The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-18
WOMEN BARRED IN
THE sCHEHk TRIAL.
Judge Says Case is Having
Demoral zIng Effect on
Hearers
TRIED TO BUY POISON
DAY SHE WAS ARRESTED
Schenk Woman Made UnSuc-
cesStul Attempt to Pro-
cure Arsenic From
DR.. Meyers

WHEELING, w. VA. Jan. 1s.-~"A
large crowd of women standing in the
corridor outside the court room.
where Mrs. Laura Schenk is being
tried. was refused admittance by
Trial Judge Jordan this afternoon.
THE evidence In this case is tend
ing to corrupt the morals of the wo-
men who have been in constant at
tendance the judge said just before
the noon recess. They go home and
discuss the ease, and that Is not
right"
The big audiences at every session
have largely been composed OF wom-
TN and girls, many unable to get in-
side in the morning. would patiently
stand in line in the hallway. MUNICH
ing apples and sandwiches.
A man In the crowd packed against
the stairway on the main floor tainted
to- day. when a photographer set of
q fiashlight.
The states three medical experts,
DIR. j. Il. Burns. Or. Gregory Acker-
man and DIR. j. T. Thornton, took up
almost the whole morning session.
Prosecutor Handlan propounded the
hypothetical question to each All
agreed the theoretical illness embrac-
ing Schenk's symptoms was the re-
SHEL oil ltdu anu HEAtItCht ppiSoUIuk-
From DIR. Alderman the defense
tried to elicit an admission that the
millionaire packer showed indications
Of confirmed arsenic eater, but the
physician said he found no such
traces
Handlan said to-day ne probably
would have all his evidence In by
Thursday afternoon. He said he like
~ would reserve the Introduction OF
Mrs Schenk purchased the arsenic
until after the prisoner had taken
the stand.
A passage occurred between Hand
Ian and the defendants attorneys
when Attorney O'Brien. OF Mra.
Schenk's counsel. asked Prof. ]. K.
Mallett. one OF the States experts
who had paid for his services. Before
the prosecutor could object the wit
ness answered:
Why, Mr.. Handlan."
The prosecutor protested vigorous
] iy and the answer was stricken out.
Tried to Buy Arsenic.
In the evidence Of DIR. J. W. Myers
yesterday, Prosecutor Handlan pro-
duced testimony that Mrs. Schenk
tried to bur arsenic on the day of her
arrest. He refused to sell II to her.
This WAS the day on which Mrs.
Schenk was to have brought tho
stuff to the dstective-nurse. Mrs.
Klein. according to the detectives tes-
timony.
Mrs. Klein said Mrs. Schenk told
her over the telephone there was
| nothing doing" The prosecution IL
seeking to connect the two links.
AIRS. Schenk's attorneys have issued
subpoenas for both DIR. Myers and
I Mrs Klein for the purpose OF OPEN
/ ins the way for attack upon the wit
nesses' credibti!ty Their attempts I'm
this direction incident TO the cross
examinations We're checked by Trial
Judge Jordan.
| Prosecutor Handlan's mythodicaI
question. embracing tho probable
/ causes OF Sehenk's mysterious all
ment. was answered late yesterday
by DIR. j. f. Burns, who said the
packer WAS suffering from lead pois-
oning prior to October II, from arse
] meal poisoning on October 81 and ~.
and from both lead and arsenic after
the latter Date.
II will knock the props from I'M
der that family conspiracy II It is
made an issue" Handlan said to-day.
II will force the defense to fall back
upon the hereditary insanity claim"
DIR. Burns ON stand,
DIR. J. Edward Burns. the specialist
called into consultation when DIR. r.
l. Hupp became suspicious of the
cause OF John o. Schenk's mysterious
ailment. was on the stand at the OPEN
| ing Of Mrs. Laura Schenks trial to-
| day. Attorney J. J. O'Brien. of the
defense. continued the cross examina-
ton.
| Burns testified that Schenk's syrnp-
toms up TO October 20 were similar
to that OF a malarial fever patient
| October 20 was fixed by the witness
| in response to Prosecutor Handian's
| hypothetical question as the probable
CONTINUED on Third Page.)