Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-01-19
MRs. sCHENK CoLLAPsEs.

MRS. SCHEHh COALAFSESs
After showing every sign OF ner-
yousness for over an hour, Mrs. Laura
Farnsworth Schenk, who is on trial
in the criminal Court at Wheeling,
w. Va, on the charge OF having
administered poison to her husband,
John o. Schenk, millionaire packer,
of Wheeling, burst into tears during
Yesterday afternoons session OF the
trial and then completely collapsed.
Mrs. Schenk was assisted from the
courtroom by her counsel and taken
to her cell in the Wheeling Jail, where
restoratiyes we're administered to her
and she was then brought back to the
court, where she remained until the
close of the days proceedings.
When the trial opened yesterday
morning it was noticed that the face
of Mrs. Schenk was flushed, and q
few seconds after the testimony OF
yesterdays first witness was begun
Judge Jordan interrupted, and ordered
all Of the feminine followers OF the
trial from the room. 1t was further
stated by the judge that no women
would be allowed in the room while
the present trial is going on.
In explaining his action, Judge
Jordan said: The nature of the tes
timony given at this trial is OF II sen-
sational character. I think that il the
women OF the city are allowed to hear
it, 1t would corrupt their morals.
Even the married women of Wheeling
are now coming 10 the trial, and they
60 back to their homes and talk OF
what they have heard. Therefore. !
think it better to keep all women from
tho room.
When Mrs. Schcnk heard the order
her face became still more flushed,
and when all the women in the audience
had left Mrs. Schenk was alone with
some 200 men. a number of. whom had
testified. or will testify, against her.
Prosecuting Attorney Handlan persisted
in asking and rcasking questions of
the physicians who were on the stand
yesterday morning relating to the
arsenic in Mr.. Schenk's food, drink
and medicine and rs to his physical
condition. Some OF the answers we're
stated in plain terms and were OF q
sickening nature. These, too, had a
bad effect upon Mrs. Schenk, and by
the time the morning session came to
close she was i'll. She was taken to
her cell, but did not eat anything.
She was given restoratives.
At the afternoon session she camc
into the room leaning on the arm OF
tho sheriff, and upon taking her seat
it was evident that her nerves had
been badly Jared. She was restless.
The room was very warm and the
windows could not be opened, as in
the street workmen were hammering
on some sewer pipes. The windows
were opened once, but it was found
they had to be closed on account Of
the noise. Finally Mrs. Schenk for
the first time during the tiial, removed
her coat and placed it on the back OF
her chair. Next she asked Attorney
O'Brien for glass OF water, and she
drank it quickly. Mrs. Schenk was
then noticed to turn around in her seat
and take handkerchief from her coat.
This she placed to her eyes, but before
she had done so two or three tears were
seen to roll down her cheeks. Mrs.
Schenk kept the handkerchief to her
eyes for several minutes and her shoul-
ders treEbIed.
Attorney Boyce saw that his client
was breaking down, and he asked
Judge Jordan to call recess. This
was accordingly done, but when Mrs.
Schenk tried to rise from her chair she
was unable to do so. She was assisted
to her feet by her attorneys and taken
across the bridge to the Jail.
While in her cell Mrs. Schenk col
lapsed and the matron and the Jail
physician had to be called to revive
her. After 10 minutes had elapsed Mrs.
Schonk was taken back to court. She
was very weak. Last night she was at
tended by the Jail physician, aud she
retired q few minutes after 6 o'clock.