to his family and friends he drank to drown his sorrow. It was at this time that Mrs. Corbaley be- friended him both financially and with en- couraging, hopeful words.
 Neither my husband nor myself ever sought divorce or thought of getting one. We have been married over twenty six years, during which time he has al ways provided for me. l have a son 70 years of age, who is as deaI~to me as any boy Is to his mother. That my hus- band and myself have agreed to live apart because Of diverse temperaments and tastes Is our own affair. We have always been on the best of terms though separat- ed, and he frequently visited me at my at least once every two months to enjoy the society of my boy and his father My husband sent me remittances twice a month. divorce was never mentioned but once, and that was about a year and half ago. Mrs. Seeley came to me and sald my husband was preparing to secure divorce that he might marry Mrs. Ar bogaSt. l immediately came to Stockton and asked MT. Botkin if there was any truth in the story and informed him that l would never allow him to divorce me after l had given him my youth and reared his son to manhood. My husband declared he had no intention of suing for a divorce and marrying again.
 Regarding the statements of Mrs. Moore, the landlady at 927 Geary street, l can only say that she is insane Her son. who died some time ago, was also crazy. He was so violent during one of my husoands visits that he advised me to leave the house: Mrs. Corbaley I dld fhnr rrfcft tal rooms several times and played cards with MT. Cunning, my son and myself. We never Indulged in liquor to excess. All the tune MT. Cunning rooIned in the same house with me, my son was there My son was out of employment and occupied my apartments.
 II have lived in San Francisco nearly all the time for the past two years I like lively life and am fond of excite ment l left San Francisco a couple of weeks ago and went to my sisters home ln Healdsburg. When Mrs. Dunning's ueath was announced and my name was associated with that of her husband I de- clded to reJoin my husband. I came here and will remain here
 If am to be arrested the officers will nave no difficulty in finding me. I ad- init frankly that I have a number of MT. Dunnlng letters to me, and 1 assure you they will not be destroyed If the proper authorities want them they can have them. It Is impossible for me to believe that MT. Cunning has charged me with the atrocious, diabolical crime of send ing poisoned candy to his wife. I am cer- tain he does not even suspect that I am so wanton. 1 am prepared at any mo- ment to tell the whole story of my nfe because there Is nothing I need to con ceal- The publication of every act of my life would not bring a blush to my brow or cause my husband. son or sis ter to feel the slightest sense of shame.
 MT Dunning's story of our first meet ing and subsequent acquaintanceship, which was teegraphed from Dover, is true in every particular.
 When the Examiner reporter inter- viewed me last week my husband was present, and I asked him to state to the reporter the reasons for our living apart. He did so, but his words were never print mother, notwithstanding the domestic differences between myself and husband. In previous interviews l did not mention the name of Mrs. Arbogast. and I only re- ferred to Mrs Corbaley as a very dear friend of the Cummings. l accused no ono of murderinG those two unfortunate, un- suspecting women. To even breathe suspicion gatnst any one Is too deadly an accusation; too monstrous to utter. All I ask is fair treatment, with no misrep- resentation, no misinterpretations of my words. Suppose you reverse the circum- stances. Presume for a moment that I had been poisoned in the same manner as Mrs. Dunning-would It be reasonable to accuse her of the terrible crime?"
 MT. Botkin added a supplemental state ment to that of his wife, saying:
 ''I know my wife is innocent of any
 
 capable of committing the atrocious mur- der of two innocent women, neither of whom she knew. I have endeavored to prevent my wife being interviewed, and 1t was only on the assurance of receiving fair, unprejudiced treatment that I con scented tonight"
 Mrs. Botkin is about 45 years old, with black hair. short and quite stout. She talked very rapidly and nervously while giving her statement for publication. She rocked to and fro in her chair and famed herself necessarily. She spoke without hesitation or restraint and appeared anx- ious to give every minute detail which would in any manner serve to extricate her from the unenviable position in which she is now placed. Her references to Cunning were all in the kindliest tones, and she seemed to sincerely sympathize with him in his great distress and sorrow.
 Neither Chief of Police J. D. Gall nor Sheriff Tom Cunningham have received any request to detain Mrs. Botkn. She will not be able to leave the city unob- served, however.