The evening world., 1911-01-14
$1,000 TO MURDER
HUSBAND OFFERED
BY MRS. SCHENK?
Woman Detective Swears Mil
lionaire's Wife Asked Her to
dope" the Sick Man.

WHEELING, w. Va, Ian H.-Details
OF the poison plot by which Mrs. Laura
Farnsworth Schenk Is alleged to have
planned to rid herself OF the elderly mill
ionaire packer were related on the stand
to-day by Mrs. Klein" the detective
nurse. who had been employed to trap
tho accused woman.
The witness told . graphic story Of
the events that led up 60 Mrs. sohsnk's
arrest. The most startling part OF
which was . reported offer by Mrs.
schsnk Of $1,000 to the woman dstso-
tive to poison sohsnk.
A silence fell over the courtroom as
she talked. There was not a more in
terested auditor than the prisoner. who.
unconscious OF observation. leaned for
ward until she was almost out OF her
chair. She kept her eyes on the slight
woman In the witness chair. Sometimes
her lips moved and her head would
shake as though IN denial OF the damag-
ing testimony.
To Give 1.-THE Stuff"
The detective. pretty. slim and small
featured. made a composed witness. She
' frequently made gestures and addressed
! her remarks always 20 the Jury.
Tit story OF the intimacy between
| Mrs. schenk and herself; the wife's
complaints of her husbands treatment:
her repeatedly expressed wish for his
death and finally the deliberate proposal
Of his murder was contained in the
detectives testimony.
Mrs. Schenk, the witness said, Of.
fered $1,000 to the supposed nurse to
| administer "the stun" That she Of
fered to procure the poison, but be-
came a~pprehensive n urged the
nurse to consummate the plot Of her
own accord was declared.
Mrs. Klein.' whose real name 10
Mrs. Einor Zoeckler, told how she had
been able to ingratiate herself into
Mrs. schenk's favor and obtain her
confidence. From time to time she
smiled as she related incidents mark
ing her progress.
Mrs. schenk apparently trusted ths
little detective and offered her a real
friendship. Immediately encouraged and
fostered to gain the desired end.
"Oh. I am SO unhappy" tho witness
said the packers wife would say in
speaking OF her married life. 1t was
upon one Of these fearful occasions, &C.
cording to the testimony. that the al
legged plan to administer tho "knockou,
drops to the already suffering million
aire was broached.
mot Worried" Says Prisoner.
When the ~denouement came. and the
Jury at last had the ''mtsslng llnk'' IL
the States case, there was a second o.
peculiar silence, then an audible lons
breath came from the spectators. TIL,
witness settled back In her chair ant
ton.
The prisoner was quite mot!onies,
until tho detectives steady vote
stopped. Then she placed her elbow
on the table and. chin in hands. looked
} out OF the window at the sheer wal
Of an adjoining building. Her face wa
absolutely without expression. Present.,
, she turned and whispered to one OF he
attorneys.
NO, l am not worried" she said upo
request for a statement. II am no
oven ervou I think my case Is goin
quite satisfactorily. l really believ
that"
with the testimony of the detectiv
the States case Is more than two
. thirds completed. Further evidence wi
bear upon Mrs. Scbenk's alleged inf
n deity before and during her husband
illness and the circumstances OF II
purchase OF the poison she Is said
have administered.
The woman detective IN beginning hs
testimony first told OF going TO Il
y hospital as a nurse for m~lllionalI
Schenk. who had just been taken thei
% from has home at the instances OF h
brother Albert. Il was there she fir
I. met Mrs. schenk,
a Ibid Mrs. Schenk become friend
with your the prosecutor asked.
d She was very reticent the first day
a the witness replied.
Talked Of Albert Schenk.
1.-THE next day when Mrs. scher
- came to the hospital / invited her In
. a private room for a conference Il
N detective related. While We were
al the room I told her that Albert Scher
e had jus, called with a paper for Jol
Schenk to sign. l had been instruct,
to do this. She asked what It look,
OF like. / told her 1t resembled a recei
or a check.
''Shs said she was sfyaaA - AAss