The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-11
FIRST WITNESSES
IN SCHENk CASE
Excitement Within and With
out Courthouse Marks Days
Proceedings.
COURT REPRIMANDS WOMEN
Defendant Greatly Agitatcd
During Testimony as to
Poison Plot.
COURT REPRIMANDs WOMEN

heeling, w. Va, January 10.-Ex-
element within and without the court
house marked the first day of taking
testimony in the trial OF Mrs. Laura
Farnsworth schenk, charged WITH
poisoning her husband.
Within tho courtroom the almos,
irresponsible crowd OF women spccta-
tors had 10 be constantly raped to
order by Judge Jordan, when startling
bits of testimony caused a murmur that
inierfered with the proceedings, and
without when the same crowd OF spec
,ators stamped In their efforts to crowd
into the courtroom when the doors
We're open.
Twice to-day the police without the
courthouse wero carried before the on
slaught OF the women, at the openiur
of the building carly In the morning
and again in the afternoon following
recess. In the afternoon the rush into
the building was SO sudden that sew.
eral women were knocked down ana
tramplcd upon. and one woman. Mrs.
Amclie kircn, was taken 10 the hos
pital. after the police had beat the
crowd back.
The disorder within the courtroom
started at tho testimony OF William
wolfe, who had travelled In Europo
with John o. Schenk the alleged
poison victim. Wolfe testified to
schenk's good health during the Euro
pcan trip. and there were gasps from
me spectators that brought sharp re-
buke from the bench when the Wit
ness. in detailing Il conversation with
Mrs. Schenk. quoted her as saying:
"Rilly. ! don't think John will i've
long"
Mrs. Schenk made the declaration. ac-
cordirS 10 Wolfe, after the return from
Europe. when Schenk was stricken with
his strange illness
symptoms of Lead Poisoning.
Dr' ircgory Alderman was called and
testified that Schcnlt was suffering with
lead poisoning before Dr. T.. L. IIupp
was brought into the ease. and that he
mad been brought from local hospital,
after remaining there but n few days
lie advised the patient while In the
hospital. first not to cat anything
brought him from his home. Every
symptom of lead poisoning was found
in the blood tests declared Or. Acker-
man, as well as all.othcrs made. The
defense passed examination. pending
further direct queNions. and DR.. D.
3igar Best was called
II was apparent nj this point that
the state was endeavoring 10 show that
the two pOisons had been administered
To Schcnk.
1t was in tho afternoon that tho
f-hystcrical spectators were most
severely rcprimanded. 1t came when
DR.. iiupp was tcstifyIng. Dr. Hump 1t
was who revealed the alleged poison
plot and who took Schcnll from his
home to the hospital. 1t was shown
by his statements that Schcnk was suf-
ferinG from two poisons. acetate of
lead and arsenic. The dramatici Incl
dent came when nc said that on ono
Visit TO the Schenk home Mrs. Schcnk
said 10 him: Perhaps ! would be bet
ter satisfied IL you would let him die
the witness also told of blood tests
he had made. Of the analysis Of mineral
waters Sch"nk was using, and also of
the analysis of the medicines he (Ilupp)
had prescribed Several bottles he saw
about tho sick room aroused his suspi-
cions because Of IL sediment in them
and II Is these he had analysed. The
analyses were rot admitted TO evidence
"a; this time. This was the only stage
of tho days proceedings at which Mrs
Schenk displayed any agitation. she
dropped her head and grew pale as the
allegation was made.
Mrs. Schcnk was smiling as she en-
tered the courtroom this morning, and
Ia the snlutations of her counsel she
replied I'm feeling fine. | am nartic-
uiarly Well pleased with the jury, and
am sure | will get Justice"
Judge Jordan is very DESTROYS Of
closing he case by Saturday night and
has int!ma,cd that 1t will he done,
even If night sessions of court must be
held