The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-01-14
ECKONTOMOTHER.
Children Throw Kisses to
Mrs. SChenk in Cell.
STATES EXPERT ON STAND
Defense Tried to Show Schenk's Ill
ness Could Have Been Caused
by Other Than Administer
ing Arsenic.

Wheeling, w. Va. jan. l2.-There
was pathetic incident in the trial OF
Mrs. Laura Farnsworth ScAenk, ac'
cused of poisoning her husband, when
the Schenk children. Virginia, twelve
years old, and Rob, aged seven years,
discovered the window in their moth
er's cell in the Wheeling jail.
The children were at the court house
with their father. and while he was in
one of the Offices they climbed out OF
the automobile and fastened to the
tower.
Throw kisses Rob, it's mothers
window" said the little girl as the win
dow in the tower was raised little,
and. waving their hands and shouting
the little ones fairly bombarded the
Jail with tokens of affection.
Under cross-examination by @Attor-
ney OBrien, for the defense. DR.. Frank
l.. Hupp, the states medical expert
concluded his testimony. OBrien tired
to establish by the testimony of Dr.
Hupp that John Schenk's Illness could
have been caused by other things than
by the administration Of large quaint
ties Of arsenic or ACETATE of lead. Il
was brought out that az different times
Or. Hupp had prescribed hyomel qui'
nine. which contained arsenic. digi-
tails and nitroglycerine, all Of which
would have the effect of causing the
abnormal heart action which was a
feature of Schenk's Illness. but the
witness said none OF these drugs were
prescribed in sufficient quantities to
produce the symptoms OF arsenical
poisoning evidenced by Schenk.
Mrs. schenk Uneoneerned.
Throughout the proceedings Mrs.
Schenk sat alongside OF her counsel
wearing on unconcerned look. She
seemed to have regained her compo-
sure. Frequently she would suggest
10 her attorney questions to be asked
OF the witness.
Dr Hupp is the physician who at
tended Mr.. Schenk and who first dis
covered the symptoms Of arsenical and
lead poisoning which later caused the
arrest OF Mrs. Schenk. After discover
ing the symptoms DR.. Hupp secured a
sample OF the drinking water being
served at the time to Mr. Schenk ami
had it analysed, and it was found to
contain arsenic in large quantities.
When / first examined Mr. Schenk. -
said Dr. Hupp. Il suspected that he
was suffering from some sort OF lead
poisoning, but was never absolutely
certain that he had been poisoned IN
Ill received a report from analysis
of the water Then had the patient
removed TO a hospital in order to pre-
clude the possibility Of his securing
any more poison. l hesitated to be-
lieve that he had been poisoned. and
for a time entertained the theory that
he was suffering from malaria"
This morning Dr. J. Edward Burns
who assisted DR.. Hupp in diagnosing
the poison symptoms. and DR.. John
T. Thornton, who made three tests OF
Mr.. Schenk's blood, began their tesii-
mony Both are experts.
The chemists who analysed the wa
ter will then be called, and If possible,
Miss Kline, a detective nurse, who
was employed to watch Mrs. Schenk,
will testify. By the nurse it is ex-
pected that the state will prove that
Mrs. Schenk offered her $1,000 to give
her husband a pill containing enough
poison to kill him.