The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-31

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 30.-Mrs. Cor
della Botkin was tonight found guilty OF
murder In the first degree for causing the
death Of Mrs John Z. Dunning by send
ing a box OF poisoned candy to her in
Dover Del. The jury that found her
guilty. imposed also the penalty OF life i'm
prisonment.
The verdict was unexpected. An acqult-
tai was confidently awaited by the defense,
while the prosecution feared a disagree
nsent Rtxnors had been In circulation to
the effect that several OF the Jurors strong
" favored the defense, and that the opin-
ions were too firmly grounded to be capable
OF any change Although the jury was out
four hours, more than one OF which was
devoted TO dinner, 1t is currently reported
tonight that the verdict was the result OF
a compromise The sex Of the prisoner
made such a conclusion satisfactory to the
jurors.
Agreement in Less Than Four Hours
The jury retired at 5:1s. but soon after
was taken out to dinner in charge OF . dep
uty from the shertn's oiiice. During the
.nssaf no .r<ference wns made to the case
by any OF the men in whose hands lay the
fate OF Mrs. Botkin. On returning TO the
jury room. the evidence was carefully re-
viewed and a prolonged discussion follow
ed. IL Is not known how many ballots
were taken before a final agreement was
reached, but there are rumors that at first
the opinions Of the twelve jurymen were
not in accord. and that before unantmt.y
was arrived at a compromise was effected.
At just about 3 o'clock word was sent TO
Judge Carroll Cook that the jury was pre-
pared TO make a report. Court was I'M
mediately convened, and a; 9:i5 o'clock,
just four hours after the case had been
placed Ia It's hands. the jury stated. through
It's foreman, that an agreement had been
reached. the verdict being that Mrs Bot
kin was guilty OF murder in the first de-
gree In accordance with the laws of Call
forria, which empower the jury to decide
between hanging and Imprisonment In such
cases the penalty was fixed at imprison-
ment for life.
After the jury had been polled in the
usual manner. Judge Cook announced that
sentence would be prooounced on Satur-
day, January 7. He then renanded the
prisoner 10 the custody OF the sheriff. 20
be Imprisoned in the branch county jail
until called 20 receive final judgment.
when she viii be transferred 10 the state
peni,entlary.
Falls Into Her Sisters Arms.
While AT gzo time during the trial had
Mrs. Botkin expressed herself as antici-
Rating such "A verdict. she received it with
remarkable calmness. exhibiting 10 trace
or emotion. though she sat close to her SIS
ter, Mrs Roberts and seemed 10 look to
her for sympathy. After the court room
was cleared, and jus: after Mrs Bctkn
had announced 10 the deputy sheriff, IN a
clear voice that she was ready 20 SO with
him 10 prison there occurred the only SEN
sational incident ce the evening. The con-
deynn.si woman was about 10 rise, when
her highly strung nerves seemed 70 relax.
ana suddenly she fell hack into the arms Of
Nrs Roberts. I, was thought she had
tainted. but in a moment glass Of water
revived hsr, and sire resumed her usual
appearance though the intense nervous
strain was still apparent IN the twitch Tsg
OF her facial muscles. ard the quick move
rseut Of her hands as her fingers saFaTnmed
on the table. In sew minutes she appar-
ersslv aaook of all signs n exc cternent, and
quietly accompanied the deputy sheriff
from the cosIrt room
Argument brought to q Ciose.
Late in tire afternoon District Attorney
fIcsnYer completed his argument, ard
judge Carroll Cork read his charge 20 he
1ary. after which Il retired fer f@i!be-a-
ton.
TIE argument for the prosecution was
stoszSi hy District Attorney Hosmsr. In
summing up tAe csse re was coal ard coz
,ecge. throug giaout. H uloiuia.ca hts vo5oa
- a n5cety and sc3.cm SPOKE y2asSa5nate}y.
Isae cur8rtss crowd tAzc gathered 'ir ire
csIr. room expecting 10 hear Mrs Botkin
gFs9ised were IN ; measure satisfied, bus
{. was aG-asnSt AIRS Bssssu's astoruS~s ami
shesr methods 81 the conduct os ths case
ia, NJ uosTuer made hss rrsr,spai attack
Ega uler-e4 hAs Arrs-2:sasrt WITH tie sTci~
beats attending the arrival 81 the pack
age cf candy a. ire Dover. Del., T~ssi5ffTce
fa- caasaxnn~a the 1~fesse fe- tnssnuassisg
ia. Ire package nassns have t4san placed
IN ,As g-saA ~ sny ore connected ws;h taa
rsas trfYsea He accused lac attorneys *
xosssxs aenssss ne facts lie tFace2 :sae - X
axe % sAe P-sE.sg.o:s home and rs 6a-ls-
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