New-York tribune., 1901-03-17
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
VISIT OF CHICAGO MEN TO SAN FRAN
CISCO-ENTERTAINED AT DINNER
MRS. BOTKIN'S NEW TRIAL.
[Br TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

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the men who were members of the excursion
Among the rich men who have seen nearly all
parts of California Marshall Field. of Mar
shall Field & Co W. T. Baker. owner of the
Temple Building, Chicago; J. V. FarweH. of the
big drygoods house of j. V. Farwel & Co;
James II. Eckels. president of the Chicago Ma
tonal Bank: Robert T. Lincoln, president OF the
Pullman Palace Car Company; Edward P Rip
ley president of the Santa Fe Railroad Com
pany; William ]. Chalmers. of Fraser & Chal-
mers manufacturers of mining machinery: FL
bridge F. Keith president Of the Metropolitan
National Bank; General Wesley Merritt and
others. The visitors shown about the city
and harbor to-day. and this evening a great
banquet was given to them by the San Francisco
| commercial bodies at the Hopkins Institute.
There were 30 at the table. Irving NJ. Scott.
builder of the battleship Oregon. presided. and
speeches made by Governor Gage Mayor
Phelan, WhiteIaw Reid and General Shafter, as
well as by E. f. Keith, A. C. Bartlett and Rob
ert T Lincoln for the visitors.
The State Supreme Court decision granting
new trial to Mrs. Cordelia Botkin. under SEN
tence Of life Imprisonment for poisoning, ex-
pected. but IT has excited much criticism The
decision is founded the few words of COM
ment by Judge Carroll Cook in his charge to the
jury declaring in effect that circumstantial evi-
{
first trial of the case cost a large sum. many
Of the witnesses were brought from Dover. Del,
where Mrs. Dunning and her sister victims of
the poisoning. lived The circumstantial evil
dence against the woman was overwhelming,
and the motive was supplied by her criminal
intimacy with John P Dunning. husband Of one
Of the victims. whom she hoped TO marry There
is little doubt of Mrs. Botkins second convic-
tion. as nearly all the witnesses can be secured
hIy+ he
Court will cost much money. and it Is a practical
reversal Of the former decision in the celebrated
Durrant case.
The investigation by Major Blakeney, super
intendent Of the Fort Point Life Saving Service,
Of the failure Of his men to afford any help to
the drowning passengers and crew Of the
steamer City Of Rio Janelro. proved 10 be a
farce. The life saving guard at Fort Point de-
cared he heard distress signal. although the
soldiers in the garrison at the fort testified they
were awakened by the prolonged blowing OF the
steamers whistle and also heard the cries OF the
passengers out of the fog. No bodies have yet
come ashore from the wreck. although several
articles OF the cargo have been recovered. None
Of the divers have vet located the wreck. though
the Pacific Mail Company still offers $1,000 to
the lucky diver who finds II. The hrst suit ror
damages against the Pacific Mail Company was
filed this week. 1t Is that of Mrs. Sarah Guyson
for $4,000 for the death Of her husband. Henry
Guyson and for personal effects lost in the
wreck.
The Rev. Or Arthur L. Brown. secretary OF
the Presbyterian Board Of Foreign Missions
sailed Yesterday for the Orient. where he eX-
poets to remain for fourteen months reorean-
izing mission affairs in china. japan and Corea
He estimates the PreSt,y yterian mission losses
in China at 500 600 but he says no effort VIII
be made by his society To secure large lndeiH-
mites.
/. Thomas H Williams. jr. and y. NJ Burns
are now practically absolute owners OF the Oak
land racing track. This week Williams houEht
the shares held by NJ. A Gunst and others.
Gunst and his associates desired - make a
compromise with the Tanforan and lnEleside
tracks but il Is understood Williams opposed
this policy. and now that he Is in complete con-
troll he viii carry on the warfare more hefcey
than ever.
Plans have been made for the new free library
building at San Jose. for which Andrew Carnegie /
ei iected in Normal Square, and It is hoped TO
have everything ready so that President Mckin-
ley may lay the cornerstone when ne visits san
Jose.
The estate of Mrs. Mary 3. Toland, amounting
To about S120,OO0. has been reduced one-half by
payments Of debts and COMPROMISES with claim
ants Half the residue goes 10 Hugh Huger
Toland. who is We'll known actor.
The death of Philip H RemnIard from injuries
sustained by falling from window OF Del
monicos restaurant, brought grief 10 the many
friends
his injuries We're serious II was thought by the
doctors he would recover because OF his fine
physique and excellent condition. He belonged
10 the Bohemian and other clubs and had a wide
acquaintance among business men
The new Crocker hotel, which is to be built by
the minor children Of the late Colonel Fred
Croker on the site OF the old Calvary Church, |
will be modelled the La Touraine Of Boston,
and will be OF the finest buildings in the
West. II will be twelve stories IN height, ana
will cost 81 10000. AS il will occupy the north
west corner of Powell and Geary SITS. facing
Union Square. It VIII ne one Of the conspicuous /
structures Of the city
Edward W Hopkins this week paid 100000
for small lot at the northwest corner Of Post
and Powell SITS. 30 by 90 feet This was at the
rate of $500 square foot.
o. D Baldwin has sold the old Donahue Bank
property. at the southeast corner Of California
and Montgomery SITS. for S51OOO an advance of
50 800 over the auction price. which he paid
last December. The new purchaser was the
American-Italian Bank.
The Highwayman" at the Columbia, has
drawn fair houses. hut has made no hit The
chief feature of next week is the Sembrich
Italian opera Company, which opens at the
Grand Opera House for two weeks Eight per-
forInances in all will be given.
The Pacific Mail company has made heavy
ont on freight and passenger rates To Panama
and ali Intermediate points. Freight rates, which
ranged from So to 81. have been reduced TO 81
a ton either weight or measurement. The cabin
nassanpar rate to Panama, formerly SltAi is cut
- S52 and other rates are slashed in proper
tior, This warfare is intended to drive out
new. lines which have met the cuts but cannot
long sustain such ruinous competition.
ROY DIES FROM TOIIN POISONING.
PHYSICIAN REPORTED CASE AS DEATH FROM