Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-20
Trial of Mrs. Laura F. Schenk
Expedited by the Court.
TESTIMONY FOR DEFENSE
Expert in Use of Poisons Placed on
the Witness Stand.
EFFECTS OF ARSENIC AND LEAD
Physician Discovered No Evidence
That Either Had Been Ad-
ministered to Patient.

Special Dispatch to TIE Star.
WHEELING. w. Va, January 3O.-Just
before the court resumed consideration
this morning OF the case Of Mrs Laura
Farnsworth Schenk. charged with at
tempting to poison her husband. the men,
bers of the jury demanded that night
sessions be held 50 as to bring the case
to an end as soon as possible. Judge
Jordan granted the request. and sessions
will be held from 7:3O to 10 pm, begin
ming tonight.
DR.. j. j. Osborne, who was the first
expert witness for the defense when 1t
began to present it's side of the case yes
terday, and who was on the stand at
adjournment of court last night, declared
that he had treated and examined Schenk
and found no trace of arsenic poisoning.
Cross-Examined by State.
When DIR. Osborne took the stand this
morning at the opening Of the second day
of the defense In the trial of Mrs Schenk,
Prosecuting Attorney Handlan' resumed
his cross-examination.
DR.. Osborne is one Of the physicians
sent by Mrs. Schenk's lawyers to the
hospital to examine Mr.. Schenk. The
OOClOF t0StlHcO tndC MT. SCHcnk SyHlp-
toms did not agree with the history OF
the case as to lead or arsenic poisoning.
but he admitted that the symptoms as
described by other physicians were in
dicative Of the poisons. He further ad-
mitted that his visit was some time after
the removal of Schenk to the hospital,
and that as soon as the source of supply
of poison was removed the patient would
recover.
How Poisoning May Occur.
Dr. Osborne told Of the ways one might
be poisoned by arsenic, telling Of an in
stance In Harrison county. Ohio, twenty
years ago. Here a. whole family had
been poisoned. A long search developed
arsenic in large quantities had been
poured on the ground on the hillside
fabove a spring. Rain washed it into the
spring.
The blue line on the gums was not al
ways present In cases Of lead poisoning
he said; its presence does not always in
dictate lead poisoning. as non-care Of the
teeth and mouth could cause 1t.
The prosecutor cross-questioned DR.. Os-
borne for over two hours In an effort tc
symptoms were those Of arsenic and lead
poisoning. but failed to shake his direct
testimony.
Now. doctor. after describing to you
and what you know OF John Schenk's
condition after his return from Europs
conclude from those symptoms that he
was suffering from lead poison?' he
asked.
Yes, probably would
IS would you say positively that he did
not suffer from lead poisoning"
mo. / would not"
Mrs. schenk May Not Testify.
1t was announced yesterday that Mrs.
Schenk would probably 60 on the wit
ness stand in her own behalf, but Attor-
ney Frank O'Brien said today she may
not be called as q witness. He stated
he had other important witnesses to prove
facts that would result without Mrs.
Schenk's testimony.
Prosecuting Attorney ]. B. Handlan,
who has been conducting for the state
the trial Of Mrs. Schenk, has been sub
poenaed by the defense and will be put on
the stand probably this afternoon. This
the courthouse this morning, and intensi-
fed the already deep interest in the case.
Reasons Assigned.
1t was intimated during the court ses-
sion yesterday that such move would
be made by the attorneys for the &C.
cused. but little credence was placed in
the rumors. The expense to which the
state has been put in the prosecution has
caused much curiosity. in which the de-
PENDANTS attorneys shared. and 1t is
thought that upon this point Mr.. Hand
Ian will be questioned, as well as to tes-
tify that Mrs. Schenk had always denied
her guilt, from the day Of her arrest.
Certain evidence as to how certain wit
nesses have been paid. and an attempt
to bring ont a conspiracy against their
client, is also said to be part of the plan
of Messrs. Boyce and O'Brien. who have
been defending the accused.