The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-12
Millionaire Schenk Was in
Utter Ignorance of His
Wife's Hatred
WATER WIFE BROUGHT
HAD PECULIAR TASTE
Miss Evans Became Suspi-
cious at Hospital and Got
Fresh Medicines Which
Mrs. Schenk Did Not See

WHEELING. w. VA, January IL.
John o. Schenk's childlike faith In
his vile. his utter ignorance of her
alleged poison plot and the million
aires shake with death" were
brought out in Mrs. Schenk's trial
to-day by Miss Alma G. Evans. pro-
fessional nurse In the schenk fam
ily. Mrs. ocnenk's visits to for
tune teiier ana her failure to become
excited or sorrowful over predictions
OF her husbands death. her express
ed preference tor younger society
men" over her elderly business-like
husband and her frank fear that In
the event OF her husbands death. his
brother. Albert, would secure control
of the estate were part OF Miss
Evans testimony.
The shake with death" as related
by the nurss. was at the sick packers
bedside before his removal To the
hospital. The husbands own queru-
lous impatisncs preoipitated the in
oident concerning qulnine bottle
Mrs. Schenk had ordered the nurse
10 shake the bottle. Miss Evans had
refused 1t was then according to
the nurse that the suffering man rails
ed On his elbow In bed and said:
Wen, why dont YOU snake IT
This bottle, the State claims, con-
tanned a part of the poison given to
the millionaire.
Miss Evans was on the stand all
morning. Her testimony was deliver
ed in clear. steady tone. Under
cross-examination. her answers were
always concise.
Mrs.. Schenk's attitude was that
of strainsdof strained expectancy. she
kept her eyes upon the witness per-
sistently.
reference to her consultations with
the fortune-teiler who IL better known
Ia wheeling as spAirtaaiistic
preacher. made Mrs. Sehenk srniies
Once when Mas Evans was telling
how indifferent Mrs. Schenk had
seemed TO the seer's tragic prophecy,
the prisoner laughed and nuaged her
attorneys elbow. immediately she
settled back in her char and the
naturally heavy eyebrows almost his
her eyes as she looked intently al
the witness
Miss Evans said she FIRST saw Mrs.
Schenk at n Sunday school picnic. She
was called TO the Schenk home oc-
tober / s ana was met by Mrs. Deep
kin. schsnk's sister. and his little
daughter, Mrs Schenk was In bed.
DID Mrs. Schenk aid you In any
way that flrst night 20 the prosecu-
tor asked.
She did not was the prompt
answer. The next five days, witness
said. the sick packers condition show
ed no decided change. On the even
ing of the fourth day Miss Evans said
Mrs Schenk told her she had visited
fortune teller on Belle Isle.
Wife Wanted to know.
a h.sxs ~. n d ~ b
tho prosecutor asked.
she sasd they told her he couidn'r
last until Christmas" witness said.
Don't that make you feel terri
bly," witness said she asked Mrs.
Schenk. who replied. No. / would
rather know"
She said the seers told her Mr..
Schenk might be patched up by doc
tors but that he had to die
The nurse said that between Oc-
tobsr ] s and ii Mrs. Schank did prac-
t1catiy nothing for her husband. She
usually was out most of the day. Oc-
tober 81. witness said. when schenk.
his wife and herself went out auto
riding. Mrs. Schenk was In a hurry
to get back in order to pay the hired
girl.
Water Had Peculiar Taste.
Just before the party left the
nurse said. Mrs. Schenk asked me
If l had enough water for the pa
tient. l replied. Yes She said she
would open another bottle, so that
i wouldn't be In danger Of cutting
my fingers. When the party return
ed Mrs. Schenk brought a bottle OF
water Into the kitchen. From this bot
tie Schenk's drinks were taken.
Mr.. Schenk said the water had a
peculiar taste" witness said.
Miss Evans after supper the same
night went to the home OF a relative.
When Mrs. Schenk Insisted that
60" she said. Il didn't want to 20, but
she would have 1t.
Found Patient Very M.
Il was gone an hour. When I
got back Mr.. Schenk was violently
nauseated. had left my telephone
number. but was not called.
Why didn't you call me- I asked
Mrs. Schenk. She replied. I could
do az much as you could"
Mrs. Doepkin was there too. 1