Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-01-07
GUILTY OF
...MURDER !
The Jury Satisfied That Mrs.
Is0tl>InS Was the MurdcrcSS
of Mrs. Cunning and
Mrs. Dcanc.

Last Friday night Mrs Cordcia Bot
llins was convicted of murder in the
first degree and the penalty fixed at life
imprisonment, for sending the poisoned
candy that caused thu death Of Mrs
Cunning and Mrs De.mc al Dover
several months ago The trial was held
in thu city Of san Francisco. cal but
4 il has been watched with interest by
( the people of the whole country.
1t j, Mrs. Botliin's Sex that saved her
from the gallows The jury retired at
I5.I5 and was out but four hours. one
hour of which was spent at dinner.
1 The laws of California empower jury
10 decide between hanging and life i'm
prismmcnt in first degree murder con
yictons The jury on the first ballot
stood ten for hanging and two for life
imprisonment The second ballot was
eleven for hanging and only ono for life
imprisonment But the one stood firm,
aud after much di-russi n the other
eleven went over t. him
The Court room was cleared just after
Mrs Botllin had announced to the
Deputy sheriff in a clear voice that She
was ready to 20 with him To prison.
when there occurred the only scns;l-
uonal incident of the evening The
condemned woman attempted to rise,
when suddenly She fell back into the
arms of Mrs. Rogers apparently hfelcS~.
but soon rallied and sat upand drumm, d
with her fingers on the table
In a few minute, She apparently shook
of all signs of excitement and quietly
accompanied the Deputy Sheriff from
the Court room
Personally. She had the utmost conf
dcncc that she would be acquitted and
that She would spend New Years day
with her sister. Her attorneys were Of
the same opinion. and showeda remark
able confidence III failure of the prose
cuiion to make out ease throughout
the entire trial
REMARK ABI.E CRIME FuR LOVE
1t was Mrs Botkin's love for John p
Dunning that led her to prison one
day several years ago, while he was
manager for the Associated Press, he
got of his bicycle to fix the seat and
SAW woman laughing at him They
spoke, and became such close friends
that together they went 10 the theatres,
the races and lived intimately. Her
Low" soon became a jealous one, and
Dunning increased the feeling by telling
her of his wife He left her and went
Ia Cuba aS a correspondent. Then there
began series Of anonymous letters
flowing in upon Mrs. Cumming. who was
living at Dover. Del, with her father
former Congressman Pennington These
told of the cScapades Of her husband.
Several months ago Mrs Cunning re-
ceivcd box OF chocolates. in which was
a lady'S handkerchief aud note read
ing with love for yourself and baby.
Mrs c." Several of the family ate the
candy. and as a result Mrs Cunning
and Mrs Dcaue. her sister. died
1t developed on trial that Mrs. Botkin
sent the anonymous letters and the
candy. which contained arsenic. 50 that
She could get Dunning to rcturn,to her.
either after the divorce or death of Mrs,
Cunning. She purchased the candy
and handkerchief in san Francisco.
sending the fatal box by mail
The State Of Delaware offered $1,000
reward for the arrest and conviction of
the poisoncr Of the Dover women, and
this will re- paid Is soon as it is deter
mined who is entitled to the money.
The feeling in Delaware against Gov
crnor Budd, of California, at the time
he refused Mrs Botkin's cxtrIdition to
Delaware has changed to one If salts
faction 1t would have cost consdcra-
BILE 10 bring the san Francisco witnesses
here. and the authorities are perfectly
content. especially Attorney General
White
Mrs. BotkinS II this writing, Thurs
day is very i'll and the doctors say She