New-York tribune., 1911-01-11

~LET HIM DIE"-WIFE QUOTED
Physicians Give Sensational
Testimony-Tests Revealed
Lead Poisoning-Arsenic
Also Alleged.

Wheeling. ". Va, Jan. ln.--Exiternant
marked the first day OF testimony in the
trial Of Mrs Laura Farnsworth Schenk
charged with poisoning her husba nd.
Within the courtroom an almost ire
pressible crowd Of women spectators
were constantly raped to order by Judge
Jordan, as startling bits of testimony
caused suppressed outhursts that inter-
fered with the proceedings. on the out
side women fought fercely to get in,
tearing off each others clothing
Twice to-day the police outside the
1 courthouse were carried before the on
slaught of the women. at the opening Of
the building early in the morning and
again in the afternoon following recess.
! The orders to admit only IS many as
can be seated are strictly carried out by
detail of police. No minors arc al
lowed In the room In the afternoon
! the rush into the building was so sudden
that several women were knocked down
and trampled upon, and one woman.
Mrs. Amelia Kiren, was taken 20 the
hospital after the police had beat the
crowd back.
| Says She Predicted Husbands Death
The disorder within the courtroom
/ started at the testimony Of the first Wit
ness Of the day. William Wolfe. who had
travelled in Europe with John O. Schenk,
the alleged poison victim. Wolfe testi
| fed to Schenk's good health during the
| European trip. and there were gasps
/ from the spectators hat brought sharp
rcbuke from the bench when the wit
! ness in detailing a conversation with
Mrs Schenk quoted her as saying
Billy don't think John will live
long"
Mrs Schenk made the declaration, ac-
cordng TO Wolfe, after the return from
! Europe. when Schenk was stricken with
his strange illness.
| Dr Gregory Alderman was called, and
testified that Schenk was suffering with
! lead poisoning before DR.. +. l.. Hupp
was brought into the case and that he
had been brought from a local hospital
after remaining there only a few days.
! lie advised the patient while in the hos
pital not To cat anything brought him
! from his home. Every symptom of lead
/ poisoning was found in his blood tests,
| declared Dr. Ackerman. as we'll as in all
other tests made The defence passed
| oss-examination pending further direct
| questioning, and Or. y. Bigar Best was
! called
| 1t was apparent at this point that the
| state was cndeavoring to show that two
poisons had been administered to Sclenk.
| 1t was in the afternoon that the half
! hysterical spectators were most severely
! reprimanded. II came when Or. Hupp
/ was testifying. II was Dr. Hupp who
revealed the alleged poison plot and took
| Schonk from his home 10 the hospital
/ Dr. Hupp was on the stand until ad-
! jOurnment tonight II was shown bv
| his statements that Schenk was suffer
! ing from two poisons, acetate of lead
and arsenic
The dramatic incident came when he
/ said that on one visit 10 the Schenk
home he quoted Mrs. Schenk az saving
| TO him: Perhaps | would be better sat
isfied IL you would let him die"
Found Sediment in Bottles.
The witness also told of blood tests
/ he had made, Of the analysis Of mineral
waters Schenk was using, and also #
the analysis OF medicines he Hupp) had
prescribed. Several Of the bottles he
saw about the sick room aroused his
suspicious because Of a sediment in
them, and il is these he had analyzed.
| The analyses were not admitted To cvi-
dence at this time.
This was the only stage Of the days
proceedings at which Mrs Schenk dis
played any agitation. She dropped her
| head and grew pale as the allegation
was made. Earlier in the day. during
the testimony Of Wolfe, she listened in
tcntly. and sneered when he told Of he-
prediction OF her husbands death.
Mrs. Schenk was smiling as she en-
tered the courtroom this morning. and
to the salutations OF her counsel she re-
/ piled: Il am feeling fine. | am particu-
| larly we'll pleased with the jury and [
am sure | will get Justice"
When she too. her seat before Judge
Jordan she again carried the big ledger
! ike book in which she had written cOpi-
ous notes She repeatedly referred %
] this. Nearly every page is filed with
/ mcneil or pen notes, names and dates
During most of the time the trial is
| going on Mrs. Schenk is in conversation
! With one or another Of her attorneys
' when not so engaged she leans back in
her chair. and with her hands partly in
, the pockets Of her coat studies the Judge
and the Jury Seldom does she notice
,he prosecuting attorney. although ap-
narentIv she misses nothing he says
The prosecuting attorney, j. b. Hand
Ian asserts IL will take until Saturday
night to present his evidence. after
Witch il will take the defence about
thr.n days TO present it's side Of the case
Indgo Jordan is desirOus of closing the
Sc by Saturday night. and has inti-
mated that il will be done, even If night
sessions are held
Tbe hIV is segregated, being locked
r,, at n hotel near the courthouse at
nicbt and also taking their meals there.
a,,srded by deputy shcriffs.
NOM IAMlE RESIGNS