The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-08
Trial on Charge Of Pois-
oning Husband Be
gins Monday.
REOPENS SCANDAL
IN HIGH SOCIETY
Effort to Prove That Woman
Was Mentally Unbalanced
Will Bring to Light Incl
dents of Lurid Past-Chil-
dren Ignorant of Charge
Against Mother.

Wheeling w. Va. January THE
trial Monday. Of Mrs. Laura Farms
worth Schonk. charged with poisoning
her husband John o. Schenk. the mil
lionairc pork packer. Will reopen a
scandal that has shaken the exclusive
society OF that section OF the country
10 IT'S foundations. Mrs. schema
bizarre conduct preceding her arrest;
her assertions to her husbands detec-
live nurse. Miss Kline. while the mil
ilonairc was lying at the point of
death that 'shc would be tho hupplcs,
woman alive when lie was in his
grave coupled with her prodigality in
iaHishing money on men of her &C
quaintancc. have, according to friends.
strengthened the determination OF her
attorneys to offer a plea of insanity In
defense OF her alleged efforts to do
away with Fir. Schenk 1t Is statcu
that every effort will be made to show
That Mrs. Schcnk was mentally un-
paianced, both at the time of her hus-
bands Illness and for many years be-
fore that event. and, while It Is ad-
United that such course on the part
OF the defense VIII ncccssitate a re-
View of an exceedingly iurid past, IL is
thought that this course Is the only
feasible avenue or escape for theiy
client, whose examination before the
grand jury brought out such startling
discriminating testimony.
10th Sides Confident
Up to the present both defense and
prosecution Is equally confident OF
proving It's case. That the testimony
VIII Involve startling features is adj
United on all sides. The lives OF both
husband and wife will be raked over
by the lawyers In an attempt To prove
their respective points. One OF the
remarkable features OF tile trial will be
o. N n tnn nf oh.
hardly he called by the defense. and
The state cannot use him. as the law
does not permit man to testify
against his wits.
II is now alleged that Scnenk was
addicted TO the use of arsenic twelve
years ago and that he himself admin
istered the drug. This statement is
secuted by the prosecution which con-
tends that II has indisputabc evidence
that VIII Involve Mrs. Schenk In a net
work from which she cannot escape.
Prosecutor liandlan has moved alone
In preparing his points; he has taken
no one into his confidence.
Meanwhile the accused woman de-
ciares she loves her children and her
husband. and the millionaire saws
Srimly: Let the law take it's course"
Each side has already engaged alien
lists, and the Insanity plea may furnish
as dramatic an incident as IL did al the
Thaw trial.
The trial promises 10 be rapid
fire succession of surprises il certainly
viii involve several physicians whom
Mrs. Schcnk is said TO have visited for
various purposes, including informa-
tion as 10 how TO administer poison.
1t VIII also call into requisition the
stories of Lundy Wilson, the Schenis
chauffeur. who swore that Mrs. Schcnk
offered MIN $1,000 TO run the Schenk
auto over Il bank, with the owner in II.
In addition, IL will call the nurses who
made damaging statements against Mrs.
Schcnk al the time of her arrest and
II Will involve certain young men in
Tho town who said to have been
the recipients of Mrs. Schenk's bounty.
The arrest OF Mrs. Schcnk brought
to light gruesome family skeleton,
long hidden from the prying public
gaze by one of West Yirginia's oldest
and wealthicst families. Laura Farms
worth schenk before her marriage.
was n domestic In the household OF
John Q. schenk's father, had been
taken into the family after her mother
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
his family while the girl was in ncr
infancy. Schenk's infatuation for the
girl began twenty years ago and
TO wean Inc young man from his love.
he continued his attentions The AFFAIR
eliminated in SchcnKs marriage to tho
girl after threatened breach OF
promise suit
infntuntIon Continued
Schenk infatuation for the girl,
however. appears to have been as
strong as ever at the time OF his mar
riage, and that 1t suffered no diminu-
ZION In all that followed Is amply borne
out by his subsequent conduct toward
her. He elevated her from her mental
position to the head OF his household.
lavishcd Jewels upon her and attempt-
cd to introduce her among his family's
circle of acquaintances. His attempt
to gain admittance for his wife into
the exclusive social circles of Pittsburg
and wheeling proved unavailing. and
Mrs. Schenk was obliged to content
herself with entertainments To the so
cially unelGct
Last January Mr.. Schenk became
mystcriously Ill, and decided upon 81
European trip alone. Shortly after his
departure his wife left her home and
made her appearance at Atlantic CITY.
where she attracted much attention by
her pretentious establishment and the
lavishness which marked her enter
tainment to "A beDx of male admirers.
Rum3rs of her escapades came to the
ears of her husbands relatives. and re-
suited In the hasty return of Mr..
Schenk from Europe.
Develops Mysterious AInIndy.
Shortly after his return he was
again taken mysteriously III and was
confined to his bed in the Schenk man.
sion. his wife and nurse, Miss Evans
attending him. Mr.. Schenk, who had
been in robust health up to the time
of his January Illness now davolonad