The Washington herald., 1911-01-21


session of court in the trial of Mrs.
Laura Farnsworth Schenk, the defense
called a number of local physicians to the
stand to testify that they would not be-
lieve DR.. ]. w. Myers on oath. Myers
is the physician who testified for the
State that he sold Mrs. Schenk. an ounce
of acetate of lead and. that she tried to
buy Fowler's solution of arsenic from
him. and that he refused her.
The physicians who testified that they
would not believe Myers on oath were
Drs. r. J. Hersey, F.. L. Viewgand and
w. S. Fulton DR.. E. a. Hildreth was
called, but could not qualify, not knowing
the reputation of DR.. Myers for truth and
veracity.
1t was definitely announced by Mrs
Schenk's counsel tonight that they had
decided not to put her on the stand. This
will not have any effect upon the nature
of the rebuttal testimony to be used by
the State. Attorneys for the defense say
they will be able to complete their side Of
the case tomorrow night. The case will
probably go to the jury next Tuesday or
Wednesday.
Defence Plans Surprise.
The most notable feature in the days
proceedings was the announcement made
by Attorney Frank a. O'Brien, of the
defense. that new witness has been
summoned for the defense who will prove
their strongest card. Attorney O'Brien
stated that the securing of the new wit
ness, who is a woman. will eliminate the
necessity of placing Mrs. Schenk on the
stand
cfnfa faH 1aA foI,
that Mrs. Schenk will not take the stand
in her own behalf. Mr.. OBrien expressed
himself as confident that the new witness
Will clear Mrs. Schenk. 1t is understood
the mysterious witness is Mrs. LaSch, a
friend of Mrs. Schenk
Judge Jordan announced at the opening
of court this morning that night sessions
would be held hereafter, the court indi-
eating that the jurors have requested
this. as they were becoming wearied from
their long confinement. and that they
were desirous of bringing the trial to an
early conclusion.
Mr.. O'Brien stated that with night Ses-
SionS the defense may be able to con-
clUde its side of the case by Saturday
night. Throughout the morning and part
OF the afternoon session Prosecuting At
torney Handlan was grilling Dr. J. ].
Osborne the medical expert called into
Every detail of every phase OF the poi
son question brought out in the direct
examination of DR.. Osborne by Attorney
]. ]. O'Brien. chief counsel for the de-
fense. was gone into carefully by Mr..
on cross-examination and as a
much of the testimony was
dull and uninterestinS to the spectators.
it being largely of a technical nature and
dealing with every possible symptom of
lead arsenical poison
DR.. Osborne was on the stand until late
in the afternoon.
Physician's Testimony Barred.
The defense then called DIR. George
Slappy. a Pittsburg physician, by whom
tkey intended to prove that Miss Elino-
loreckler. the detective nurse who testi-
fid for the State, was a confirmed NOR
phine eater. and that it is impossible for |
morphine eaters to tell the truth at any
time. |
Prosecutor Handlan objected on the |
grounds of raising 4 collateral issue, and |
the court sustained the objection. Dr. !
Slappy not being permitted to testify |
The defense then called Mr.. D. B. Best, !
witness for the State, who testified |
Thursday
DR.. Best was the Schenk family physi- |
clan. and by him the defense sought to |
prove that Schenk had been ill for more |
than two years, and that the time when
# is alleged he got poisoned, was on the
,erge of Bright's disease.
DR.. Best testified that several times
Turing the past two years he attended
Schenk for tonsilitis and quinzy. and
hat Mrs. Schenk had made him test her
husbands urine, and he had discovered
light kidney trouble. On cross-examina
ion by Handlan DR.. Best refused to say
lie thought Schenk had Bright'S disease |