New-York tribune., 1911-01-13
MRS. SCHENK WANTED
TO GET INTO SOCIETY
Nurse Says She Spoke Of Family
as Dutch Devils" and Picked
Out Undertaken.
WOMEN EXCHANGE GLkRES
Alleged Poisoner Directed Her to
Search Packers Clothing I'M
mediately After Death,
Says Witness.

says witness.
Wheeling W Va. ian. FIT vss woman
against woman 9t to-day's session ~ the
schenk trial Alma l. Evans. a profession
al nurse, recited on the stand her story
against Laura Farnsworth Sohenk and the
circumstances that Influenced her 70 sus-
pect that John n. Schenk vas being poi
soned by his wife
Her testimony dealt unspsringly with the
accused woman.
The rain put dsnper on the crowds
that have stood in the streets near the
courthouse every dav since tho trial
started, but the courtroom was comfort
ably filed The dismal weather had it's
depressing influence on all connected with
the case,
II was Miss Evans who attended Schenk
during his Illness, and the state brought
out on direct examination the statement
from her that Mrs. Schenk had lost her
love for the wealthy pork packer. She
testified that time and again Mrs. Schenk
had instructed her that II John died sud-
denly 10 go 10 his trousers pocket as
soon as the breath left his body, abstract
the keys TO his safe deposit box in local
bank and notify her before the Schsuk
family knew Of the death.
You don't know those Dutch devils
like I do" the witness said Mrs. ScnsHk
exclaimed TO her on various occasions
when referring TO members Of the Schenk
family.
Arsenic and Lead in Medicine.
The state also brought out through Or.
Charles Gsser, of Johns Hopkins Uni
versity, that the first bottle Of mineral
water sent him for analysis contained
three and six-tenths grains Of arsenic to
the half gallon, and that the sample OF
hyomel quinne which Schenk was also
taking contained seven grains Of sugar OF
lead 10 the ounce.
Miss Evans further testified that DUN
my" bottles Of medicine were kept in the
bathroom Of the suite occupied by Schenk
at the North Wheeling Hospital. while the
real remedies administered 10 Schenk were
kept in another part OF the building. She
asserted that bottles were placed there as
a deCoy. and that the accused woman had
an opportunity 10 doctor them. She said
Mrs. Schenk had gone into the bathroom,
locked the door and remained inside for
fifteen minutes.
The defence. however. apparently won
4 point when II was declared by Or. Hupp,
who was put on the stand late In the ar
| tcrroon, that the medicine I'm the room had
not been tampered with. and also gained
b. the cross-examnstion Of Dr. Glaser
/ who asserted that second bottle ot min
| eral water, taken from the bathroom: in
which Mrs. Schenk was locked for some
| time. had not been tampered with
The intlmation that the wife had at
/ tempted to poison her husband after he
had been removed to the hospital, the de-
fence claimed was shattered by the fact
/ that broth and other articles Of food pre-
| tared by Mrs Schenk and taken 70 the
! hospital were not given to the patient. but
we're preserved and analyzed, and that nc
trace of poison was found in them.
whats the Matter With Father7"
! The defence attempted 20 draw from
Miss Evans an admission that she wal
/ teaching the two Schenk children the sons
| whats the matter with father, he's al
/ in" and she had been reprimanded by Mrs
/ schenk witness denied the accusation.
| Miss Evans further declared that Mrs
Schenk had the undertaken selected who
was TO have charge of hcr husbands fu'
neral. "I won't have any Dutch funeral,
| she quoted Mrs Schenk as saying, naming
| the undertaken who would be employed by
| the Schenk family and the one whom she
| had picked out herself. and who conducts
/ th,. most exclusive establishment in th'
! city.
| At another time the witness testified
/ Mrs: Schenk had told her that John i'
too old for me- 7 want a young society
/ blood" and that the accused woman had
/ cunfded TO her that John was too much
| Of 2 business man 10 suit her. as she
/ thought she was entitled to break into
society" on account OF her wealth
4 detective-nurse, Mrs. Nota Klein. was
placed on the case soon after Schenk's re-
| n1oval 10 tn. hospital for the purpose 81
| trapping Mrs. Schenk, the defence declares,
/ and Miss Evans stated that Mrs. Schenk
/ became very friendly with the second nurse
/ at once. not knowing her identity.
Miss Evans was subjected 20 A most
/ searching end Al times almost cruel cross
/ examination, but her testimony was not
shaken in any marked degree. Time after
time she went further IN her replies than
the attorney Tor the deteNce anflClpa ted,
until Mr.. O'Brien asserted that the witness
vas prejudiced against his client.
Spectators Notice Hostility.
During thA testimony ~ Miss Evans re-.
heated hostile gsres passed between the
accused woman md the witness. 30 appar-
enf that they we're marked by the SPEC
tstors. and several times there was a
,fsible sneer in the expression Of each
woman
Another line followed by the defence was
an attempt 10 show a conspiracy on tn,
r7rf Of the schenk family against tho &C
cused woman. especially on the part Of
Albert Schenk against hts brother Johns
wife Miss Evans declared II such con
spirscy existed she has never been aware
NJ H. she said she vas employed as nurse
AZ the Scherk home on the racomu7enda-
tion of Mrs HaSkins sister of John g
Scherk. 70 whom she was commanded IN
trrr by Miss Bell, head nurse At Or. Has
kins's hospital
The testimony 81 DR. Glsssr vas largely
technical. and demonstration ~ the sc-
tior og sugar of lead on hvomeI ayinfns
vas made by Dr.. Glaser before The fury.
as well as 2 demonstration of The tost NJ
the mineral water