The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-21

past the jury anu prosecutor over "
where Mrs. schenk sat at her counseI's
table. The prisoner looked up in
surprise.
Mrs. Lasch bent down and their
away Mrs. schenk was crying.
| Won't Take Stand.
| Mrs. Laura schenk will not take the
stand in her trial on the charge of
administering lead and arsenic poi
son to her wealthy husband, John o.
Schenk.
j Albert schenk, brother of the pork
packer. will not be called by the de-
! Tense In the effort to prove that n
conspiracy in the Schenk family is
behind the charges.
In all probability no resort Will be
had to the plea that strain OF In
sanity runs in the family of the prfs-
oner. This definite announcement
was made to-day by Attorney j. j.
+. O'Brien, of Mrs. Schenk's counsel.
From the beginning 1t has been I'M
derstood that heavy stress would be
laid on the family persecution fea-
ture. In his opening statement At
torney J. j. L. O'Brien said the de-
fence would show thee xistence of a
gigantic conspiracy" against Mrs.
Schenk. il was declared later that
Albert Schenk would be called.
More than a dozen residents OF
Tyler and Pleasant counties have been
summoned te testify to the alleged in
sanity in Laura Farnsworth's fam
lily.
we do not think. however. that
We will have need OF the insanity
plea" Attorney O'Brien said.
Until yesterday, wnen Attorney
Frank O'Brien told the United Press
there was possibility of the case
going to the jury without Mrs.
Schenk's own story, 1t had been an
nounced that she would be called.
Handlan Is Disappointed.
Prosecutor Handlan was frankly
disappointed. He said:
1T Is exactly as ! predicted. But
/ am sorry | cannot cross-examine
her"
/. The defense. IL ia said. has a new
witness, a woman from Wheeling Is
land. who is expected to give testi-
mony favorable TO the prisoner
Handlan declared he had information
of the contemplated move and was
prepared to meet It. Mrs. Schenk s
attorneys devoted the Friday night
session to an attempt to impeach the
Wheeling physician. from whom Mrs.
Schenk is said to have bought ace
tate of lead, but failed when she ask
ed for arsenic. Myers testified Mrs,
Schenk told him she already had pur-
chased two ounces OF Fowlers soIu-
ton of arsenic from another Wheel
ing physician.
The first two witnesses produced
to assail DIR. Myers failed to qualify
The next. DR.. George l.. Viewing, tes-
titled to DR.. Myers reputation. Under
cross-examination he could not tell
the name of any one who had accused
Myers of telling the untruths.
DIR. Nj. Saydosh. DIR. r. j. Hersey,
Perry Fisher, painter and DIR. w.
S. Fulton testified against Myers rep
utation FOR truth and veracity.'
Each was subjected to severe ques-
tioning by Prosecutor Handlan. Spec
tators frequently uttered over the
sharp exchanges between the law
yers. occasioned by the prosecutors
cross examination.
Prosecutor Handlan to-day declared
Mrs. Schenk's attorneys had threat
ened to put him on the stand.
Il am willing to be called" he
said. But | warned the other side
/ would tell all know and that moth
ing could muzzle me-"
Handlan claims to have a statement
made by Mrs. Schenk ON the night
Of her arrest, in which she made in
eliminating admissions.
Il made my big blunder that night"
he said II was so exhausted I de-
layed going into details with her. BY
the next morning she had consulted
with her attorneys and would not
"a