The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-30
MRS. BODKIN,S TRIAL
The Opening Speeches In this Sensa.
tiOnal Murder Case

San Francisco, December 2S.-This
was the most interesting day in the
Botkin case since the trial of the wo-
man for the murder of Mrs. Dunning
commenced. The proceedings opened
this morning with an argument by At
torney General White, of Delaware,
for the prosecution. Mr.. White ad-
dressed the jury quietly and proceeded
to review the testimony brought out
during the trial. He called attention
to the chain of circumstantial evidence
against Mrs. Botkin and said that if the
jury believed the evidence of the wit
nesses for the prosecution then Mrs.
Botkin must be convicted for murder
in the first degree. He dwelt upon the
aWfulneSS of the crime and the unsuS-
pecting, defenseless condition of the
victims. AS Mr.. White concluded Mrs.
Botkin leaned her head on her arms
and seemed to be greatly affected
AT the afternoon session Attorney
George knight made the argument for
the defense. Mr.. knights reputation
, as an orator and ability as a criminal
lawyer attracted an enormous crowd
| to the court room. Many prominent
| attorneys were in attendance in addi-
| knight talked for nearly three hours
| and endeaVored to convince the jury
| of the weakness Of the prosecution s
| case and the lack of a motive by Mrs.
| BOtkin for committing such a crime.
| He referred to the Maybrck and the
Dreyfus case as Instances Of suffering
| of innocent people because of public
| opinion
| Mr.. Knight denounced Doctor Bishop
| l9aVpr attended
| poisoned woman, and was most bitter
| in his condemnation of the methods OF
| the San Francisco police. Mr.. Dun
/ ming, the husband OF one of the MUIR
dered women, also came in for share
| of the attorneys vitriolic sentences
| Particular attention was called to the
fact that Mrs. Botkin, the alleged au-
thor of the anonymous letters that were
mailed in San Francisco in June was ir
| Eureka, Cal, all of that month an5
could not have possibly mailed the let
ters here. Mrs. Grace Harriss, VIII;
| Identified Mrs. Botkin as the woman
| who purchased the handkerchief which
was found in the box of poisoned can
| dy, was denounced as an untruthfu
and diSsolute woman. The testimon,
Of the candy girls who identified Mrs
Botkin as the woman who purchase
the candy was ak,o vigorously attacks
by the lawyer.
| IN speaking d3OOt the alleged Dur
chase of arsenic by Mrs. Botkin ol
June 4st, Mr.. Kmght sought to shov
the imprObability of her keeping tn
poison until July :31st when she pur
chased the candy He did not how
ever, directly deny the purchase of ar
sSrnic.
Writing Export Ames who cam
here from New York and testified tha
Mrs. Botkin was the author of tn
anonymous letters and also addresse,
| the wrapper ON the candy was denounc
ed as coming here and testifying fo
the prosecution because he was pai,
TO testify sthat way. Mr.. Knight lai,
great stress upon the fact that the ar
senle found in the candy was in Iuml
form, whereas Druggist Grey testffe,
that Mrs. Botkin purchased powders
arsenic He also said there was no le
sas proof thsl Mrs. Durrning had die.
OF arsenfca1 peisoning. An autopsy. h
said, was necessary to prsve the caus
or death in any poisoning case
Mr.. Knight closed with a brilIian
peroration in which he described Mrs
Botkin as an innocent woman and h
urged the jury to- acquit her OF the hor
her through the fsachina tions of tn
police.
Tomorrow Attorney MCGOWAN vii
make an argument for the defense en-.
District Attorney Hosnnes will clos
for the prosecution. 1t is expected tha
the case will be given to the jury Fri
day morning.