The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-08
Mrs. Schenk. Wife of Mil
lionaire, of Wheeling, ".
Va, Is Facing 4 Very Scr-
ious Charge.
ATTEMPTED MURDER
BY POISON ALLEGED
Case Has Caused 4 Sensa-
tion that Has Shaken the
Exclusive Social Set Of
Wheeling.
tAmorican News Service,

8s& SAWCTlCAH news SeFSACcl
Wheeling. w. Va. Jan. The trial
Monday OF Mrs Laura Farnsworth
Schenk. charged with poisoning her
husband. John o. Schenk. the mil
lionaire pork packer. will reopen .
scandal that has shaken the exclu-
sive society of that section Of the
country to its foundations. Mrn.
Schenk's bizarre conduct prece1lng
her arrest. her assertions 10 her hnar
bands detective nurse, Miss Kline,
while the millionaire was lying at the
point OF death that she would be the
happiest woman alive when he va
In his grave" coupled with her prodi-
gality in lavishing money on men of
her acquaintance. have according %
friends, strengthened the determina-
tion OF her attorneys to offer pisa
OF insanity In defense OF her alleged
efforts to do away with Mr.. Schenk.
1t is stated that every effort Will he
made to show that Mrs. Schenk Wls
mentally unbalanced both at the time
Of her husbands illness and for many
years before that event and while. 1T
IL admitted that such = course on the
part OF the defense Will neceasitate y
review Of an exceedingly lurid past. II
II thought that this course IL the only
feasible avenue Of escape for tholr
client. whose examination before the
grand jury brought out such startling
discriminating testimony.
a Family Si<eiston.
The arrest of Mrs. Schenk brought
to light d gruesome family skeleton
long hidden from m VI Ae pM6a1c
gaze ~ one OF West virginiA's oldest
and wealthiest families. Laura Farms
worth Schenk. before her marriexe
was domestic In the household Of
John O. Schenk's father. had been
/ taken into the family after her moth
er had taken refuge in the poor house.
leaving her daughter to fight her way
in the world with only her good looks
for capital. Her father had deserted
the family while the girl was IN her
infancy Schenk's infatuation for the
girl began twenty years ago. and
though his family exerted every ef.
fort to wean the young man from his
love he continued his attentions. The
affair eliminated In Schenk's mar.
riage to the girl after threatened
breach OF promise suit
Schenk's infatuation for the girl
however, appears to have been q
strong as ever at the time OF his mar.
riage and that it suffered no diminu.
ton in all that followed is amply
borne out by his subsequent conduct
toward her. He elevated her from
her menial position to the head oi
his household. lavished jewels upor
her, and attempted to introduce hel
among his family's circle OF acquaint
ances. His attempt to gain admit
tance for his wife into the exclusive
social. circles of Pittsburg and Wheel
ing proved unavailing and Mrs
Schenk was obliged to content her
self with entertainments to the social
: ly un-elect.
Last January Mr.. Schenk becaml
mysteriOusly. Ill, and decided upon
European trip-alone. Shortly afte
his departure his wife left her hom,
and made her appearance at Atlantis,
, City where she attracted much atten
ton by her pretentious establishment
, and the layishness which marked he
. entertainment to bevy OF male ad
. mirers. Rumors Of her escapade
I came to the ears of her husbands rel
atives and resulted in the hasty re
, turn of Mr.. Schenk from Europe.
r He Was Taken III.
/ Shortly after his return he wa
again taken mysteriously iii and wa
] confined to his bed in the Schenl
mansion. his wife and nurse. Mis-
Evans attending him. Mr.. Schenh
who had been In robust health up /,
!, the time OF his January illness, nOs
, developed malady that baffled II,
attendant physicians. A Thorough
examination failed to reveal any phy
I sical affection upon which to hang
e cause for his illness, though Schenl
II Continued on Page Eight)