New-York tribune., 1911-01-14
mrs. SCHENK ON RIDES
WITH PIANO SALESMAN
Latter TeStifieS He Had to Stop
Her from Calling at His
Place of Business.
TELLS OF MANY AUTO TRIPS
Says Alleged Poisoner Spoke
of a Divorce Action and the
Probability of Her Hus-
bands Death.

Probability OF Her Hus-
bands Death.
/ Wheeling, W. Va, Jan. B.-The tcdium
of hypothetical questions and technical tes-
timony was suddenly Jared in tho scenk
case to-day when, toward the close OF the
day, the state through n witness brought
into the court records the first intimation
of scandal. in its prosecution of Mrs. Laura
| Farnsworth Schenk. on the charge Of adj
minlstering poison to her wealthy husband,
John o. Schenk.
Ever since the arrest OF Mrs. Schenk last
November there have been intimations and
actual statements from the prosecuting at
torney that "a well known young man of
Wheeling" would be called by tho state to
! show a probable motive for the alleged poi
soning. Daniel Phillips was called to-day.
! He is a scion of one Of Wheelinss hrSt
| families. lie is piano salesman. In no
| plan of the prosecution that has been gwen
out had his name been mentioned.
Phillips told of many long automobile
i
| tation for more than eighteen months be-
fore her arrest. In the last year, he said,
! Mrs. Schenk had talked to him about plans
TO procure a divorce. and later talked al
most constantly Of the strong probability OF
her husbands death.
Phillips admitted that Mrs. Schenk on
various occasions had given him many
costly presents. among them diamond pin
/ la dor Tod Il
| knowledge Of the purchase for him Of
800 fur overcoat. which, It has been al
| legged. he was to have received the day she
was arrested and lodged in jail.
Phillips refused Ia answer some questions
on the ground that he would incr.min"te
himself He was sustained by the court IN
this position.
Persistent, Says Phillips.
Phillips testified that after be became
acquainted with Mrs. Schonk she visited
! his place OF business so often that he was
forced to ask her 10 stop coming. She then
resorted 10 the telephone. and he was called
so often that this means Of communication
was finally abandoned She then sent her
chauffeur. Lundy Wilson with notes. ac-
/ cordlng 10 Phillips. or had tho chauffeur
call up Phillips to make arrangements t"F
automobile rides. He told OF meeting Mrs
schcnk at Martins Ferry and other ono
points Beer. wine and sandwiches ne SAID
were always taken on these rides.
Phillips admitted further, under the ram
Of questions from the prosecutor. that on
arriving at their destination, point near
Smthfeld, Ohio, the refreshments would
be disposed Of. the chauffeur dismissed ana
that he and Mrs. Sohenk would remain In
the car. When they desired - return TO-
/ the city Wilson would be summoned hy q
/ signal on the automobile horn. The witness
Exhibited much nervousness on the stand
and hesitated in his replies
Mrs. Schenk was acitatel more than at
any time during the trial. keeping her
| head lowered and fumhling with papers on
the table before her The defence refused
10 cross-cxamino the witness. and he al
most fed from the courtroom after his
testimony had been given
Throuehout the direct examination the
| defence fought bitterly against allowing
the witness 10 answer questions but was
! cverruIcd on every objection. Judge Jordan
said that the fun facts should be presented
10 the Jury. Just before leaving the stand
the witness admitted that Immediately
after Mrs Schcnk's arrest he called up
Prosecuting ATTORNEY Hand'an and offered
q make clean breast Of the affair.
The testimony for tho day was started
when the state called Dr. o ". Burdatts,
a dentist. Burdatts examined Mr. Schenk's
teeth on October %. five days before the re-
moval Of the latter u the hospital. and no.
ticad a blue line on the gums. He testified
! that this was not due to any diseased con-
! dtion, but must have come from other
causes.
Arsenic in Mineral Water.
Professor John W Malett. r. r :. Of
the University Of Virginia. one Of the chem
| ical experts who tested the mineral water
! alleged 10 have been poisoned testified that
the sample Of water sent TO him contained
| eirht-tenths OF grain Of pure white ar
| senic "a the pint, or eighty grains OF Fow-
! ler's solution. the common form oS arsenic. |
| Edward McCallis,er druggist from
| whom the supply of mineral water and
| quin!ne elixir were bought. was sure
neither Of the BOTTLES contained either
sugar Of lead or arsenic.
Florence Coleman, q negro woman, who
| had done cleaning about the Schcnk home, J
I tCSIllep lIltI Elf WIS lIlc 'l4F person ABOUT
the house on the evening Schenk IS alleged
! to have been violently naTseate1 by drink
| ing mineral water. She declared that she
! put nothing in the water. other members
! Of the family and the nurse were out for
an automobile ride while she was there
| Dr.. J r. Thornton was one Of the chief
witnesses put on tho stand by the state, and
| lie was recalled IN the afternoon. He con-
Quoted blood and other tests In an effort 70
! procure a correct diagnosis OF the case In
answer 10 a hypothetical question by
| Prosecutor Handlan he said that the symp-
| toms alleged 20 have been shown by
| Schenk might have been due TO lead poison.
| Symptoms enumerated in a second hypo-
| thetical question indicated arsenic poison, !
| he said
on cross-examination he admitted that
the same symptoms might have been due TO
serious disorders Of the stomach This was
the chief point made by the defence during
the day.
I WOMAN SUES RAILROAD MAN |
Arthur Z. Stilwell Defendant in an Ac-
tion to Recover 100000.