davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08
Jurors Tell of Deliberations and of
Insinuation of Bribery.

After the jurors had been discharged
by Judge Cook they Immediately re-
turned to the Palace Hotel to collect
their belongings, and soon afterward
left for their homes. Most of the men
were reluctant to discuss the case and
few of them had anything to say con-
cerning their deliberations. 1t appears
that during the six hours of delibera-
ton twelve ballots were taken. The
first ballot resulted in a disagreement,
five men voting for acquittal and seven
voting guilty. This ballot was taken
for the purpose of determining the
guilt or innocence of the accused and
with no view as to the penalty.
Balloting continued and many dis
cussions ensued One of the jurors in
particular stood firm in his belief that
Mrs. Botkin. should be given her lib
erty, and it was due to him that the
jury remained out as long as it did.
On the eleventh ballot a unanimous
vote of guilty was returned. Then the
penalty was fixed. All of the men stood
firm for the minimum punishment,
there being no one to- speak in favor
of the death penalty.
Juror Jacob Goetjen was questioned
regarding the attempt TO bribe him,
He was met at the hotel by. two MEM
bers of his family and hurried away,
ignoring the queries addressed to him.
He refused to state the circumstances
surrounding the alleged bribery or to
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
Nearly Six Years Have Elapsed Since
Mrs. Botkin's Arrest.

ntHs DONhln AIECSt.
The two trials OF Mrs Botkin. in both
Of which the verdicts were the same
have cost the city of San Francisco
nearly $50, 600, and have demanded in
one way or another the attention of the
judicial departments for five and a half
years. Mrs. Dunning died in Delaware
on August II, 1885, the day following
the death of her sister, Mrs. Deane.
who had also partaken of the poisoned
candy mailed to them by Mrs Botkin
Their deaths led 10 an investigation,
which was extended to this city and re-
suited in the indictment and arrest of
Mrs. Botkin early in November of the
same year. Her trial began before
Judge Cook. DecembeT 8, 1898. and
verdict of murder in thefirst degree was
rendered by the jury on December 80.
Immediately afterward her attorneys
took an appeal to the State Supreme
Court and were granted a new trial on
the ground that the lower court had
erred in its instructions to the jury on
the question OF circumstantial evidence
An appeal was also taken TO the United
States Supreme Court on questions of
this States jurisdiction in the case. but
the court ruled adversely TO the appel
liant.
The impaneling of a jury for the sec
ond trial began in February and the
nearing OF the case commenced on
March II. From its beginning to its
finish the case was fraught with excit-
ing incidents, the most sensational of
which was the declaration of Juror
Goetjen sthat he had been approached
with an offer Of money for verdict in
the interest Of the defendant Since then
the last jury has been kept constantly
together. sleeping at night i'm apart
ments at the Palace Hotel. under the
watchful eye of a Deputy Sheriff.
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08

state what condition he was in at the
time. The other jurors, while some Of
them admit that thev had an inkling
of the scandal, are emphatic in stat
ing that if Goetjen was approached he
men expressed their satisfaction in be-
ing released from their duty and most
CT them say they hope to never pass
through such an ordeal again.
II am we'll satisfied with the verdict
of the jury" said District Attorney
Byington, "and while worked hard for
and expected a verdict of hanging. still,
under the existing circumstances. 1 am
of the opinion that ample justice has
been done. 1t was a long and tedious
ordeal and a great strain on the prose
cution, yet we proved our case clearly
and beyond a doubt, and / am conf
dent that Mrs. CordeIia Botkin will
spend the remainder of her life in prison
for the heinous crime OF which she
stands convicted.
The defense may appeal the case to
the Supreme Court, but 1 am positive
the appeal will be fruitless. We have
proved beyond the shadow of a doubt
that she is the murderess of Mrs. John
P. Dunning, and she will have to suffer
for her crime. The evidence we intro
duced was strong at every point and the
chain of circumstances so we'll connect
ed that the attorneys for the defense
could not break it, try as they would.
The verdict is just one and triumph
for the people"
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08

what he deemed a most important bit
of testimony. He called attention to
the fact that in the letter to Governor
Budd, Mrs. Botkin asked for position
as nurse in the Philippines. whereas
Dewey had not yet entered Manila Bay
and there was no thought of sending
troops to the islands until some time
afterward.
She did not want to go to the Phil
ippines, but to Cuba, so as TO be near
Dunning," said the District Attorney.
Something has been said about J. p.
Dunning. 1 am not here to paIIiate
what he has done. Mrs. Botkfn has
said she dragged him from the gutter.
She did it by taking him to the race
track and back to her room. where she
filled him with whisky so that her son
had to put him to bed
John P. Dunning might have salts
fed Mr.. knight and Mr.. MCGOWAN il
he had been false to the memory of his
wife and had said, L will never go
back to California. I know she pois-
Oned my wife, but / will stay away
from California; / will not assist the
officers by announcing the truth from
the witness stand He said, L will
make some atonement. 1t will not be
a pleasant task to face Mr.. knight
jibes. 1 honor him for doing what he
could"
MICROSCOPES RULED OUT.
At noon a recess was taken until 2
o'clock and during the afternoon ses-
sion Byington again took up the. cud-
gels in behalf of the late I. w. Lees.
He said: 1T belittles any attorney to
stand by the grave of the dead and
throw mud. 1t does not take a valiant
man to kick dead lion. and that is
what Lees was. Knight did not dare
to say anything about him at the for
mer trial"
Byington went over the testimony Of
a number of witnesses. and then in
prosecution. An array of awe-inspir-
ing microscopes had lined the table Of
the District Attorney all day, and he
offered to show the jury by them that
the inks on the wrapper of the box Of
candy and on the anonymous letters
were the same. MCGOWAN objected,
and after some discussion Judge Cook
sustained the objection. and the micro
scopes were taken away. Much time
was devoted to the exemplars of hand
writing in evidence.
The District Attorney closed with a
strong appeal to the jury TO return a
verdict of guilty. Judge Cook then read
a lengthy charge. In his instructions
he said the relationship between Mrs.
Botkin and Dunning should not be
taken into consideration. He also in
formed the jury that the motive need
not be positively established
At 4:30 D. m. the jury retired. and
as no verdict had been reached in an
hour the members were sent to supper.
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08
Without Tears or Words Prisoner
Hears Clerk Read Fate.

about made up his mind 70 place the
jury in the custody Of the Sheriff until
this morning. when suddenly the cleo
trio call at the end OF the courtroom
began to ring.
A verdict had been reached and the
jury filed slowly into the jury box.
Judge Cook made his announcement
about order and the clerk called the
roll.
The silence was intense and after
what seemed an interninably long
time Judge Cook said: Gentlemen of
the jury. have you agreed upon a YER
dict?" We have. your Honor" said
Foreman Hyman. at the same time
handing the fateful slip of paper to the
court.
The clerk will read the verdict"
said Judge Cook, and then in a de-
liberate tone the officer of the court
read: We. the jury, find the defend
ant. CordeIia Botk1n. guilty of murder
in the first degree and fix and assess
her punishment therefor at imprison-
ment in the State prison for life
QUIET AT THE CLOSE.
During this dramatic scene Mrs.
Botkin was a study. Her head rested
on her hands and she gazed straight
ahead, without so much as a notice
able tremor.
Judge Cook thanked the jury, and
fixed April Is as the day of sentence.
After adjournment there was the first
scene Of excitement A babel Of voices
made il almost impossible to hear. Dis
trict Attorney Byington and Judge
Ferral were the recipients of congratu-
lations from their legal friends, and
George A. knight and Senator Nc
GOwan addressed words of cheer to
their client.
Not d tear fell from her eyes and
there was no appearance of detection
in her manner. So vigorous had been
District Attorney Byington's plea for
the death sentence that the prisoner
apparently felt relieved to know that
she still had life before her.
After the courtroom was cleared.
Mrs. Botkin was taken by the deputy
sheriffs to a surrey which was waiting
at the front of the Hall of Justice. a
struggling. neck-craning mob of Gu
rious people crowded around the car
riage to get q glimpse of the murderess.
Her sister stopped TO kiss the pris-
oner. and the sisters slight frame was
racked with sObs. Mrs. Botkin, cast
ing a disdainful glance at the crowd.
with a sneer on her face. said to her
sister, Don't you worry, don't you shed
a tear" and with another scornful
glance at the motley assemblage told
the deputy Sheriff that she was ready
TO go back to Jail.
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08

get away from the web of circum-
stances that surrounds Cordeia Bot
kin, and Mr.. Knight cannot dispose Of
the facts in this case with wave of
the hand
The District Attorney next took up
that portion of the closing argument
of the defense about the sleuths of the
Police Department sending innocent
people to San Quentin. That is alb
surd, and you know that it could not
be done without the help of the Dis
trict Attorneys office and his Honor
on the BENCH he said. If this de-
fendant is found guilty of murder in
the first degree, mete but to her the
full penalty of the law Before the
dawn of civilization your God and my
God on Mount Sinai said. Thou shalt
not KILL and you know that other ex-
tract from Holy Writ. He that kills
his fellow man shall die
VERACITY OF WITNESSES.
Mr.. Byington next went on to review
the testimony and invited the Interrupt
tion of defendants counsel If he did
not state facts. I'VE have brought
witnesses here whose veracity and in
tegrity have never been questioned and
God only knows why they have been
reviled by Mr.. Knight" he said.
There is something / witnessed yes
terday that is an outrage upon the
honorable profession of. the law. Miss
Bateman NAV hold her head as high
as any person in this land. She has
father and a brother. No man has ever
questioned her integrity and truthful.
ness Mr.. Knight asked: Where is
Miss Bateman? Stand up before this
Jury Think of that. Would you want
your mother, wife or sister called out
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08

before a crowd like this? l say 1t is
an outrage and the same as to DR..
Bishop. What right did Mr.. knight
have to turn that finger of scorn to-
ward DR.. Bishop? l say that every
witness we have produced is a credi-
BILE witness"
He then went on to tell the jury that
every one who ate the candy that
night was poisoned and that those
who did not showed no symptoms of
poisoning. TT has been said by Mr.
MCGOWAN that there was no autopsy
and that arsenic was an indestructi-
BILE poison which would be preserved
in bodies for years." Byington said
That is true if the body is not en-
balmed. But the body had in this case
been embalmed before suspicion was
attached to the candy and all traces of
arsenical poisoning had been lost"
Here Byington endeavored to go into
the details of the Bowers case, but an
objection by MCGOWAN was sustained
by the court.
There is no doubt that Mrs Dun
ming and Mrs. Deane went to their
graves without knowing they had been
poisoned, continued the District At
torney. Living in the little town of
Dover. they did not know there was
anybody on Gods footstool low enough
or base enough to send them under
the token of love a box of poisoned
candy. In any rural town If a family
had received candy under the same cir
the same course would
have been followed as was followed in
the Pennington family and they would
have died.
Those two women died from arseni-
cal poisoning and all through this case
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08
WRECKAGE ON SHORE
TELLS OF A DISASTER

ASTORIA. Or, April 7.-Large
quantities of lumber. evidently from
some coasting vessel. were washed
ashore at Gearhart Park to-dav. The
lumber came in from the south. but
nothing was washed ashore by which
the vessel from which the lumber
came could be identified Persons ar
irving report that scores of dead sea
gulls have been washed ashore COW
cred with crude petroleum and that
large cakes of soft petroleum were
also washed ashore 1t is believed
that some oil-burning coaster carry
ing a cargo of lumber has been lost
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08
PURCHASE OF CANDY.


The speaker here took UP the attack
of the defense on the expert testimony
He referred to the Fair will contest and
the Craven will, and how Knight lauded
Kytka at that time.
The next point touched upon was Mrs.
Botkir's statement TO Mrs. Ruoff that
three anonymous letters had been sent
toe Dover, Del, before that fact was
known to any one in this city. He said
that Miss LivernaSh was told the same
and read from Mrs. BOtkiD,s testimony
to bear out his contention. 'She told
Mrs Ruoff that the letters were in
scrawly hand" said Byington. Mrs.
Botkin sticks out of every sentence in
the letters She said in her cross-exa-n-
ination that she saw two Of the letters
in the newspapers. Those letters were
never published until after her arrest.
She knew it because she wrote them.
Mrs Botkin has told you that she
went down one flight of stairs in the
hotel on Sunday morning and tele-
phoned to Dr. Terrill. The physician
saws he was at an operation and did
not receive any phone message from
Mrs. Botkin until Sunday, July 81, be-
tween the hours of and p. m. Why
would she want to lie? 1t is an evil
dence of her guilt She lied about the
anonymous letters and the fact that
DR.. Terrill visited her Sunday.
During this portion of Mr.. Byington's s
argument Mrs. Botkin showed that she
was uncomfortable.
Byington next reviewed the testimony
relative to the purchase of the candy,
and said it was not necessary to prove
positively that the purchaser was Mrs
Botkin 'fIn size and appearance the
witnesses say the woman who made the
purchase resembled the accused
woman. and there are not many persons
whose appearance. size and movements
of the body resemble Mrs. Botkin.''
He pointed out the testimony of Mrs.
Price and Mrs. Smith relative to see
ing Mrs. Botkin with a package in her
hand on the Sunday she is alleged to
have purchased the chocolates He said:
She stayed in her room that night and
the next night. She was concocting this
dia abolicaI scheme to kill Mrs. J. 2. Dun
ming. At the midnight hour she was
manipulating the chocolates. She left
the Hotel Victoria on August 4, the day
the candy was mailed. She wanted to
get away from the scene of her crime
and put the package in the mail on her
way to St. Helena
MURDER IN HER HEART.
The testimony If DR.. Stone and
Druggists Gray and Grey was COM
mented upon, also the statement made
by the defendant to Mrs. Ruoff that
something told her the relationship be-
tween her, Mrs. Botkin, and Jack
Dunning would be closer than ever.
Byington contended that there was
murder in her heart at that time.
Il believe her testimony that when
in Healdsburg at the midnight hour
the walls seemed to be closing in upon
her and some one seemed clutching at
her throat he said. She has expert
enced that feeling many times since.
Mr.. Knight has said that womanhood
shrinks from this woman at the bar.
Thank God that the instincts of true
motherhood and womanhood and de-
cency shrink from this woman"
The District Attorney brought out
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08
Lectures Arouse Interest.

The addresses of Miss Louise Hol-
lister. lecturer and organizer of the
National Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union. have aroused quite an in
terest in the work of the organization
among the young people, an imme-
diate result of which will be a meet
ing this evening at o'clock at 1872
McAllister street. This is for the pur-
pose of organizing a Young Woman's s
Branch and completing plans for a
ma ss- meeting. at which Miss Hollister
viii speak. All young people are
especially invited
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08
TIE rzEArzxs.

tlcazar-"on the Quiet"
Californta-''McFedden's Flats.0
Central--"Around the World In
Eighty Days"
Chutes-Vaudevil1e.
Colombia . sMam'selle Hapo-
leon"
Fischer's-"Kism
Grand-"Divcrcon
Mechanics Pavi1ion-Circus.
Orpheum-Vaudeville.
TivoH-"Mr. Pickwick."
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08
KNIGHT SAYy THE DERDICT rs UNJUST

o a
Look their esid injustice haze dot that Mrs Bokn u1
a Botkn
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08

the defense has shifted from one theory
to another"
Byington next dwelt upon the symp-
toms of arsenical poisoning, saying:
THE motive in this case points to one
person alone. and that is the defendant
Knight has said that lump arsenic can
not be bought 1t was IN the candy,
and some one put it there"
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08
BYIVGTON TATISFIED
LDITH THE DERDICT

An satisfied 7Oith the 0erdict While expected the Jury
impose the death penalty still think that jnstice has
been done and great 0rctory
DISTRICT ATTORNEY LEWIS F. BYINGTON.
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08
TIE WEATHER

Forecast made at San Fra1-
cisco for thirty hours ending
ra1dnigl-z. April 81
San Francisco and vicinity
Fasr Friday; cooler IN the after
moon; fresh west wind.
@. H. WILSON,
Local Forscaster.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-12-02

Our fall and winter woolens nave
arrived, they otfer the finest selection
o; patters TO select from and we guar
aHtee perfect workmanship and the
loves prices.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-12-02
MRS. n. v. ROBSON,
Professional Nurse.
Residence 70l 4th Ave, Southeast.
Interested In Y. n, c. A.

J. +. Denham General Secre.
tary Of the Young Mems Chris.
tian Association, of the Indian
and Oklahoma Territories, with
headquarters at Oklahoma City,
was in the city this morning.
He returned TO Oklahoma City
on the noon train. Mr.. Den
ham is very much interested in
the Y. NJ. c. A, work of tie
two territories, and came here
for the purpose of seeing, with
what interest the people of Ard
more were working for the es-
tablishment Of a Y NJ. G. A. at
this place. He seemed con
WINGED that Ardmore was desir-
Gus of establishing that organ.
ization here, and said he would
do all in his power to further
the work of the mer and women
of this city who were working
along that line.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-12-02
Prize Winning Numbers.

Look mp your tickets. and see
if you are in IT,
The following are the numbers
which call for cash prizes in the
NnNnmhnr dra urinn.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-12-02

J. J. sToLFA. The l,i OF
Ism
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-12-02

\ Bargain--On 6tc)Int OF NV ma
G, ines being al Ted to my college
equipments hato some good sC'Cnd
hand typewriters to ,ent or g'll very
Cteap. | am alsD agent for ls Under
wood typewrite: and have al gains
to offer in new ma. hines.
G. p. SELVIDGE,
l3-tf Pres Selvidge's Bus. College.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-12-02

Ladies' we have just received the
p!cttiest line of pictures and picture
flames ever shown in the city. Can
row and make your selections for
Christmas presents before the stock
is broken. Respt,
l.3 BROWN K BRlDGMAN,
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-12-02
We Never Sleep.

It's unhealthy for transfer men. A
brand new carriage has been added ia
cur already splendid rigs-we want
to please our patrons. Baggage trans
fore In connection. Phone "A.
2O-lm W. r, INGRAM.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-12-02
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS
ARDMOR { ABSTRACT co.
w. S. woLvERToN s. son, ngr

w. y. WOLNERlON q sun, TlgrS.
G.. p. and Vera Jones to Mrs.
lone Heth; $3.50; lot 6, block
356.
John and NJ. r.. Hinkle, to
l.. A. Jointer ana Augusta Hoff
man; 10 acres in sec. 30 r , S.,
K. = W.
Matilda Caldwell to Barrett
Jackson, > year lease. 20 acr, S
in sec. 20. Il 3, : Ri W.
Matilda Caldwell to Barre
Jackson, warranty deed, $50;
20 acres in sec. 81. and 20 acres
in sec 20. all in Il 3, 5. Z /. w.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-12-02

Imported German plated dippers,
wash pans, etc. VIII last a lifetime.
SPRAGINS h co.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-12-02

Just think of it, a sos top buggy for
$50. ). G. FREDDY.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-12-02

Riding brides and buggy brides
the best at Preddy's.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-12-02
WANTED.
A Timely Topic.

At this season OF coughs and colds
II is we'll to know that Foley's Honey
and Tar Is the greatest throat and
lung remedy II cures quickly and pre-.
vents serious results from cold.
Sold by Bonner Il Bonner.
Newport daily independent., 1904-05-19
TO RECLAIM
 CACHE COUNTRY.
White and Cache River Levee and Improvement Association is
 Organized at Brinkley.

Brinkley, May IS. The White and Cache River Levee and I'm provement Association was or ganized in this city last night. The purpose of the association is to reclaim and bring to state of improvement about 500, ,00O acres of land lying in the Cache river valley in this section of the state.
 This land consists of timbered and farm lands and when re- claimed will be of great value. The meeting was attended by citizens of Monroe, Prairie and Woodruff counties.
 Officers were elected as follows: President, A. F. Mayberry; vice. president, T. L. Hefferman; sec retary, w. B. Williams of the Monroe County Citizen; treas urer, R. c. Cotton.
 Committees were appointed as follows:
 Legislative-F. R. Hill, Cotton Plant; Col. A. L. Aydelott, Bis COG; T. L. Hefferman, Heffer- man; w. w. Whieldon alld T. H. Jackson.
 Ways and Means-R. c. Lynch. Minor Gregory, c. B. LaBelle, R. T. Martin and Harry Alfrey.
 Hon. J. E. Riddick of the su- preme court was present and participated in the meeting.
 An adjournment was taken to July 12, when another meeting will be held in this city.