The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-01-05
MRS. B0TKIN GOES FOR LIFE.
The jury. After a Fey Hours De1iborNiions
Returns y verdict OF Murder In the
First Degree.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 31.-Rathor 10
the general surprise of those who hays
followed the Botkin trial and TO the
entire dismay of the defendant and
her attorneys, Mrs. Cordelia Botkfn
was Friday night found guilty Of rnur-
/ der in the first degree for causing the
death of Mrs. John P. Dunning by
sending a box Of poisoned candy TO
/ her temporary home in Dover, Del.
( The condemned murderess will be
spared the ignominous death on the
gallows, however, the jury that found
her guilty imposing also the penalty
of life imprisonment. The verdict
was unexpected. An acquittal was
confidently awaited by the defense,
while the prosecution feared a disa-
greement. Rumors had been in. circu-
lation ;hat several Of the jurors strong
" favored the defense, and that their
opinions were too firmly grounded to
be capable of change. Although tho
jury was only out four hours. more
than one of which was devoted to
dinner, it was currently reported FRI
day night that the verdict was the re-
suit of n compromise. The sex Of the
prisoner made such conclusion salts
factory to the jurors.
Considering the unexpectedncss OF
tlo yo,d;o. M~e Dotl.;, bon, boreolf
well in hand when her fate was am
nounccd. Not until the iurymen and
most OF the spectators had left the
court room did she give evidence Of
collapse. Then she sank back half
fainting, but speedily recovered when
given glass Of water.
The jury retired at 300 p. M, but
soon after was taken to dinner in
charge of deputy from the shcriff's
ence was 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 gone over and
prolonged discussion followed. II 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 II jurymen
were not in accord and that before
unanimity was arrived at compro-
mise was effected.
At just about o'clock word was sent
to Judge Carroll Cook that the jury
was prepared to make a report. Court
was Immediately convened. and at 9:l5
o'clock, just four hours after the case
had been placed in its hands, the jury
stated, through it's foreman, that an
agreement had been reached, the YER /
dict being that Mrs. Botkin, accused OK
killing Mrs. John Z. Dunning by
means of poisoned candy, sent through /.
the mails, was guilty of murder in the
first degree. In accordance with tho
laws Of California, which empowers I.
the jury to decide between hanging
and imprisonment in such cases, the
penalty was fixed at Imprisonment for
life.
While at no time during the trial had
Mrs. Botkin expressed herself rs antici- .
pating such a verdict, she received it
with remarkable calmness, exhibiting
no trace of emotion, though She sat
close to her sister, Mrs. Roberts, and
seemed to look to her for sympathy.
After the jury had been polled in the
usual manner, Judge Cook announced
that sentence would be pronounced on .
Saturday, January T. lie then re-
nanded her to the custody Of the shcr-
IF to be imprisoned in the branch
county Jail until called TO receive sem
tence when she will be transferred to
The state penitentiary.