The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-01-13
..EADY TO TRY MRS. scHENCk.

preparations have been practically
,uMpieted, and unless some unfor-
een contingency should arise, the
rial of Mrs. Laura Farnsworth
Schenck will begin In the criminal
court in this city ON Monday next.
The trial had originally been set for
December 10. of last year, but at the
request Of counsel Tor the defense
Judge Jordan granted postpone,
ment to January 9.
Owing to the wealth and social
prominence of the Schenck family,
The case has attracted more than or
linary interest, not alone in this city,
the home of the 'Schencks, but thru
out the state and in much wider cir
cles. The case presents many inter-
esting features and it is expected the
defense will make "a bitter fight, re-
lying upon a plea Of insanity to save
the defendant. It is believed that
facts OF most sensational nature
will be brought out in the course of
the trial and there is no doubt that
large crowds will fill the court room
at every session of the court.
The case will be heard before
Judge Lewis H. Jordan and a jury in
the criminal court. Prosecuting At
torney ]. Bernie Handlan will con-
duct the case for the state and will
have the support of his assistants.
The defense will be represented by
j. J. 2. O'Brien as leading counsel,
and severa other prominent lawyers
and advisers.
The Schenck family is we'll known
in this part of the country and it's
history as a prominent social factor
began with Fred Schenck, who start
ed in business nearly fifty years ago
and accumulated fortune estimated
at twelve to fifteen millions in the
pork-packing industry. He founded
the r. Schenck packing company and
remained at its head, until his son,
John o. Schenck, who had been ac-
tive in the business for a number of
years, became president of the con-
Germ and it's leading spirit. John was
successful and his individual wealth
is estimated at more than $4,000
900.
Mrs. Schenck, the daughter of F.
c. Farnsworth, a plain carpenter,
was cook in the home of j. G. Tom
linson, a retired official of the Penn
sylvania railroad, when she first
met Schenck. The latter was a per-
sonal friend of Tomlinson,, and at
that time, about fifteen years ago,
was frequent visitor at the Tomlin-
son home. Schenck, then young
man of thirty, was attracted by Laura
Farnsworth, then a pretty girl of 25.
1t was easy for them to- meet fire
quently, and it. caused little surprise,
at least in the Tomlinson family,
when Scbenck proposed to the at
tractive cook and was accepted.
They were married, and to all out
ward appearances seemed to live
happily together Two children were
born to them, Virginia, now twelve,
and Robert, now seven years of age.
Her husbands great wealth and his
high standing gave Mrs. Schenck
considerable prestige, and she found
no difficulty in maintaining a lead
ing position in society She and her
husband were members of the Wheel
ing country club and entertained a
great deal in manner befitting
their wealth and social standing.
In the fall of last year Mr.. Schenck
became i'll, and in spite of the most
careful treatment by his physician,
DR.. Frank l.. Hupp, the condition of
the patient did not improve. The
symptoms were Of such a nature that
DR.. Hupp began to suspect that his
patient was suffering from the effect
of poisoning. Without betraying his
suspicion he sent some Lithia water
which Mr.. Schenck was in the habit
Of drinking, to the chemists Of the
Johns Hopkins university for anal.
ysis. Another sample he sent to a
chemist in New York.
When the chemists of the John
Hopkins university reported that the
sample of Lithia water sent to them
by DR.. Hupp had been found to con-
tain arsenic, DR.. Hupp ordered the
removal of his patient to the North
Wheeling hospital, and communicat.
ed the result of his investigation tc
the authorities. On November g.
Mrs. Schenck, who had vainly pro.
tested against the removal of hel
husband to the hospital, was arrest.
| ed, charged with attempted murder
and her bail was fixed at $4,000
AS she was unable to obtain bail she
was detained at the county Jail. She
was indicted. and while she wa:
l