Evening journal., 1901-03-28
SAYS MRS. BOTKIN
HAS IMPROVED
Accused MurdereSS Of Dover
Women Expects Release
A Sketch Of The Woman and Her Sur
TOundiBgS As Seen by a
Visitor
A San Francisco dispatch says:

tors viii see a vastly different woman
from the one who was arrested three
years ago. Then Mrs. Botkin was sesm-
lingly Of the earth, earthly-a SNUG.
Isclf-satisiied, cunning little woman, as
Il fun OF funny little aifectations as a por-
lcupine of quilts. Now sorrOw, or per-
haps remorse, repentance, resignation
what you will-have drenchod all
trace of basencas-a round. cheery face.
with a ponsive smile and a settled
peace and gentleness.
A woman who saw her a day or two
ago at San Quentin speaks OF Mrs. Bot
kin as follows:
There was no trace of excitement
or elation over the news that she Is to
have a new trial. as she talked to me OF
her hopes in the glOamlng.
Tam no longer a woman OF moods
she explained.
You know. Of course, what ] called
to see YOU about?"
Yes she said: the decision was
ltelephoncd me this afternoon. IL did
not come as a surprise was expect
ing it. l felt sure that when Hon was
lglyen a new trial and Brandes that my
case would get rehearing.
And are you gladg"
Yes; / am glad that the decision
is what IL is-the granting Of a new
ltral instead OF q decision saying that
the California courts have no jurisdic-
| tiOn In my case. A new trial will be
lvindication.
Mrs. Botkln seems sarcnely conf
| dent that this new trial can come to
lonly one end, and that is what /
want. To be liberated under any other
lthe courts have no iurlsdiction-wOuld
be no satisfaction 10 me. It would
llcave the matter I'm doubt | would 20
out of prison with the shadow of tho
murder charge stlll upon me. And
when | go frca-there was the ring OF
perfect faith I'm the when wish it
TO be without that shadow
SEEMS IN GOOD HEALTH.
"Airs. Botkln is the same plump
llittle rubber ball OF woman she was
-plumper, indeed, for she con-
fessos 10 q gain of twenty-five pounds
during her prison life. Her skin is
clear, her eyes are bright, there are no
Hines from her long brooding or bitter
ness or discomfort; there is no prison
lpall0r. She looks wholesome and
lcheorful. but with the chcarfulnas
there are gravity and patience and
! gcntleness that were not In her face
before. IL is the look OF one who
sleeps well and thinks unmoubling
thoughts.
"She received me I'm her roOm--a
room spOtlessly clean and dal nty, bare
and white as thh floor with q white
iron bed a prottiiy draped dressing
table, cosy Old-fashiOned rocker, a
] INIfl Ito. "a
lonosOmely for one. a screen and cush-
ions and books and magazines and
pictures and knicknacks. all pretty and
uncstentatious and tasteful and fem'-
Ininc. There are window bars, and
lpotted plants bowl of viOlots on the
tabl7 and jars of great. splendid pur-
plo flcur-dc-lis from the prison garden.
/ The windows are covered with colOred
paper that gives them staincd-glass
leifoct, almost Of cathedral windOwa.-
land almost hides the bars.
HAS HOME COMFORTS.
"'In this room, she said, have
llivcd my prison life. IL was given to
me bare, and everything in it l sup
lplied or imprOvised myself. l look
after 30 myself, and even prepare my
own food here My sister supplies me
with what l need.
Il prepare my dinner usually about
IA o'ciock-always Of vegetables, fruits
land cereals for l have eaten no meat
lsince / have been here. After dinner
] read and write. / have a time for
everything. I have my days systoma-
liizcd-and even my reading give so
much of my reading time TO law and
$50 much to light reading. Time has
FrfNf fuIl nod ftrt ] IHII
work for myself until IL seemed as if
Il could not get a days task DOM ln
lday and often l have been so occupied
THAT / have forgotten that l was a
prisoner. 1t is because have re-
sources within myself
District Attorney Byington says
THAT he viii at once take steps 10 bring
lthe Botk.n case TO retrial at an early
day.
"'We cannot compel the attendance
of the witnesses from Delaware, Mr.
lByingtOn says, but we shall use every
leffort to bring them here II it be
ltrue. as has been reported TO me, that
Tho witnesses who attended the first
trial rcfuas TO return, then we shall at
tompt TO obtain others who are ac-
lquainted with the facts We must have
witnesses from Delaware TO prove the
existence OF poison in the candy, the
! condition Of the package when 10 reach
led Dover, and that tina poison caused
b the death of the person mentioned in
Ithe indictment as the victim Of the de-
lfendant's act. III wia obtain that much
from Delaware there will be no defect
in the prosecution, as the rest of the
proof is heue, and the case viii be as
: strong as it was at the former trial. II
what happened in Dover, Of course the
prosecution win not be sufficient to
warrant conviction. I hope and expect
that the Delaware witnesses will be
willing to come here again in the inter-
f. ests of Justice"