The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-04-01
Mrs. Botkin Tells Judge Cook in Open Court
That She Insists on Verdict From
Men Already Accepted.

Although Jacob Goetjen. one of :he
jurors engaged in trying Mrs. Cordelia
Bctkin for the murder Of Mrs. John r.
Dunning al Dover. Del. in the month
OF August, 1855. has confessed that an
attempt has been made to .bribe him,
the panel originally selected will con-
tinue and pass on the guilt cor inno-
cence of the accused woman. Mrs. Boz
kan is charssd with sending a box OF
poisoned candy from San Fran
cisco in August. 1891. TO Mrs.
DGnning at Dover, DEL of which the
latter and her sister. Mrs. Joshua u
.Deane. oart0Ok and died from the @f-
. 9rcts. on the first trial the defendant
was convicted and sentenced 70 life inn
pglsOnment, but the verdict was re-
ysgsed by the Supreme Court.
The determination yesterday tn con-
TIME with the present jury was as
much III q surprise in it's way as hal
been the revelations brought out on the
previous day ny Judge Cook AUD the
testimony IA support of ihenT intro
duced By Chief Of Police Whitman and
Detective stephen Bunner. Then il was
shown that GOetien, the culpable juror.
had told she Chief Of Police that an
effort had been made 10y some indefinite
man 10 serure his assistance IN '.hauc :
ing" the JuTy. and he claimed the state
nsent was made Ia him that already
four jurors had been secured. The price
he claims 20 have been offered was $40.
Judge Cook on Tuesday evening
clearly fOreshaGored his Willingness Ia
dismiss the fury ana begin with a new
panel. To this no objection was en-
tered, and Attorney knight for the de-
Tense made a motion that the jury he
discharged. II was coDcurred in by the
prosecution, and the Judge all bat
made the necessary order. Finally he
announced that he wished to look up
authorities so that the order would To-
i'm proper form. Then the jury was
placed in the custody of the Sheriff,
with the understanding that it was to
be discharged in the morning on the
reconvening of court
ACCEPTS THE JURY.
The surprise came at the opening of
the morning session. The jury was not
present in court, having been. conduct
=
sherifs by order of Judge Cook pending
the preliminary proceedings. Attorney
knight arose and said in an unusually
quiet tone:
May it please the court, the defend
ant, Mrs. Cordelia Botkin, refuses to be
bound by the admission and motion Of
her attorneys yesterday, and says she
will not be bound by it and she is here
10 speak for herself, and 1 viii with
draw that motion and Mr.. MCGOWAN
will concur in the statement"
4 concur in the withdrawal Of the
motion" said MCGOWAN.
Judge Cook turned to Mrs. Botkin
and asked her if the statement were
true. There was surprise in his manner
and tone. At a nod from Knight, Mrs.
Botkin arose and in a clear voice said:
independently Of any influence or
advice from my counsel, I demand a
verdict from this jury
No ALTERNATIVE LEFT.
The statement from the defendant
left no alternative for the court. The
panel must be accepted on the demand
of the defendant. Otherwise she could
properly plead that she had been once
in jeopardy, which claim had been ex-
pressly waived by her attorneys on the
preceding day.
Assistant District Attorney Ferral in
terjected a nRmark in the hush that
followed the statement of Mrs. Botkin
which started the proceedings going
again.
i suppose your Honor will withdraw
the remark you made said he, THAT
you would set aside a verdict of guilty
II obtained2"
"Of course" said Judge Cook.
THAT was made in view Of what was
stated here yesterday" continued Fer
raj
The Judge ignored the question. Then
still in tones Of doubt he said
IF they want to proceed with this
3Gry. very well Call the jury in
The jury was brought into the court