The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1899-01-07
PRISON FOR A WOMAN.
Mrs. Cordelia Botkin Is Given q
Life Term.
Convicted by n California Jury OF
Causing the Death of Mrs. Dun-
ming Through Poison Sent Her
Victim by Mail.

San Francisco, Dec. 31.--Rather to The
general surprise of those who have iol-
lowed the Botkin trial and to the entire
dismay of the defendant and her a,tor-
neys, Mrs. Cordelia Botkin was Friday
night found guilty of murder in the first
degree for causing the death of Mrs.
John p. Dunning by sending box of
poisoned candy to her temporary home
in Dover, De- The condemned muir
Geress will be spared an ignominious
death on the gallows, however, the jury
that found her guilty imposing also the
penalty of life imprisonment. The YER
Dict was unexpected. An acquittal was
CT nfidently awaited by the defense,
while the prosecution feared disagree
n,ent. Although the jury was only out
four hours, more than one of which was
devoted to dinner, it is currently re-
ported that the verdict was the result
of a compromise. The sex of the piis-
oner made such conclusion satisfac-
tory to the jurors.
1t is not known how many ballots
we're taken before final agreement
was reached, blu. there are rumors that
at first the opinions of the ~ jury
men were not in accord, and that before
unanimity was arrived at compromise
was effected. At just about nine o'clock
word was sent to Judge Carroll that
tie jury was prepared to make report.
Court was Immediately convened, and
at 9:15 o'clock, just four hours after the
case had been placed in it's hands, the
jury stated, through its foreman, that
an agreement had been reached, the
verdict being that Mrs. Botkin, ac-
cused of killing Mrs. John P. Dunning
BIZ means of poisoned candy sent
through the mails, was guilty of muir
der in the first degree. In accordance
with the laws of California, which en-
power the jury to decide between hang
ing 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 as antici-
pating such 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 z. He then re-
rnanded the prisoner to the custody OF
the sheriff, to be imprisoned in the
branch county Jail until called to re-
ceive her sentence, when she will be
transferred to the state penitentiary.
The courtroom was cleared when, just
after Mrs. Botkin had announced to
the deputy sheriff in clear voice that
she was ready to go with him to prison,
occurred the only sensational incident
Of the evening. The condemned woman
was about to rise, when her highly
strung nerves seemed to relax and snd-
denly she fell back in the arms of Mrs.
Roberts. 1t was thought she had faint
cd, but in a moment glass of water re-
vived her and she resumed her usual APP
rearance. though the intense nervous
strain was still apparent in the twitch-
irg Of her facial muscles and the quick
movement of her hands as her fingers
drummed on the table. In few min
utes she apparently shook off all signs
OF excitement aud quietly accompanied
the deputy sheriff from the courtroom.
The Crime and It's Motive.
[John p. Dunning formerly resided in IAN
Francisco. When the Spanish-American
war broke out he went as a newspaper cor
respondent to Cuba. His family moved to
Dover. Del. One evening shortly after,
while entertaining her sister, Mrs. Deane,
and some friends. Mrs. Dunning received
box which had come by mail. 1t con-
tained candy and a handkerchief. There
was a note pinned to the handkerchief
reading: For your little daughter" Mrs.
Dunning and her guests ate of the candy.
Nine persons Immediately became sick.
Mrs. Dunning and Mrs. Deane died. but the
others were saved with difficulty An in
vestigation followed. and at the trial evil
dence was introduced showing that Mrs.
Botkin had bought the box In San Fran
cisco and that the writing accompanying
the handkerchief was hers The alleged
motive for the crime was Mrs. Botkin's In
fatuation for Dupning and her belief that
Mrs. Dunning had had him sent to Cuba to