Evening journal., 1898-12-13
JOHN P. DUNNING TALKS.
WILL TELL THE WHOLE STORY
OF HIS LIFE IN COURT.

OF 6io LIZ IN COURT.
WANTS THE MURDERER or HIS
WIFE PUNISHED-sA HE HAS
NOT GONE TO THE BAD-DELA-
WARE WITNESSES WE'LL AND
EAGER TO GET HOMIE.
SAN Francisco, Cal, Dec. lS.-In
speaking Of the trial Of Mrs. CordeMa
Botkin Tor the murder Of his wife,
John p. Dunning says:
Il am here to give testimony in
court and not to the newspapers.
have been in the newspaper business
many years. aud often criticised people
whom l believed ought to have talkea
for publication; but ] know how il Is,
and even here among my friends, the
men ] worked With, shall not give
The substance of my evidence until
am on the witness stand. Then I shall
ten al, and the lawyers and the news
papers can say what they please about
me. Everything evil that could be said
has been printed from here to New
York, and ] am calioused TO further
attacks. I have not gone to the devil,
and am not going there"
when ! leIt here last March admit
was in a bad way. bul l went TO
New York to get a fresh START. From
there l went to Havana, where I was
the Associated Press correspondent
prior to the war. When hosihties
were opened / went to Santiago and
was aG through the campaign, ana
took as many chances as any corre-
spondent / underwent terrific ordeals
and was working to recover my former
standing and WAS successful. My only
desire was to return TO New York.
have my famiiy with me and again be
happy This desire WAS an but fulfill
ed, when my wife was murdered when
the news reached me / WAS in Puerto
Rico. returned home Immediately.
went % Delaware and told the authori-
ties everything / knew which had any
bearing ON the crime. Since August
] have had several good offers to re-
turn to Cuba, but ] refused in order
that / might come here when needed
and not be accused Of attempting to
shield a criminal with whom / had
been formerly associated. 1t is true
wrote - Mrs. Botkin, but the charge,
by nnuendo, that ] fn any way con-
spired to murder my wife is the gross
ess injustice that could be done any
man. ! am subject to criticism,
know. butt l am not going to let that
deter me from laying bare the worst
chapter in my whole life. ! want the
murderer Of my wife punished
The Delaware witnesses who are
here TO testify against Mrs. Botkin are
wen and the centre Of considerable in
terest
When the party left Delaware ex-
Congressman Pennington, who is well
along in years, was not in the best OF
health, and his relatives and friends
feared the trip and it's attendant worry
would be TOO great strain upon his
strength. Fortunately, his indispos-
tion was only temporary, and he reach
ed the end OF the journey in better
health and spirits than when he
started
j. d. Deane, whose grief over the
terrible death Of his wife is undimin-
ished, expressed himself with extreme
bitterness.
We an feel bitterly over this case
and think the murderess Of my wifi
and her sister should have been SEN
TO Delaware for trial.
I'VE an want TO get through witt
the case and return home as quichl,
as possible. Drs. Bishop and Downe
have left their practice; Attorney-Gen
eral White had to turn his official an
private affairs over to others, and ID
Wolfe is forced TO neglect his dntle
while out here. We hope the trial wi
not be delayed, and that we can stai
homeward in ten days, or two week
at the farfhest."
Last night at meeting of the r.