Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-22
SCHENK: DEFENSE IN
Sensational Testimony Fails to
MateriaIize.
ACCUSED NOT ON STAND
Witnesses Assail Characters of Miss
Kline and Myers.
LAWYERS IN MANY WRANGLES
Prosecutor Handlan Begins Rebuttal
and Jury Probably Will Receive
the Case Tomorrow.
ACCUSED NOT ON STAND
LAWYERS IN MANY WRANGLES
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
WHEELING, w. Va, January 2l.-
After presenting q defense that is re-
garded as weak, the attorneys for Mrs.
Laura Farnsworth Schenk, on trial on
charge Of having tried to kill her hus-
band, rested their case this afternoon.
Contrary to all expectations, they did
not place the woman on the stand to
tell her life story. Neither did they
present any of the sensational evidence
they said they had showing that Albert
Schenk. her brother-in-law, had given
her husband the poison because he hated
her and wanted her driven in disgrace
from the rich family.
In fact, all the defense did was to as
sail the characters Of the states two
most important witnesses-Miss Elinor
Kline, the detective-nurse who swore that
Mrs. Schenk offered a ne-thousand- dol
lar bride to kill Schenk, and John w. |
Myers. who testified that he gave Mrs
Schenk poison of the sort which was
afterward found in her husbands medi-
cine.
Despite the weakness Of the defense, |
Mrs. Schenk and her lawyers are conf |
that the jury will believe that DR.. Myers
the only person whose testimony went
to prove that there had been poison in
the woman's possession-is a malprac-
tttioner whose word could not be taken |
on oath. and that Miss Kline whose
testimony about the bride was most dam |
aging. Is morphine fiend They say that
II these two witnesses are disregarded
the states case falls to pieces.
Jurors Take Case Lightly.
Another thing Mrs. schenk and her
attorneys think is in their favor is the
fact that the jurors apparently have
begun to take the whole business rather
lightly. During the last couple Of days |
there have been countless disputes over
points Of law. during the argument OF
which the twelve good men and true
have been sent out of the room. Last
night and today they began to regard |
this as joke and would go out laugh |
ing and return with their faces wreathed
in smiles. Several times when disputes |
began they arose without instruction and
departed merrily.
They will probably receive the case |
Monday. Following the resting Of the |
defense today Prosecutor Handlan began
his rebuttai, which consisted entirely IN |
bringing forward witnesses to swear that
Dre Myers and Miss Kline were persons |
Of good reputation. who might be be-
lieved.
The night session OF the court lasted
only an hour and five minutes and little
Roadway was made. most of the time be-
ing consumed In wrangles by the attor-
neys At the start Prosecutor Handlan
demanded a limit to the number Of wit
nesses put on by the defense in an at
tempt to impeach the testimony OF DR..
Myers. The three attorneys for Mrs.
Schenk were on their feet together, de-
claring such proceedings improper before
the jury.
Judge Bangs Gavel.
Frequent banging OF the gavel by Judge
Jordan was necessary to maintain order,
and Mr.. Handlan said: "If can't get |
the ear of the court ask to be excused |
from this case"
You will not be excused" replied the |
judge.
Mr.. Handlan then scored counsel for |
the defense, saying they could not serape |
up another witness to malign DR.. Myers
unless they went into the medical society |
for one.
The prosecuting attorney and Mrs. |
Schenk's counsel continued to threaten
each other until Judge Jordan quoted
them. Then the latter set a limit on ten
more character witnesses. These were
business and professional men, and when
they had been heard they made twenty
nine that had been called as character
witnesses for DR.. Myers. When the last
witness had testified court adjourned
DR.. s. L. Jepson, an expert, was the
first witness for the defense this morn
ing. He said that in his opinion John
Schenck was not suffering at the time of
his wife's arrest from either lead or ar
Senic poisoning.
DR.. John Osburn, the defense's other
expert. said the same thing yesterday.
4. hui
the defense in its summing up. that the
millionaire was not poisoned at all. but
was suffering from some obscure malady.
Kisses Accused Woman.
Mrs. John Lasch, who had known John
Schenk and his wife for about ten years
and lived near them on Wheeling Island.
declared that the Schenks always APP
peared loving and devoted. and that the
defendant was especially devoted to her
husband.
AS she left the stand Mrs. Lasch passed
the table at which Mrs. Schenk sat. Stop
ping for a moment. she put her arms
about the defendant and kissed her af
fectionately. AS the old lady departed |
Mrs. Schenk. deeply impressed by the |
greeting. bowed her head In her hands
for time. Then she had to brush the |
tears from her eyes.
Isaac Smith. a white-bearded veteran
Of eighty-fOur, who knew the defendant |
since she was Laura Farnsworth. q pau |
per child of six, was called for the pur-
pose of telling about her early strug- |
gles-how her mother was weak-minded, |
her father worthless and how she had to |
make her own way in the world since |
babyhood. But the court would not al |
low Smith to testify. deciding that the |
defendants early history was immateriaL |
A final assault upon the reputation Of |
Dr. Myers brought the defense to q |
close Henry Schrebe. a prominent citi- |
Gen. swore he would not believe Myers |
on oath. So did DR.. E. f. Plant and DR.. |
J. b. Morrison. The latter also testified !
that DR.. Myers works in the santa |
rum Of DR.. Haskins-the latter being q |
brother-in of Albert Schenk-and !