The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-29
That's What Gallant
Wheeling Is Asking
About Dan Phillips.
HIS TESTIMONY
DISGUSTED JURY
Mrs. schcnk May Owe Her vir-
tual Acquittal to His Story.
Gains Her Liberty, but En-
joymcnt Cut Short by
Husbands Suit for
Divorce.
Especial to The Times Dispatch.

Especial to The Times-DispatcI,.l
Wheeling, w. Va, January 2s.-Frcc
upon {. bono of $4,000 and OH her own
recognizance, Mrs. Laura Farnsworth
Schcnk left her cell II the turret of
the Jail here this morning, and enjoyed
the open air for the first time since
November Q, when she was arrested on
the charge of having poisoned her mil
lionairc husband. John O. Schenk.
Bat her real enjoyment OF outdoors
was cut very short, for just as she was
about to step into the automobile OF
her lawyer. Joseph O'Brien, a process
server steppcn UP TO her and showed
into her hand papers s~linmoning her
in a suit for absolute divorce, IN which
hcr husband names as correspondent
Dan Phillips, the young society Blood
who, during the trial which Just ended,
admitted that he and she had taken
part in midnight Joy rides while her
husband was away in Europe.
The divorce suit will be heard. ii Is
said here. before the echoes OF the
poison trial. III which the jury lisa
greed. II to l for acquit,al. have died
away. Mrs. Schenk undoubtedly viii
make q big fight for alirnony.
willing for Separation.
81 an willing TO be separated fIpm
my husband" she said this evening
IF he will properly provide for nc
though / dread the loss of my two little
children. lie will have 10 do better
by mo if he divorces me than he did
when we we're living together.
why. with his Millions" she went
on bitterly, "all he gave me to keep
up our house on Wheeling Island and
TO dress little Virginia and Robert
was $50 n month. During our married
life he always refused to keep n ser.
Want, and / had 10 do even tho wash
ing. Only once a week he consented 10
hire a girl to come In and clean the
house. That was my afternoon off,
Nobody knows what L have gone
through with for fourteen years from
the neanness Of that man. The culmi-
nation was this charge of tcmpt
murd ar, which his family brought
against me because they hate me. But,
thank heaven, a Jury has practically
acquitted me OF that. and / am sure
thatEif | am ever tried again on the
same charge I Will be found not guilty
in a few minutes"
Here Attorney O'Brien told Of plans
that will still further tho controversy
OF the defense.
II John Schonk doesn't make proper
aliinony provision for his wife there
Will be a counter suit filed, in Which
there will be more than one corresponds
ent. We have discovered certain oc-
currences in many European cities,
ranging from d half-dozcn in Paris to
one in OSeramrnergau. where he went
TO SEQ the Passion Play"
Mrs. Schcnk hurried from the prison
to her home on Wheeling Island. but
finding 1t closed, went to the residence
of Mrs. William Lasch, a rich and cl-
fcrly ncighbor. who caused a pretty
little scene b. kissing her In the court
room one day during the recent trial.
Offers in Vaudeville.
Mrs. Schenk. when seer bv the re-
portcrs after her arrival at The Lasch
home, laughingly admitted that she
had received several offers Of largo
sums TO appear in vaudeville and to
write her experiences. But she will MOI
accept any of them.
Public opinion is now largely in hcr
favOr. The general hope is that she
VIII not be tried again Cor will BIO ac-
quilted IL she isl and that she viii re-
ccive liberal alimony. When she first
went on trial it was popuIariy hoped
that she would pc Convicted. a curious
bit of psychology is responsible for the
shift of feeling. 1t occurred whc,
Dan fhltiips look the stand against her.
why idn't n. lic-like a Gentleman? o,
demands gallant Wheeling, especially
alter sho had showercd presents upon
min and openly manifested her love for
him? lie had nothing to lose. since
all the joy rides were taken in Ohio.
and he could not have been prosecuted
in West Virginia."
From the OF Phillips's FIRST
admission sympathy was entirely with
the woman. and contempt was cx-
pressed in various ways for the man.
Nearly all Of the jurors admitted thai
they were Disguised with Phillips be-
trayal Of the woman, and that this SEN
ttlnent figured partially, at least. in
influencing eleven OF them 10 vote for
acquitlal.