The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-01-24
Defense IS BEGUN
State Rests Its Case in
Poisoning Trial.
PROMISES ONE MORE THRILLER
Prosecutor Says He Will Show
Where Mrs. Sohsnk Secured Ar
senic When She Goes on
the Stand.

Wheeling, w. Va. Jan. 20. - The
state rested its case in the trial OF
Mrs. Laura Farnsworth Schenk, ac-
cused OF poisoning her husband. John
o. Schenk, and the defense put on It's
witness in the person of DR.. John j.
Osborne. a poison expert.
Thus far in the presentment Of the
case the state has introduced testi-
moRy to show that Mr.. Schenk was In
good health while on trip abroad
last May, and that he became Ill short
~ after his return.
That physicians determined he was
suffering from lead and arsenic poison
ing and that water and medicine taken
from the Schenk. home and analysed
by chemists contained lead and ar
senic.
That Mrs. Schenk indicated no love
for her husband and sought the com
pany OF a younger man.
That she had predicted his death
and had talked about the kind OF fu'
nerals she liked.
That she made a proposition to a
detective nurse TO give her $1,000 II
she would give to Mr.. Schenk a poison
pill.
That she had been on night JOY rides
with a young man and that she had
told the chauffeur OF her car that her
relations with the young man we're Of
a criminal nature.
That she had procured sugar OF lead
from DR.. Myers and also had asked
him for Fowler's solution Of arsenic,
which he refused her.
Didn't Find Poison Symptoms
Dr. Osborne was permitted to make
an examination OF Johl o. Schenk on
Nov. is, which was after he had prac-
tically recovered from the effects OF
the arsenic and lead alleged to have
been given him. Dr. Osborne testified
that when he examined Schenk he did
not find any symptoms OF arsenical
poisoning or OF lead poisoning. Char
acteristic symptoms OF arsenical pol
sonlng. he described az emaciation, a
bronze color OF the skin. wrist drop or
paralysis and vomiting, with a con-
tinual hunger. None Of these symp
toms. he said, did John Schenk evince
when the physician made his examina-
ton.
On crOss-examinstiOn DR.. Osborne
wouldn't say that Schenk didn't suffer
from both arsenical and lead poisoning
and he wouldn't say that the symptoms
described by expert medical witnesses
for the state we're not indicative OF
both arsenical and lead poisoning. The
witness told OF twenty-seven cases OF
lead and arsenical poisoning, both in
acute and chronic stages, that he had
attended, and admitted that in a great
many cases not all OF the Characters
tic symptoms developed.
Physicians who testified for the state
said that at the time Schenk drank
the Ballardyale water supposed to
have contained nine-tenths OF a grain
of white arsenic to the pint he was
emaciated, suffered with enaemis, was
visited with violent vomiting spells and
had dysentery. all Of which DIR. Os-
borne said were symptoms Of arsenical
poisoning and also stages OF lead poi
soning.
The state has promised one more
thriller. which will come In the re-
buttal testimony. Prosecutor Handlan
says that he is waiting for Mrs.
Schenk to go on the stand in her own
defense before he introduces his evil
dence to show that she actually pur-
chacad Fowler's solution Of ARISEN
and put 1t in her husbands drinking
water