The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-17
NURSE UNDERGOES
CRUEL GRILl|NG
Her Vcracity, Her Character
and Her Past Life
Probcd.
BUT SHE NEVER WAIVERS
Sticks to Story She Told OF Mrs.
Schcnk Seeking Husbands
Death.

Whcciing, w. Va. January i6.-Fiv-
hours OF the most bitter cross-cxamina-
ton 10 which any witness has been
subjected by the defense In tho ease OF
Mrs. Laura Farnsworth Schcnls. charged
with administering poison To her mil
iionairc husband. John y. Schenll. failed
to-day TO shake the story told the Jury on
direct examination Saturday by Eleanor
Ioeckler. who Is also known as Mrs.
Klein, the detective nurse who alleges
that Mrs. Schenk offered her 81 900 TO
put Il poisoned pill N the medicine
which was taken by the patient 1T the
North Wheeling Hospital
Miss Zoeckler. who IS connected with
Pittshmrg detective agency, was on
the stand all day.
Pnst Life Prohed.
The woman's veracity, her character
and her past life were probcd in tho
questions propoundcd by l.. O. Boycr.
So fierce was the attack on the witness
that Prosecuting Attorney IIandlan OBJ
jected declaring that Mr. Royce had
no right to go beyond tho bounds OF
while the objection was argued out.
Mr.. Boyce replied with equal bitterness.
lie said:
This IS commercial witness. and
will treat her commercially She
was employed to sauirm and ingratiatu
herself into the confidence of this de,
PENDANT with n tissue OF lies: she has
agreed to lie for money and Will
cross examine her on those lines The
detectives profession is an honorable
one II conducted along regular lines.
but In this case * was not. This wo-
man is not detective. She is only an
operative. and will conduct this ques-
tioning along lines TO show that In
such capacity She He'd and entered into
conspiracy against ihis accused.
Time after time he asked: when YOU
told Mrs SchcnlS that, you He'd again.
didn't you?"
Without falterng or changirs her
expression. the witness answered ON
every occasion with a straightforward
Yes" or sure, did"
Asked II she had had conversations
with Mrs. Schenk regarding the prob
able death OF her husband, she said
she had that Mrs, Schenk had often
expressed h fear that she would not
get what was coming to her" and that
she was not sure she would get a good
home il the husband Should die.
II watched every board every stone
going In our house" Mrs. Schcnk told
her, the witness testified, and ! know
1t Is worth lot OF money" Follow
ing our talk when she offered me
81 .onO to poison John. Mrs. Schcnk
morning OF her arrest she came to the
hospital and asked me II she could see
her husband I told her yes, to go in.
Miss Evans ordered her out. as she was
Just giving Schcnk treatment.
You can give him the devil for all
/ care said Mrs. Schenk."
Attempt on Life Feared
Both the regular nurse and herself
| had Instructions not to leave wife and
husband alone for moment, an at
tempt on his life being feared.
| Mr. Boycc took the witness In charge,
ana his first question revealed tie line
which the defense would follow.
You were told to break into Mrs.
Schcnl's confidence by any means.
weren't you?"
"Those were my instructions" sh"
| answered
MIR. Boyce. after two hours OF search! :
ing inquiry, asked.
| "lsnI It. fact that every statement
YOU have made relative to Mrs. Schenk
| Offering you $1,000 to poison her nus
bnnd is tissue of lies, manufactured
out OF the whole cloth by yourself?
everything l have told you is true
| isn't It fact that the only mention
| of 81 900 was made when YOU told Mrs.
Schenk that Albert Schcnk, Johns bro
| ther, had offered Miss Evans that
amount 10 take Johns keys TO his safe
| =,