Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-21
Prosecutor Says Mrs. Schenk
Admitted Truth of Charges.
DENIAL By HER COUNSEL
Tumultuous Scenes in the Court
room During Trial.
DEFENDANT NOT TO TESTIFY
Hearing in Case of Woman Accused
OF Attempting to Poison
Her Husband
Special Dispatch 10 Tho Star.

Special dispatch 10 Tho Star.
WHEELING, W. Va, January III
Plans of both the prosecution and tile
defense in the trial of Mrs Laura Farms
worth Schenk, charged with poisoning
her husband, have been knocked helter-
SHELTER since the tumultuous sessions OF
yesterday and last night and the wrang-
ling of attorneys punctuated by the
pounding Of the judges gavel that
seemed to increase with each hour yes
terday has begun TO get on the nerves
of all connected with the case.
Attorneys of this city and some from
Pittsburg who have come here to see how
the case has been conducted-from a pro-
fessional standpoint-were outspoken last
night after the adjournment, freely ex-
pressing the opinion that they had never
seen SO hard-fought battle of legal
talent. The three attorneys for Mrs.
Schenk, j. J. O'Brien and Frank
O'Brien and Attorney Boyce. as well as
Prosecuting Attorney J. b. Handlan,
have begun to show the traces of the
strain.
Prosecutor Makes Statement.
room when criminal court convened at
$50, a report having been circulated that
Mrs. Schenk would be put on the stand
by the defense Just before the trial
opened, however, Prosecutor J. y. Hand
Ian said he felt positive Mrs. Schenk
would not be called as a witness.
please quote me as saying" said the
prosecutor, that the defense has good
reason for not wanting to put her on the
stand. Mrs. Schenk practically admitted
to me that she was guilty the night she
tell me all about 1t the next day. but the
next day she had employed counsel and
I was not allowed to see her"
Denied by Defendants Attorney.
When questioned concerning the alleged
assertion of Prosecutor Handlan that
Mrs. Schenk had made confession to
him. Attorney O'Brien denied it. saying
she had never made a confession and al
ways maintained her innocence.
The opening was half an hour late
Judge Jordan and the attorneys having
been worn out by yesterdays long strain.
Mrs. Schenk entered alone, several min
utes before her attorneys, and appeared
to be in better spirits than at any time
during the week. 1t was almost 10
o'clock when the first witness was called
a number of other cases on the criminal
docket being taken up and set for trial.
Physician Testifies for Defense.
DR.. s. L. Jepson was the first witness
this morning. He testified he called at
the hospital to examine Schenk November
10. at the request Of Attorney O'Brien.
Except for loss OF color and slight loss of
weight Schenck was a normal man. Wit
ness said he had decided the patient was
suffering from arsenic. but not chronic
arsenical poisoning. The patients kid
neys, DR.. Jepson said, indicated he had
BrightS disease.
DR.. Jepson is one Of the most promi-
nent medical authorities in the state. He
has practiced forty-one years and Is edi-
tor OF the West Virginia Medical Journal.
.rhe witness told Of having visited
Schenk In the hospital and making va
rious tests.
From What you learned asked ]. ].
p. O'Brien, plus what DR.. Hupp told
you, didn't you come to the conclusion
that he was suffering from gastric trou-
mo, / couldn't say that He had evil
IDENTIFY had some arsenic
Symptoms Indicate Poison.
On cross-examination he said that
Schenk was undoubtedly big, healthy
man before his alleged poisoning, and
had lost much weight since. He ad-
mitted that all symptoms which he found
indicated that Schenk was suffering from
chronic lead poison and also arsenical
poisoning.
Mrs. Jane Hedges furnished the first
real thrill of the defense. On direct
examination she said: ALBERT Schenk
III o.
six-thousand- dollar automobile, and that
Albert said, L hope she breaks her neck
the first time she goes out In 1t. l will
leave no stone unturned TO get that
woman out of the family"
Handlan Has to Apologize.