The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-20
Mrs. Schenk, Allie e d
Poisoner, to Tell Her
Story to Jury.
CASE OF STATE
is COMPLETED
Defense Begins Taking Evidence,
and Fate of Rich Pork-Packer's
Wife May Be in Hands of
Jury by Monday-Prose-
cution Scores During
Day.

Wheeling. ". Va. January Ia.-Wi,n
the State completing the presentation
OF us evidence to-day in the prosecu-
! ',"h OF Mrs. Laura Farnaworth Schenk
charged with poisoning her husband
John o. Schcnk. the defense this after
noon began 10 call it's witnesses. but
not before Alrs. Schcnk's attorney. 5 O
Boycc. had moved 10 strike out ali or
me states evidence and dismiss tho
Judge l. s Jordan promp;lv over.
fulel the motion. declaring that had
the defense called Mr. Schenk to TESTIFY
against his wife he would have allowed
the testimony. \ State lnw specifically
forbids the Introduction Of husbands
testimony against The wife. or vice
Versa, except BY the others consent
would have admitted John Schcnk's
evidence. irrespective OF the statute.
jude Jordan said IF a man assault
cd MS wife. ana there were no Wit
nesses, II would be monstrous II she
could not testify against him. In this
case. the alleged offense was commit
ted on Schenk. And certainly would
nave adjudSed him competent Wit
ness"
PhysicInns No, Called.
j u. p O'Brien, chief counsel for .hc
accused. had announced tina, he would
put on every physician and druggist
in the city. In an attempt TO show hat
MIS-. Schenk had not bought arsenic
iror, any OF them, DR.. J. w Myers
when on the stand for the State nav
ing declared that Mrs. Schenk secured
lead poison from him and that she had
obtained Fowlcr's solution of arsenic
from another DOCTOR. This line was
stopped. however. Prosecutor IIandIan's
objections being sustained Later the
defense attempied 70 put in evidence
III" AFFIDAVIT Of Alice Thomas, sccre-
tnry Of Pljt&burs detective agency
TO bring out conspiracy against the
accused. This also was ruled out
In presenting the case to the jury
when the state closed. Mr.. IIandlan
declared that the State had shown that
Schcnk was IN good health upon his
return from Europe; that the State has
shown b. competent physicians that the
husband was suffering from both lead
and arsenic poison. and that analysis
OF mineral water and med icines he took
contained arsenic and sugar Of lead
that Mrs. Schcnk was indifferent to her
husband. prefcrring another. and had
predicted his death. speaking OF the
kind of funeral he would have; that
the accused offered n detective nurse
$1,000 to administer poison to John
Schcnk; that she had been indiscreet
witt another man. as testified to by her
chauheur. and that she had procured
sugar OF lead from DR.. j. W. Myers
asking him also for form of arsenic.
And these points have been clearly
set out" declared the States attorney.
and upon them the State bases it's de-
mand f1r n conviction"
II was at this point that Attorney
Boyce made his motion to dismiss the
case asserting that the physicians
testimony was conflicting. some claim
ing lead and others arsenic poisoning.
and that their information was based
on what Schenk had told them
Mr., O'Brien said In his opening
statement that all OF his evidence
would he in in three days. in which
event the jury viii have the case by
Monday evening. II Is practically as
sured that the defendant will take the
stand in her own behalf.
Lundy Wilson. the Schenks's chauf
'feur. was recalled in the morning. He
was asked:
WHY did you never tell John sche@
what was going on"
Il had no business to, and schenk
would not have believed me-" lie said.
Schcnk Cried Dniiy.
Miss Alma Evans. Schcnk's nurse.
was recalled and testified that, when
Told OF his wife's arrest, Schenk sprang
daily after that
II at the opening OF the after
noon session that the defense started.
and sharp tits between the attorneys
marked the overrulng of the calling
Of physicians. the detective hookkeep-
cr's diHdavit. aud the attempt to i'm
peach the testimony OF Or. Myers.
DR. Osborne was called and told Mr..
O'Bricn hat he had attended many
cases of arsenical poisoning. He had
visited Schenk with DR.. Hupp, the at
tending physician. and DIR. S. l.. Jep-
son. There were no symptoms OF arse
meal poisoning. he declared. He said
DR.. Hupp had told him on that vist,
that, in his opinion. Schenk was not
suffering from lead poisoning. and that
he had no reason for changing his mind
On that point.
lie testified that If an ounce Of sugar
Of lead had been placed in Il bottle of
hymo-quininc, the lead would be pre-
cipitated to the bottom and would have
little effect OF the person taking the
medicine He said further that the
amount and quality of food given
Schenk would indicate that he had not
been a very sick man. Schenk might
have been suffering with cancer of the
stomach. he testified.
WILL RECONSIDER CLAIM