New-York tribune., 1911-01-10
SCHENK JURY COMPLETED
Defendant Assists in Choosing
Panel Of Young Married Men.
JUDGE BARS CURIOUS CROWD
Swarm on Outside of Courtroom
Where Millionaire Packers
Wife Faces Poison Charges.

Wheeling. W Va, Jan. "A jury was
selected on the first day OF the trial OF
Mrs. laura Farnsworth schenk. OF this
city. who IS charged with administering
poison TO her husband, John O. Schenk, a
wealthy pork packer. After calling Two
panels Of talesmen the twelve men VINO
will hear the evidence were decided upon
just before adjournment OF court tonight.
but not before the state had struck OF
two and the defence six of the panel OF
twenty.
Mrs. Schenk in stylish attire had oeen
brought from the Ohio County tal 10 the
courtroom and showed great interest III
the examination OF the prospective jurors
She carried book the size OF a ledger con-
tanning notes and suggestions for the trlal
and A history Of the proceedings. fre-
quently she suggested questions TO her
counsel Several times following whispered
consultations between Mrs. Schenk ana
her attorneys, business and social connec-
tions OF the talesmen and the Schenk ram
ilv were developed Mrs. Schenk appeared
satisfied with most Of the jurymen. the
majority Of whom are young married men.
Various talesmen were excused because
Of their positive opinion OF the case. one
said he read the newspapers and believed
all he read several had already formed
opinions and could not be induced 10
change n by evidence while Milton Nc
Culloch, a young farmer. was about to be
accepted as the last juror when the ex-
animation brought out that he was a
cousin of A nurse who attended Schenk
while ne was in the hospital.
When the Jury had been impanelled the
attorneys made their opening statements
10 the court The introduction of evidence
viii begin tomorrow. In his statement
Prosecuting Attorney J. y. Handlan dwelt
mainly upon the charge that the wife had
actually succeeded in administering poison
to Schenk He asserted that the state
would be able to show that lead poison
was first administered. and that arsenic
was given later. Schenk, he said, returned
from Europe strong and healthy in May
and within a few days the effects OF the
poison were noticeable
J. J. p. O'Brien. Mrs Schenk's attorney,
a-rais7ed members OF the Schenk family,
whom he declared had entered into cOIr-
sriracy against the defendant charging
one Of them with persecution Of his client
and refusing her admission TO the city
store Of the schenk packing irm.
Throughout the day the courtroom was
packed. the crowd assembling long before
the time for convening court in the morn
ing The doors We're finally locked and
adrittance refused to hundreds who were
eager TO get glimpse Of the prisoner.
Among It's witnesses the state has sum-
moned DR.. J. w. Mallett, of the University
OF Virginia. himself F. r. S. and brother
OF DR.. Mallett, of England, chemist 10 the
late Queen Victoria and also TO the present
King DR.. Glazer, of Johns Hopkins Uni
versity, is another witness A number of
additional witnesses were summoned by the
defence to-day, most OF whom are from the
section Of Peasants and Tyler counties
where Mrs. Schenk lived during her girl
hood
Judge L. s. Jordan, who is presiding Is
OF mature years. and does not believe IN
sensations. He has ordered that there shal
be no crowdng in the courtroom, and only
such spectators as can be comfortably
seated will be permitted to hear the testi-
mony A large throng swarmed outside the
courthouse to-day.
The state is looked after nv Prosecuting
Attorney J. 3. Handlan. while J. j. P.
OBrien. Frank O'Brien and g c. Boyce
appear for Mrs Schenk.