Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-17
DETECTIVE-NURSE UNDER FIRE
Woman Sent to Spy on Mrs. Schenk
is Cross Examined.
STICKS TO HER FIRST STORY
says that Defendant Told Her that
She would re Well Provided
For After schenk IN
Dead.

WHEELING. w. Va, Jan. l6.-There are
so many sides and angles in the trial Of
Mrs. Laura Farnsworth Schenk, charged
with attempting to murder her husband.
that attorneys are now convinced it will
be several weeks before it is finally con-
cIuded in the Ohio county courts
Judge Jordan has done all in his power
to expedite the trial Prosecutor Handlan
will not have his evidence in until January
~ and the defense expects to consume a
week in presenting its side This will bring
the trial to tho end of next week with
opt the argument
Mrs. schenk spent Sunday quietly in her
Tower room and Il was stated devoted
much Of the time to reading letters, which
are pouring in on ner at the rate OF 100 a
day from all parts of the English-speaking
world. Some Of them have been given out
for publication, all Of them being senti-
ments In her favor. one contained a pro-
posal of marriage.
Miss Eleanor Zoeckler, the detective
nurse, who had been known at the hospital
where schenk was taken as Mrs. Klein,
and who gave much damaging evidence
against Mrs. Schenk on Saturday, was on
the stand when court convened today. The
crowd was as large as ever in spite of the
bitter cold and the court room was filled
long before the hour for the taking OF
testimony
OFFER from Mrs. Schenk.
Mrs. .Schenck told me on one occasion
saidfth witness In a voice so low that II
could not be heard in the audience, that
when John schenk died l would be wei
provided for Friday following the offer
TO give me 5000 to poison Mr.. schenk
Mira Schenk came to the hospital and
asked me to be left alone in the room with
schenk for a few minutes. We left them
alone, and there were high words between
them, On one occasion l remarked tC
Mrs. sehenk, Well, he's making some i'm
provement and she replied, Yes, 10 my
sorrow. ." ft
In answer TO the questions Of Prosecute
Hsndlan as to what Mrs schenk had sait
TO the witness after her arrest and they
were alone, the detective said:
4 said Just look what you have go
me into and she said, Shut up. you fool
don't tell anything"
Miss zoeekier stated that prior to thii
time she came here to work on the cas-,
she knew nothing OF the schenks, although
she is distantly related to them.
Cr0sa-Examfnation II severe
She reiterated that she had been in
structed by Prosecutor Handlan to eatcl
Mrs. schenk by any means possible. Mis-
Zoeekler spent troublous hour or two II
cross-exaninRtion at the hands of Attor
ney s. o. Boyce for the defense.
You were paid money for lying and lay
ing traps for Mrs. Schenk were your
asked Mr.. Boyce.
II was instructed TO do what l could"
The private and public life of the witness
was then gone into in detail. She related
that her husband. DIR. X. Ley, had OBJ
tained a divorce from her and she hst
earned her living in Pittsburg as a nurs,
for a time and then worked in stores an,
later went into detective work for a pri
vate agency. The schenk case was he
first work.
what did you say to Mrs. Schenk whel
she said II anything happened to John
you were to get the keys OF his safe de
posit vault before Albert got them?" aske,
Attorney Boyce.
Il said l was afraid I would get int
trouble. l was ir the room with her a