The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-01-20
WOMEN BARRED
At sCHENK TRIAL
Judge Declares Discussion Of
Case Not Good for Morals
EXPERTS ON THE STAND.
Testiiies That Patient Was Not Suffer.
Ing From Malarial Fever and Re-
fuses to Admit That Millionaire
Packer Was q Confirmed Ar.
senic Eater.

Wheeling, W. Va, Jan. ia large
crowd of women standing in the corri-
dor outside the court room, where
Mrs. Laura Schenk is being tried, was
refused admittance by trial Judge Jor-
dan yesterday morning.
"The evidence in this case is tend
ing to corrupt the morals OF the wo-
men who have been in constant attend
ance," the Judge said. just before the
noon recess. They go home and dis
cuss the case, and that is not right"
The big audiences at every session
have largely been composed of women
and girls. Many. unable to get inside
in the morning, would patiently stand
in line in the hallway, munching ap-
| pies and sandwiches. A man in the
crowd packed against the stairway. on
the main floor tainted yesterday when
photographer set of flashlight.
The states three medical experts
DR.. ]. E. Burns. DR.. Gregory Acker-
man, and DR.. J. T. Thornton-took up
almost the whole morning session.
Prosecutor Handlan propounded the
Hypothetical question to each. All
agreed the theoretical illness, embrac-
ing Schenk's symptoms, was the re-
suit Of lead and arsenical poisoning.
Not Drug User.
From Dr. Ackerman. the defense
tried 10 elicit an admission that the
millionaire packer showed Indications
OF confirmed arsenic eater, but the
physician said he found no such
traces.
Handlan said yesterday he probably
would have all his evidence In by
Thursday afternoon He said he like
ly would reserve the intl oduction Of
evidence purporting to show where
Mrs. Schenk purchased the arsenic un-
til after the prisoner had taken the
stand.
A passage occurred between Hand
Ian and the defendants attorneys
when Attorney o'Brien, OF Mrs.
Schenk's counsel, asked Prof. ]. L.
Mallett, one OF the states experts,
who had paid for his services.
Before the prosecutor could object,
the witness answered: "why, Mr..
Handlan."
Answer Stricken Out
The prosecutor protested vigorous
ly and the answer was stricken out.
DR.. j. I. Thornton. replying to the
hypothetical question. agreed with the
other experts as TO the presence OF
land and arsenicai poisoning.
Handlan called George Coleman. a
Wheeling druggist, who analyzed wa
ter taken from the case from which
schenk's water had been taken. testi-
fed he had found no traces OF lead or
arsenic.
Coleman said Attorney oBrien, OF
the defense, had requested him to
make the analysis directly after Mrs.
Schenk's arrest. The bottles were
taken from McAiesier's drug store,
where all the purchases OF Schenk's
drinking water were made.
Coleman said o'Brien had asked him
not to make written report. Hand
Ian tried 10 get o'Briens reason be-
fore the court, but an objection was
sustained
No Conspiracy, Says Handlan.
Il will knock the props from under
that family conspiracy" II Il ls made
an issue Handlan said yesterday. 1
viii force the defense to fall back up
on the hereditary insanity claim"
Attorney J. ]. O'Brien. or the de-
fense. continued the cross-examina-
tion.
Or. Burns testified that schcnk's
symptoms up 10 October 90 we're SINH
lar to that Of malarial fever patient.
October 20 was fixed by the witness
In response TO Prosecutor Handlan's
hypothetical question as the probable
date when schenk was suffering from
lead poisoning.
"Will You say Schenk was no. sui.
fering from malarial feyer!" o'Brien
asked.
Il certainly viii" witness replied.