The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-29
BOTKIN PROSECUTION SCORED
BITTER DENUNCIATION OF THE
SAN FRANCISCO POkICE.

strongly Pointed Out-Attorney
knight Contended the Prosecu-
ton Failed to Show "a MOtive-At-
torney White Opened the Argu-
ment With strong Presentation
of the states Case.
San Francisco, Dec. 2S-This was the
most interesting day in the Botkin case
since the trial of the woman for the muir
der of Mrs. Dunning commenced.
The proceedings opened this morning
with an argument by Attorney General
White OF Delaware for the prosecution.
Mr.. White addressed the jury and quietly
proceeded TO review the testimony brought
out during the trial. He called attention
TO the chain of circumstantiaI evidence
against Mrs. Botkin, and said that if the
jury believed the evidences of the wit
resses for the prosecution, then Mrs
Botkin must be convicted of murder in
the first degree.
Mr.. White Dwelt upon the aw-
fulness of the crime and
the unsuspecting defenseless condition of
the victims. His argument lasted all
through the morning, and during it's pro
gress Mrs. Botkin listened attentiveIy As
4Ir. White concluded. she leaned her head
on her arms and. seemed to be greatly
affected.
Al 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.
knight Presented Defense.
Many prominent attorneys were in at
tendance, in addition to many well known
citizens. Mr.. Knight talked for nearly
three hours and endeavored to convince
the jury of the weakness of the prosecu-
TONS case ard the lack of a motive by
Mrs Botkin for committing such a crime
Mr.. Knight urged the jury not TO be inhu-
enced by the cutlery caused by the recent
acquittal OF Walter Rosser, the Tennessee
soldier who murdered an inoffensive citi-
zen of San Francisco, and referred to the
Maybrick and Dreyfus cases as instances
of suffering of innocent people because of
public opinion.
Mr.. knight denounced Mr. Bishop, the
Dover physician, who attended the poison
ed woman, and was most bitter in his con-
demnation of the methods of the San
Francisco police. Mr.. Dunning, the hus-
band of one of the murdered women. also
in, cFaY IF h.
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 In
Eureka, Cal, all of hat month, and could
not have possibly mailed the letters here.
Mrs. Grace Harris, who identified Mrs.
Botkin as the woman who purchased the
handkerchief which was found in the box
of poisoned candy, was denounced as an
untruthful and dissolute woman. The
testimony of the candy girls who identi-
fled Mrs Botkin as the woman who pur-
chased the candy were also vigorously at
tackled by the lawyer.
In speaking about the alleged purchase
Of arsenic by Mrs. Botldn on June 1,
Knight sought. to show the mprobability
of her keeping the poison until July 81,
when she purchased the candy. He did
not, however, directly deny the purchase
of arsenic.
Writing Expert Denounced.
Writing Expert Ames, who came here
from New York and testified that Mrs.
Botkin was the author of the anonymous
letter, and also addressed the wrapper on
the candy, was denounced as coming here
and testfyng for the prosecution be-
cause he was paid to testify in that way
Mr.. knight laid great stress upon the
fact that the arsenic found in the candy
was in lump form, whereas Druggist Grey
testified that Mrs. Botkin purchased pow
dered arsenic He also said there was no
legal proof that Mrs Dunning had died
of arsenical poisoning. An autopsy, he
said was necessary to prove the cause
of death in any poisoning case
Mr. Knight contended that the prose
cuton had failed to show a motive on Mrs.
Botkn's part for the commission Of the
crime
Mr. Knight closed with a brilliant per
o1ation in Which he described Mrs. Bot
kin as an innocent prosecuted woman, |
and he urged the jury to acquit her of
the horrible suspicion that had rested upon
her through the Vaccinations of the po-
dee.
Tomorrow Attorney : MCGOWAN viii
make an argument for the defense and Dis !
trict Attorney HOsmer will close for the
prosecution. 1t is expected that the case
via be given to the jury Friday morning.