The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-07
MRS. SCHENCK TO
Be TRIED MONDAY
Wheeling, w. Va, Charged
With Attempt to Kill
Wealthy Husband.
american News seryice)

american News Service)
Wheeling. W. Va. Jan. 7.-All prep
arations have been practically com
plcted and. unless some unforeseen con.
tingency should arise, the trial of Mrs.
Laura Farnsworth Schenck, who Is
charged with the attempt 10 poison
her husband. John q. Schenck. null
ti-miilIonairc and president of the +.
Schcnck Packing Co. founded by his
father. Fred Schenck. will begin in the
criminal court of this city on Monday.
next The trial had originally been
set for December 10, OF last year. but
as the request Of counsel for the de-
tense. Judge Jordan granted Il post
ponement to January 2.
Owing TO the wealth and social
prominence of the Schenck family, the
case has attracted more than ordin-
AIRY interest. not alone In this city,
the home Of the Schencks. but
throughout the state and In much wild
err circles. The case presents many
interesting features and II is expected
the defense will make bitter fight. re-
lying upon plea OF insanity to save
the defendant. IL is believed that
facts OF the most sensational nature
will be brought out in the course of
the trial and there is no doubt that
large crowds will fiji the court room
at every session OF the court.
The case will be heard before Judge
Lewis II. Jordan and jury In the
criminal court. Prosecuting Attorney.
J. Bernie Handlan will conduct the
case for the state, and will have the
support Of his assistance. The de-
Tense will be represented by 7. J. p.
O'I8ricn as leading counsel and sever
nj other prominent lawyers as advis-
0rs.
The Schenck family Is well known In
this part Of the country and its his
tory as prominent social factor be.
gan with Fred Schenck. who started
In business nearly fifty years ago and
accumulated a fortune estimated at
twelve to fifteen millions in the pork
packing industry. lie founded the +.
Echcnck Packing company and re-
NAMED at Its head until his son. John
o Schenck. who had been active in the
business for a number OF years, be-
came president Of the concern and its
leading spirit. John was successful
and his individual wealth is cstimat.
cd Mt more than $4,000 900.
Mrs. Schenck, the daughter of +. c.
Farnsworth, II plain carpenter, was a
cook In the home Of J. G.. Tomiinson.
n retired official of the Pennsylvania
railroad. when she first met Schenck.
va nf
Tomlinson and.at that time. about fiji.
teen years ago. was "a frequent visitor
to the Tomlinson home. Schcnck then
a young man of thirty. was attracted
by Laura Farnsworth. then pretty
girl OF twenty-five. II was easy for
them to meet frequently and II caused
n little surprise. mt least in the Tom
linscn family. when Schenck propos-
ed to the attractive cook and was &C
cepted.
They were married. and to all out
ward appearances, seemed to live hap
PLY together. Two children were born
to them. Virginia. now twelve, and
Robert. now seven years OF age. Her
husbands great wealth and his high
social standing gave Mrs. Schenck con-
siderable prestige and she found no
difficulty In maintaining a leading po-
sition In society. She and her hus-
band were members Of the Wheeling
Country club and entertained a great
deal In n mancr befitting their wealth
and social standing.
In the fall of last year Mr.. Schenck
became Ill. In spite of the most careful
treatment by his physician. DIR.
Frank l.. Hupp. the condition of the
patient did not improve. The symp-
toms were of such a nature that DIR.
Hupp began to suspect that his pa.
tient was suffering from the effects
Of poisoning. without betraying his
suspicion he sent some Lithia water,
which Mr.. Schenck was In the habit
Of drinking. to the chemists Of Johns
Hopkins university for analysis. An.
other sample he sent to a chemist in
New York.
When the chemists OF Johns Hop
kins university reported that the sam
pie OF Lithia water sent to them by
DIR. Hupp. had been found to contain
arsenic. DR.. Hupp ordered the removal
of his patient to the North Wheeling
hospital and communicated the result
Of his investigation to the authorities.
On November 2. Mrs. Schenck. who
had vainly protested against the re.
moval OF her husband to the hospital.
was arrested on a charge of attempt.
ed 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
was awaiting her trial. her husband
who had been dangerously near
deaths door. slowly recovered and re.
gained his health travelling in Europe
IL is believed that Mr.. Schenck will
refuse to testify against his wife. The
defense will try to prove that Mr.
Schenck will refuse TO testify against
his wife. The defense will try to prove
that Mrs. Schcnck was not Of sound
mind and that insanity was hereditary
In her family.
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