Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-18


WHEELING, W. Va. January IS
Judge l.. S Jordan. who is presiding at
the trial of Mrs. Laura Farnsworth
Schenk. under indictment for attempting
to poison her husband. a millionaire pork
packer. today announ sed that beginning
with this afternoons session women will
be haired from the courtroom. He said
ne did not want the morals of the COM
munity corrupted.
DR. Burns Cross-Examined.
The cross-examination Of DR.. j. Edward
Burns. the physician who was called in
consultation in John Schenk's illness by
DIR. Hupp, was resumed by Attorney j.
j. P. OBrien for the defense in the trial
of Mrs. Schenk.
DR.. Burns admitted there were many
ways one may become i'll of lead poison
ing. He admitted the symptoms up to
october 81 were similar to those In ma
laria, but no parasites were found in his
blood.
Or. Burns denied that Schenks physi-
clans were baffied at his illness and de-
cided to have his drinking water analysed
before they decided what was wrong.
question was raised by Attorney
o Brien as to the size of cubic milli-
meter of blood used in making tests. and.
AT the suggestion of Prosecutor Handlan.
Drs- Thornton and Burns will bring their
instruments into court this afternoon and
show this amount of blood under
microscope to the members of the jury.
No Indication of Other Disease.
O'Brien tried to get the physician to ad-
NIT that the conditions of the blood Of John
Schenk would be found in case of
loathsome disease. but DIR. Burns said he
found no indications of this disease in
the patient. Witness admitted the condi-
tions could be caused by Bright's disease
On redirect examination by the prose-
cutor witness said Schenk did not have
BriSht'S disease.
DIR. Burns said the one and one-eighth
grains of arsenic administered in hemo
quinine over a period of five days, as
given the patient by DIR. Hupp. would not
have bad effect. The medicine given
John Schenk, if not drugged, he said,
would not account for his condition.
DR.. Alderman Recalled.
DIR. Gregory Alderman, who was re-
called, said he did not discover the blush
black line on John Schenks gums the
first time he saw him. The line was the
most prominent he had ever seen, and
could not have been caused by any gum
disease. He was positive it was caused
by lead.
Witness diagnosed the case as lead
poisoning the second day after he first
visited Schenk at the City Hospital
lie advised the patient to eat and drink
only at the hospital. because his home
was the only place he could think John
could get lead. as he did not have occa-
sion to work or be where he was liable
10 contract lead poisoning. He also
concluded, from condition found, that
the lead was being administered through
the stomach.
nr. Alderman said the reason ne ceased
attending Schenk was because his in
Structions We're violated.
asked hypothetical question by the
prosecutor, assuming all that had been
testified to regarding Schenks condition
WAS true, and he had received lead and
arsenic in his medicine and in his drink
ng water, the physician replied he would
diiagonose the case as lead poisoning and,
later. arsenic poisoning
Not Bright's Disease.
s On cross-examination by OBrien DIR.
.tckerman would not admit Schenk had
apy symptoms of B-ight's disease lie
said three-auarters to one and one-half
grains of arsenic would be fatal dose
10 an ordinary person. but arsenic eaters
often ate as high a. eight grains per
day, John Schenk did not show signs
OF being an arsenic eater, although he
had not examined him fer this.
III John Schenk had taken the amount
Of arsenic he is said TO have gotten in the
Rallsriyale water il was only the vonit-
ing that saved his life. the physician
said
Pathologist Recalled.
DR. Thornton. pathologist. was recalled.
and said his first examination of
Schenk he did not reach conclusion as
To what was wrong. The hypothetical
question was put to him. and he said his
conclusion would be the patient suffered
first from lead and later from arsenic
poisoning. lie said man could be dam
gorously i'll of lead or arsenic poisoning
and not he confined to his bed
George 4. Coleman. a young chemist.
told of securing. with Attorney o Brien,
what was left of the consignment of bot
ties of Ballardvale water after Mrs
Schenk had purchased one of the bottles
at the McAllister drug store. He tested
the contents Of all the bottles, and found
no arsenic or lead.
Describes Arsenic Poison.
DIR. John W. Maliett, emeritis professor
Of chemistry al University of Virginia
testified that the amount of arsenic in
TWO ounces of Fowler's solution would be
equivalent To nine grainS He said lead
and arsenic were not antagonistic poisons
and many Of the symptoms of each would
be similar. httorney Boyce asked the
witness how much was getting for
testifyiuS. but the prosecutor objected TO
he. he liSf
having answered the prosecutor paid him.
and tile question was ruled out. Court
adjourned at noon.
Tine Strain is beginning TO tell on Mrs.
Schenk. When she appeared in the court
room this morning her face was drawn.
lines were perceptible and SHE wore a
worried look. The strain is also begin
ming To tell on the jurors. some of whom
are haggard in appearance. The state
may complete it's case today.
ACCUSED WIFE ON Bali: