The San Francisco call., 1898-12-07

restrain his curiosity to see the woman late his sacred marriage vows and who is now before the bar of justice awaiting
 Wanton murderess of his children MT. Pennington gazed intently at Mrs. Botkin every time he got an opportunity to see her features, and when court took recess al noon he waited in the corridor to get a | square look at her. and his impressions were neither favorable to her nor compli- mentary to Dunning'S taste.
 | Several of the Delaware witnesses also attended court yesterday and watched the proceedings with evident interest. DTS. | Pennington and as soon as their identity became known they were the center of in- | terest to curious Spectators They were not as surprised at the rapid progress in securing a jury as were the Californians present, as the Delaware courts do not waste any time in trial preliminaries. l Mrs Botkin, attired in black, and her sister were almost the first persons in the court room. The defendants appearance is not as healthful as when she was ar rested Lack of fresh air has given her an unwonted pallo' and she seems to lack the vitality and vivacity which were her predominant characteristics when she was first accused of the crime for which she is now on trial. She takes an active interest in the court proceedings most of the time, but frequently assumes an in different attitude and lapses into an easy position When the jurors were interro- gated on their Scruples as to inflicting capital punishment on woman she scanned each face intently, and when the talesman declares he is already convinced of her guilt she looks at him with defiant Scorn.
 Once yesterday she seemed to feel the gravity of her position. When Assistant District Attorney Hosmer told the tales men they were to be examined on their fitness to pass. judgment on Mrs. Corde- lia Botkin, who sits here, charged with administering poison which caused the death of Mary Elizabeth Dunning," she dropped her head on her hand, remaining tor had completed reading the indictment
 All the witnesses in the case have been ordered to be present at 2 p. m. to-day. Unless present plans are changed John B. testify for the prosecution.
 Attorney Knight for the defense said week. He will make every effort toward a quick trial, as he feels absolutely cer- tain the defendant will be acquitted Mr. Knight denies the report published in an afternoon paper that he will withdraw from the case as soon as the jury is completed. He will continue in charge of the defense until the case Is finally dis posed of.
 Promptly at 10 o'clock Judge Cook en- tered the court room and Bailiff Wheeler rapped for order. Mrs. Botkin, her sis had taken their seats in front of the bar several minutes before the hour set for the beginning of the trial. Assistant Dis trct Attorney Hosmer arrived a moment behind the Judge and he was followed an instant later by Chief of Police Lees and J. F. Cunning, the principal witness for the prosecution. Dunning passed direct ly behind the woman accused of poisoning his wife and took a seat immediately in front or the Jury box, in plain view of his former inamorata and the whole audience He was recognized by a number of peo- pie and subdued buzz which followed his appearance caused every eye to turn in ms Qlrectlon. Then a couple of hundred fnquisitive glances were alternately fo- cused on him and on the defendant, who sat sat, With .ll downcast eyes, gazing abstract gloves. Mrs. Botkin looked up at this interesting juncture and saw Dunning CO., the same instant Cunning raised his eyes and squarely met the quizzical glance of f the woman, once his friend, but no sign their faces. Neither of the prfncinaIs in the. sensational trial showed any per ,,aIloas turnation or gave any indication of ner- both must go through.
 Mrs: Botkin, in response to whispered question from Lawyer Wheeler nodded ing toward the gallery. Wheeler n1Ideed Knight and the two legal luminaries so13 ssc113rnfuily scrutinzed the man who will with their client and why he believes she may be murderess.
 w nile this silent and semi-dramatic scene was being enacted the court officials were busy preparing to proceed with the preIiminaries of the selection of a iurv Judge Cook ordered spectators to take seats in the gallery and leave the down stairs seats for jurymen As soon as or der was restored his Honor formally call ed the case.
 MT. Hosmer did likewise adding that Al torney General R. H. White of Delaware fd had arrived in the city, and he wished him to be associated in the prosecution or the defendant. The defense acouiesced in the request, and a few moments later. ,pnedais Mnen MT, White entered, he was formally beside MT. Hosmer. Court Clerk Tolle called the roll, of the talesmen who had been bee Iaus. summoned IT for jury duty, and the Twelve talesmen took seats in the ilrv box, and the prosecuting attorney arose and read the formal indictment charging Cordelia Botkin with the willful murc P of Mary Elizabeth Dunning. Mrs. Rot kin sat with bowed head while the in- T1erment Words poaen Tas being pead and when the were uttered she nervously drummeedd edln n,, the arms of her chair. She remained in meditative attitude for several min,,tas ,. 1 after the conclusion of this formalitv h,,9 took renewed interest in the proceedings when the examination of jurors com. menced. ih- | In examining the talesmen as to tbo,r fitness to serve as jurors in this famo1is ease, Prosecutor Hosmer asked each one If he believed in capital punishment ana if he had any conscientious ecr,,nlaa ana against infiicting the death penalty uno,, ann woman provided she was convicted of HUI SAci. I1c dlSO lHterrOSdteQ the jurors on the consideration they would give cir
 cumstantiai evidence, and what weight would De given to that evidence as com pared with direct testimony. With few | exceptions the answers were all satisfac- tory to the prosecution. and the juror was turned over to the defense for examina- | tiop.
 | Usually in murder trials an out line of the defense can be obtained | by the nature and import of the questions put to the jurors by the defendants counsel; but Attorney Knight