Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-29
ATTORNEY KNIGHT MAKES A POW
ERFUL PLEA IN HER BEHALF.
DWELLS ON LACK OF MOTIVE
CALLS MRS. BoTkIN An .Iy>ocE,r.
PERsECUTED WOMAN
Denouuces Witnc.ses Who Testified
Tor State-AttOrney Whites Ar
Eumcnt for Conviction of
Mrs. Botkin-Big Crowd
Attends.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 2s-ThIs was
the most Interesting day In the Botkiu
case since the trial of the woman for the
murder Of Mrs. Dunning commenced The
proceedings opened this morning with an
argument by Attorney George White. Of
Delaware, for the prosecution. M- White
addressed the jury quietly, and proceed ed
TO review the testimony brought out dur
ing the trial. He called attention 10 the
chain OF circumstantial evidence against
MIS- Botkin. and said that if the
jury believed the evidence of the
witnesses for the prosecution, then Mrs
Botkin must be convicted of murder in the
hrst degree. Mr.. White dwelt upon The
awfulness Of the crime and the unsus-
pecdng defenseless condition Of the vic
inns His argument lasted all the morn
ing, and. during its progress. Mrs. Botkin
Hslened most attentively. As Mr. White
coAcluded, she leaned her head on her
arms and seemed to be most affected.
AT tie afternoon session. Attorney
'eorSe knight made the principal argu-
ment for the defense. Mr.. knights rep
utation as an orator and his ability as a
criminal lawyer attracted an enormous
crowd TO the courtroom. Many prominent
attorneys were in attendance, in addition
10 many well known citizens. Mr.. knight
talked for nearly three hours, and endeav-
ored 10 convince the jury of the weak knees
OF the states case and the lack of motive
lor the committing of such a crime nv
-hrs. Botkin. Mr.. Knight urged the Jury
not 10 be influenced by the outcry caused
by the recent acquittal of Walter RossIer
the Tennessee soldier who murdered an in.
offensive citizen Of San Francisco. and re-.
ierred 10 the Maybrick and Dreyfus cases
as instances Of suffering OF innocent people
because of public opinion.
Mr. knight denounced DR. pisbor, 81.
poNer physician who attended the poison
"a woman, and was most bitter in his con- |
demnation of the methods of the San Fran
cisco police. Mr.. Dunning. the husband of |
one OF the murdered women also came i'm |
!"r Abefal snare of the attorneys vitrioI- |
1c sentences. Particular attention was caII-
70 TO the fact that Mrs BotkiD. the al |
ieged author of the anonymous letters thar
were mailed IN San Francisco in June. was
III EUREKA Cal, all of that month. and
,ouid mol nave mailed the letters here
NrS. Grace Harris. who identified Mrs
botkin as the woman who purchased The
hahdkerchief. which was found in the box
o' poisoned candy, was denounced as an |
uhtruthful and dissolute woman. The tes-
tlmony OF the candy girls who identified
Mrs. Botkin as the woman who purchased |
the candy was also vigorously attacked bv
the lawyer
In speaking about the alleged purchase
OF arsenic by Mrs. Botkin. on June
Knight sought TO show the improba biIity
OF her Keeping the poison until JULY %
when she purchased the candy He did NOT
however, directly deny the purchase of ar
senic.
writing Expert Ames. who came h.re
from New York and testified that Mrs
SotKin was the author of the ANONYMOUS
letters and also addressed the wrapper on
me candy, was denounced az coming here
lno testifying for the prosecution because
ne was paid TO testify that way.
MT. knight laid great stress upon the ,
act that the arsenic found in the candy {
vas in lump form, whereas Druggist Gray
estifed that Mrs. Botkin purchased DOW !
iered arsenic He also said there was To
egal proof that Mrs. Dunning had died c
" arsenical poisoning. An autopsy. lie
aio was necessary to prove the cause of :
'eath IN any poisoning case. Mr.. KrfEbr
ohtehded that the prosecution had failed /
. snow a motive on Mrs. Botkin part
OF Hle commission of the crime. IL had 5
,tef SHOWN during the trial thai Nrs
'otkin had persistently refused To .,IirH. d
ier husband 10 procure divorce and his
howed that she had no desire to mar. ! ],
fr. Dunning " mail 1.
MI. knight closed with 4 brilliant perora- I
ION. IN which he described Mrs Rotkir
5 an innocent prosecuted woman aTd I
e urged the jury 10 aCquit her of me :
orIlpIe suspicion that had rested on her
.rourh !r the Vaccinations of the police. 7
'o-horrow Attorney MCGOWAN will make
u argument for the defense. and T,i"triAt
,lofhey Hossmer VIII close for the prosa |
utloh- II * expected that the ga Sn viii
given 10 the Jury Friday morning. :,