The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-04-02
Defendant Spends
a Day on the
Stand.
Gross
L. Examined by
Byington..


T. with an .uplifted- veil and with no
attempt to disguise either features or
! voice, Mrs. .Cofdelia Botkin occupied
the witness stand yesterday in her own
/ defense. From general standpoint
she was an adfnira BILE. witness. Under
direct and cross examination she never
waTeree in, her tale of innocence. Re
{ lsting 20 sending the box Of: poisoned
candy from this city which caused the
death OF Mrs John p Dunning and
Mrs. Joshua d. Deane at Dover, Del;
Mrs, ;Rotkin protested her Innocence
il such: an impressive manner that even
the jury showed signs of belief.
She was the only witness called By
1.-THE defense yesterday. When District
Attorney Byington had concluded a rig
orous cross-examination of. the defend
ant. Attorney Knight made a motion
for adjournment until Monday morn.
ing. IL was combated strenuously by
the prosecution. which insisted on an
! immediate showing by the defense.
Judge Cook ruled. that the defense was
entitled to a postponement, and fur
Their hearing of the case will be con-
tinued until Monday morning. 1t was
Cook Invariably. refuses to. hold court
on Saturday. and<he adjournment, con-
trary 10 the wish of the prosecution.
cannot affect the case from time
standpoint.
EXCELLENT WITNESS.
Generally speaking. Mrs. Botkin was
an excellent witness in her own behalf
She was thoroughly cool during the
trying ordeal and for the most part
She gave her testimony in a clear voice.
When she first went. on the stand she
was indistinct, and Attorney Knight
asked her 10 speak so that the jury
7 could hear and to talk 20 the jurymen.
Thereafter she raised her voice and
the rest Of her testimony was delivered
as metaflically as the sound heard out
side OF a silversmith's shop in Toxic.
Often she raised her great brown gray
eyes to- the jury box with an appeal
in them. bu4 every juror avoided her
gaze hurriediy. The observation of the
jurors by the defendant was particular
ly marked during the direct exanina-
tion and may have been due TO the
admonition of her counsel regarding
addressing the jury, On the cross-ex-
animation by the District Attorney she
looked steadily at him and never once
turned 4 glance toward the men in
whose judgment rests the balance of
: her. conviction or acquittal.
=. Mrs. Rotkin's expected appearance on
the witness stand in her own defense
caused an unusual crowd to collect in
! an endeaxor TO gain admission to the.
courtroom. AS early as Z O'Clock in:
4 -. inc raf md
; men. was congregated outside of the
/ Hall OF Justice. Admission to the build
! ing. was. denied TO. all who could not
> entrance. Long before the doors were
Iopened a line OF expectant ones fringed
. the corridors and fought for places in
the line. OF these not half were
admitted: Considerable favoritism was
shown in the matter Of admittance and
the private door to the courtroom
/ through Judge Cooks chambers poured
Z a. stream OF well gowned women into
J the courtroom. They filled all the va
want seats. inside the bar and two rows
! Of. chairs outside The under Sherihs
7 said that these women were friends Of
! Judge Cook, but. the latter declared
that he did not know them. He said
&. he had not given a single person per-
mission to have. entrance to the court
+ room during the Botkin trial in adj
= vance of. the regular manner OF admit
! ting persons to the hearing.
+ e. DEFENSE FORCED. TO WAIT.
! When Judge Cook appeared on the
bench principally to the minute of the
previous adjournment he found Dis
I trict:. Attorney Byingtcn missing. Mrs.
Botkin. was in her usual seat, fianked
! by her sister on one side and on the