The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-01-27
Wife Of Millionaire Accused Of
Poisoning Husband Is
Confident.
WOMEN STORM COURTHOUSE
Physician Gives His Sensational
Testimony Of Saving
SChenk's Life.

WHEELING, West Virginia, january
26.--After two weeks of sensations in
the trial of Mrs. Laura Farnsworth
Schonk, charged with poisoning her hus-
band, John o. Schenk, of this city, a
millionaire meat packer, the jury re-
tired last night to consider the verdict
and was locked up, after comprehensive
instructions on legal points from Judge
Lewis s. Jordan.
The case has been one which has
excited interest all over the country,
and during the trial women have again
and again stormed the courtroom to get
1 seats, for the purpose of hearing the
morbid testimony.
Married for Money.
The story, as outlined by the prosecu-
ton, is that Mrs. Schenk, formerly a
domestic, married the old millionaire
for his money. She took long trips
with handsome chauffeur and the
testimony is that she once offered him
$1,000 if he would provide an accident
to the automobile which would result
| in her husband Is death.
Shortly after his return from a trip
/ to Europe last October, Mr.. Schenk be-
came suddenly sick with a mysterious
malady, which puzzled the physicians
called in consultation. He was finally
removed to a hospital in time to save
his life and Mrs. Schenk was arrested
at the instance Of DIR. +. L. Hupp, who
accused the woman of attempting to
poison her husband.
Storm Courthouse.
So great was the curiosity to hear
the evidence of Doctor Hupp, when he
took the stand TO testify against the
prisoner that twice the police outside
the courthouse were carried before the
onslaught Of the women, at the opening
of the building in the morning and
again following recess. In the after
noon rush several women were knocked
down and trampled upon, and one
woman, Mrs. Amelia Kiren, was taken
to the hospital after the police had
beat the crowd back.
Calls Herself Household Slave.
III made O visit to the Schenk home
in the forenoon Of October 49," related
Doctor Hupp, "and after prescribing
for the patient and giving instructions
to the nurse, / came downstairs. Mrs.
Schenk was in the parlor. She called
me into the room. She was sitting on
the sofa with her son at her knees and
her arms around the boy.
, My life is that of an Indian slave
in this household she said to me. IF
it was not for my darling sweetheart
(meaning her young SOM would not be
here.'
"She seemed to be crying, and I told
her to cheer up; that / was going to do
all in my power to restore her husband
to health.
1 might be better satisfied if you
let him die she suddenly concluded.
| told her that thought not, and babe
her good day"
Told Nurse of Suspicious.
Doctor Hupp said that when he had
called at the Schenk home, ON Satur-
day, October 20, he had found that the
patient was very i'll with acute pains
in the stomach and was vomiting con-
stantly.
Between October 25 and November
the patient improved steadily in the
hospital On the latter day Doctor
Hupp said that Mrs. Schenk called him
up on the telephone and told him that
she was dissatisfied with the nursing
arrangements at the hospital and de-
sired that her husband be brought home.
The witness declared that Mrs. Schenk
had said that if he would not do this
she would take the matter into her own
hands. This was the direct cause of
her arrest, which was made that night.
Was No Surprise.
"When I went to Mr.. Handlan's Of
fee that night said the witness,
''Mrs Schenk said, what do you think,
doctorY Some of us are charged with
poisoning Mr.. Schenk.'
- 1T is no surprise to me, replied.
II have thought that some one had been
poisoning him for some time past.
''The next day when went out TO
the hospital conveyed the news to Mr..
schenk as gently as could. He broke
down and cried. He knew nothing of
what had transpired before his wife .
arrest. He is at his home now and i'm
proving rapidly"