The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-06

Another vital and perhaps the most
critical piece of evidence that will be
used in the trial Of Mrs. Cordelia Botkin
has been discovered. 1t is revealed in the
testimony regarding the character of the
poison used in the death-laden confec-
lions that were sent to the unfortunate
women of Dover.
The Call received last night from Della
ware the first definite and authentic
report of the official analyses of the poi
soned candy, made after the death of
Mrs. Dunning and Mrs. Deane. This tes-
timony is given by the State Chemist
of Delaware and by the two physicians
who attended the unfortunate women in
their Illness and death. The Importance
of this evidence cannot be underestima-
ted, as 1t is probable that every issue
of the trial of Mrs. Botkin will revolve
around 1t. 1t will matter little whether
the woman be tried in this State or in
Delaware. She will have to explain sat
isfactorily her purchase of arsenic, and to
defend herself against the natural suspi-
cion that arises from that purchase
1t is not improbable that the life or
death of Mrs. Botkin will depend upon
the testimony of the expert witnesses 1t
should be remembered that the only direct
discriminating evidence against the woman
is her purchase of two ounces of arsenic
at the Owl Drug Store on June l. She
frankly admits that she bought the poi
son and tells why. She was not alone
when she bought the drug and others
she insists. saw her use 1t for the pur-
pose she had designated to the clerk
Two months after and few days before
the poisoned candy was sent on it's mis-
sion of death, Mrs Botkin talked earnest
ly, eagerly and mysteriously about the
use and effect of arsenic as an agent OF
fonfc nf
of great circumstantial Importance and
the defense admits must be answered
particularly when they are viewed in
conjunction with the woman's relations
to Dunning
The detectives of this city have. it
seems, fortunately for Mrs. Botkin es-
tablished too much. Had they rested
when they discovered the fact that the
woman had bought arsenic the concu-
sion would be a crushing one to the de-
Tense. But the police also proved the fact
that the arsenic sold to Mrs. Botkin was
powdered and not crystallized, a most
vital distinction in the case
There can be no mistake in the matter
as Frank S. Grey, the clerk who sold the
poison. is positive. The. arsenic bought
by Mrs. Botkin was the commercial
adulterated powder. The State Chemist
of Delaware and the two physicians who
attended Mrs. Dunning and Mrs. Deane
are equally positive that the poison
which brought death to the two women
was crystaliZed and not powdered or
pulverized arsenic.
These experts could not have intro
duced a more vital piece of evidence had
they declared that the poison was not
arsenic The difference between pow
dered arsenic and crystallized arsenic is
antipodal One cannot be transformed
into the other without agents that are
not common to people who have no prac-
tical knowledge of chemistry. In giving
this important testimony the Delaware
witnesses are particular TO explain their
reasons They tell their results of the
analysis Of the candy and show with q
clearness satisfactory to themselves that
crystals and not powders were used. The
candy has not since been analysed and
the statements of the Delaware experts
must be accepted as final.
This new revelation in the case, made
practically by the prosecution itself, will