Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-01-15
OTHER MAN IN SCHENK CASE.
State Brings First Intimation Of
Scandal Into Records.
TELLS OF AUTOMOBILE RIDES
Woman Talked of Plans to Secure
Divorce and said Husband would
Probably Die-Gave Him
Costly Presents.

WHEELING, w. Va, Jan. 1.-THE state
has brought into the court records the
first intimation OF scandal, in its prose-
cution of Mrs. Laura Farnsworth Sohenk,
who is charged with administering poison
to her husband, John Z. schenk.
Ever since the arrest Of Mrs. Schenk last
November there have been limitations and
actual statements from the prosecuting at
torney that "a we'll known young man Of
Wheeling" would be called by the state
to show a probable motive for the alleged
poisoning When Daniel Philips was called
today, It created more than the usual
murmur about the court room, that has
heretofore annoyed both Judge Jordan and
counsel. Philips is a piano salesman. His
name has been guarded and in no plan
OF the prosecution that has been given out
has his name been mentioned.
He told of long automobile rides with
the accused at her invitation for over
eighteen months previous to her arrest.
In the last year. he said, Mrs. schenk
had talked to him about plans to secure a
divorce and later talked almost constantly
Of the probability Of her husbands death.
Received Costly Presents.
Philips admitted that Mrs sehsnk on
various occasions had given him costly
presents among them a diamond pin, and
a smoking jacket. but denied any knowl-
edge Of a $500 fur ovsrcoat which, It has
been alleged he was TO have received the
day she was arrested and lodged In jail.
The state attempted several times TO
establish undue intimacy between the wit
ness and the defendant, but to all dues-
lions Philips refused TO answer, on the
ground that he would incriminate himself
and he was sustained by the court. Philips
told OF meeting the accused at Martins
Ferry and other Ohio points. Beer, wine
and sandwiches, he said we're always taken
on these automobile rides, Philips admitted
further that upon arriving at their destina-
ton, a point near smithfield. o., the re-
freshments would be disposed Of, the
chauffeur dismissed and that he and Mrs.
schenk would remain In the car.
Mrs schenk was agitated more than at
any time during the trial, keeping her
head lowered and fumbling with papers
on the table before her. The defense re-
fused to cross-examine the witness.
Throughout the direct examination the
defense fought against allowing the wit
ness TO answer questions OF the states at
torney, but were overruled on every objeo-
ton Judge Jordan said that the full facts
should be presented TO the jury. Just be-
fore leaving the stand the witness admit
ted that Immediately after Mrs. schenks
arrest he had called up Prosecuting Attor-
ney Handlan and offered 10 make a clean
breast Of the affair.
The testimony for the day was started
when the state called DR.. o. W. Burdatts,
a dentist Burdatts examined Mr.. Schenk s
teeth on October 90 five days before the
removal OF the latter TO the hospital, and
noticed the blue line on the gums. He tes-
titled that this was not due to any diseased
condition. but must have come from other
causes
Water Contained Arsenic.
Prof John W Manett OF the University
Of Virginia, one Of the chemical experts
who tested the mineral water alleged 10
have been poisoned. testified that the sam