The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-15
PILL
WASAGREED UPON
Wife Of Millionaire Pork Packer
Fell Into Clcvcrly Laid Trap.
Cold-Blooded Story of At
tempted Murder Is Told
on Witness Stand by
Her Conhdant.
Especial to The Times-Disps

wish to God he'd die"
III give you n thousand dollars to
Kill him
I'm afraid I'll have to wear a dou-
bic veil at his funeral to keep people
from seeing me smile OF joy"
Laura FarnSworth Schcnk. who is on
trial here for poisoning her millionaire
husbanw. John .. Sclcuk, nadc these
declarations as we'll as many others of
almost equal Significance to Miss Eli
nor Klein. a detcctive-nulse. according
TO the testimony of Miss Klein on tho
witness stand to-day.
Led on by the simulated sympathy OF
the nurse-detective. tho miiliouairc's
wife gave her full confidence, and went
so far as to deliver complete instruc-
tions as to how and when Miss Klein
was to administer a poisoned pill, and
what she was to do subsequently,.
| COld-DloOdcd Recital.
The nurses story, told aitn tho cold
bloodcdncs5 of an accomplished wit
ness, was one of the most stirring OF
the trial. AS she narrated ii, she gazed
calmly from time to time at Mrs
Schenk, but the latter never faced her.
She keep her hcad down and coolly
made notes which she passed over to
her lawyers. But for the Klein ordeal
she had stcoled herself.
Miss Klein is II slight. fragile look
ins person In her early ~tllrties Her
voice is as soft as q chiid's, and it was
easy to see from her manner how She
might have won the confidence OF Mrs.
Schcnk. She told of her installation as
nurse by DR.. Hupp, acting under the
instructions OF the prosecutor. and how
she had set about gaining the conf
dcncc of the suspected woman. She
began by fcisning suspicion that Al
bert Schcnk had boon trying 10 get his
sick brother to sign some paper. 1t.
was then that Mrs. Schenk said to her:
Now, Miss Klein If Albert comes
I with what you thing is q will. tcic-
phonn ME at once. Then on somo prc-
text get him out of this sick room and
Keen him until L arrive. And II John
should die go to his rouscrs and got
a bunch OF keys you will lind there.
They open his safe and deposit vaults.
and IT Albert gets them he will go
grab Johns stocks and bonds and de-
vote them to his own use"
Miss Evans, another nurse. prevfous-
Is testified TO having had the same in
structions about the keys.
Wihhcd He'd Die.
Mrs. Schcnk after this told the de-
tcetive of her unhappy life with tho
millionaire. and when Miss Klein SYM
pathizcd with her she exclaimed:
II DR.. llupp knew what Kind of a
life John Schenk had led me, he would
not be so eager maybe to cure him. 7
wish to God he'd die. / rcjoicc every
morning when Miss Evans calls me up
and says that he's worsc.'
Following his incident, Miss Klein
arranged for 4 confidential talk with
Mrs. Schenk outside the hospital. They
went for a short automobile ride. aud
the nurse told Mrs Schenk how she
mad again prevented Albert Schcnk
from trying TO get the sick mLn to sign
the will. AT this, she said. Mrs.
Schenk clappcl her on the knee saying:
Good for You. Miss Klein, good for
you
Was the story you toll Ter true?"
asked the prosecutor.
no sir. | merely told her to gain
confidence still further with her.
Then what happcncd?"
> spoke of her hatred for Albert
Schenk. OF her unhappy life with John.
ana then she volunteered this: Il pray
10 Goo every night that may be
awakened by u message that John
Schcnk is dead. And there are times.
MISS Klein. when 1 feel like killing
him myself
Il said to her then: We'll. why don't
YOU? You have every chance She
looked at me n moment and said:
Would YOU? 1 replied, L don't know,
but can understand how you feel in
the matter
what VIII you take to Civ him Il
pip she asked me. L hcsitatcd and
then said: We'll. I need money badly
enough. Mrs. Schcnk. I'm In debt and
I've got a mother and Il little child 10
support. 1t locks good to me, but T
don't know--you might give mo away
FAN, iuto Trap.
on, Cod exclaimed Mrs. SchcnIz,
I'd give anything in tho world to be
rid of him. Tell mc--i'd never give
YOU away-what would you taka 10
give him somo stuff
I have to have $1,000 I told
her
"'oh, Lordy.' she replied. r haven't
got $4,000. but I'll give lou $1,000"
Miss Klein dcmurrod to this, hut said
she would agree il Mrs. Schenk would
furnish the poison and give her n
written promise to pay more later.
Mrs. Schcnk refused to give any prom.
Use In writing. but said she would get
the stuff" She also said that Miss
Klein, instead OF fleeing the country
after the deed. would havo to '.stay
and stand pat"
IF you went right away she said,
. 1T would make them all suspicious.
and nothing would please Albert
sehenk better than that. My God.
no. you must not go away"
Prosecutor Handla at this point in
CURED on what part Of tho motor trim
this conversation had taken place.
u The witness said 1t was on the way
to the country. He asked if there was
any Interruption in tho discussion OF
the poisoning plan, and Miss Klein
replied: "Ouly this: / said to Mrs.
Schenlt. Isn't It possible that Your
chauffeur up In front there may DO
hearing what we say2 Hadn't wo bet