The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-30
he ARGUED FOR A LIFE
McGowan's Address in the Bot
kin Murder Trial.
HE ROASTED THE POLICE
Charged the Prosecution With AL Kinds
OF Iufamy and Said That No Mo-
tive Had Been Proven
for the Crime.

San Francisco. Dec. 29.-The an
nouncement that to-day would prob
ably be the last day for arguments in
the Botkln case attracted an immense
crowd to Judge Cooks court room to-
day. The police held the crowds in
check with difficulty and for hours after
the commencement OF the argument for
the defense by Attorney Frank Nc
Gowan the corridors were filled with a
curious. morbid crowd. anxious 10 eaten
a few words Of the scathing arraign-
ment OF the police and the methods OF
the prosecution which IL had been whis-
pered about would be the main fea-
lures OF McGowan's address. Nor were
the rumors without foundation. Nc
Gowan hauled the police over the Goals
royalty. He charged the prosecution
with all kinds of infamy in the ham
ding OF its case and he roasted several
of the witnesses to a crisp. He went
over the case from beginning to end
and said that the defense had not made
a technical fight; that II had not bick-
cred over the admission of evidence and
had kept nothing back. He attributed
directly opposite methods to the prose-
cution. He said that were his client
guilty she would have attempted
To hide everything hurtful To her cause.
He admonished the jury regarding cir
cumstantial evidence and asserted that
evidence must be resolved in favor OF
the defendant. He enumerated many
cases of circumstantial evidence and
hinted upon the dishonesty OF prosecu-
tors In many cases To secure convictions
on such evidence. Mr.. McGowan at
tackled Attorney General Whites argu-
ment. He accused the Delaware atsOr-
ney general of appealing To the sympa-
thy OF the jury. He said that Mr.. White
had misrepresented. especially with re-
gard to the arrival OF the box Of candy
a. the Delaware postofiice. McGowan
said that Its arrival had not been proved
and that an employe of the Dover us
office might have placed the package
In the bag as easily as not.
Referring To the anonymous letters,
Mr.. McGowan said that they had not
been traced TO Mrs. Botkin, and that
she had no reason for writing them.
The identifications of Mrs. Botkin by
several Of the witnesses for the prose
cution. continued Mr.. NcGowan. were
fimsy and unreliable. and action in
such cases must be carefully consid-
cred. Mr.. McGowan sad no motive had
been proved: that the contention of the
prosecution that Mrs. Botkin was enam-
ottl OF DuNnlnS ndu not Dttn pIoNtu Dy
the facts in the case: in fact. the oppo-
site held good. MCGOWAN entered upon
bitter attack upon Dunning. Nc
Gowan reserved the subject of arsenical
poisoning for the concluding feature OF
his argument. He held that arsenical
poisoning had not been proved. and
even II It had the attending physicians
had stated that lump arsenic had been
used. whereas the drug clerk from
whom Mrs. Botkin purchased arsenic
entered the purchase upon the poison
book OF the druggist. specifying pow
dered arsenic. Every point throughout
the case. declared MCGOWAN. Is shroud-
ed I'm doubt. and he urged the jury not
to bring in a verdict opposed to the facts
adduced by the defense.
Assistant District Attorney Hosmer
| will make the closing argument for the
prosecution tomorrow. Owing to the
New Years holidays. the case will then
| go over until next Tuesday. when Judge
Cook will deliver his instructions to the
jury.