The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 31, 1898, Page 12

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12 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1898 MRS. CORDELIA BOTKIN WILL NOT BE INDICTED She Seizes an Opportunity to Give Timely Advice to the Mrs. Dunning’s The police of this city have begun | their task of attempting to weave around Mrs. Cordelia Botkin a web of | incriminating evidence. Very little | material progress has been made, al- though the local authorities are forti- fled with the scraps of evidence sup-| plied by Detective McVey from Dela- ware. The Chief of Police is summon- every one who has thus far fig- ured in the case with a promise of fur- nishing a clew or adding a fact that may have a bearing upon the solution of the mystery. No definite testimony involving the gullt of Mrs. Botkin has been obtained and the inspection of the poisoned candy and the bonbon box has tended to weaken rather than strengthen the case of the prosecution. There were in the tragic story yester- day three important developments. The first resulted from the interview with Mrs. Botkin which was published exclusively yesterday in The Call. This interview was the first free expression made by the accused woman since her arrest, and it cleared away for the first time the obscurity of her position and her plan of defense. The police and the public knew this morning that Mrs. Botkin will base her fight for life upon an alibi. The second important de- velopment of the day was the dramatic ance of Mrs. A. Raouf, the woman. in whose home Mrs. Botkin spent many hours on a bed of danger- ous illness while the plot against Mrs. aning and Mrs. Deane was being hatched. A day of varied incident and some exciting scenes closed with an abc ve attempt of theauthorities to indict Mrs. Botkin before the local nd Jury. y after her arrest Mrs. Botkin made a detailed statement of her move- ments to the Chief of Police. In this ent the accused woman confined .cital to the days during which actions may have been of moment. The material part of.her story began with Jul when she left this city for Stockton to visit her husband and son. She remained at Stockton until | the evening of July 30, when she re- turned to her apartments at the Vie- toria in this city. Iliness confined her to her rooms until the afternoon of Au- gust 3, when she paid a visit to a friend during which she accounts for her moveme: On the afternoon of Au- just 4, 3:30 o'clock, she took the V000000000000 00000000C0C00000000Q00C0O000000000Q at Tiburon ferry steamer on her way to St. Helena. Mrs. Botkin explained every move- ment that could suggest itself as ma- terial. She denied emphatically that | she had ever at any time purchased the smallest amount of candy at Stockton. This statement is in the possession of the Chief of Police and has not yet been shaken in the slight- est particular. Every fact in it has been verified and no one has appeared to say positively that during the period covered the accused woman did any- thing that she has not freely admitted. The exclusive publication in The Call | of her assertion of innocence and her plan of defense has serfously disturbed the other morning newspapers of this city. A representative of one of them sought and obtained yesterday an in- terview with Mrs. Botkin, who inform- ed the reporter that her interview rub- lished in The Call was in every partic- ular absolutely correct. In the course of a general conversation not bearing directly upon the case, Mrs. Botkin digressed to discuss the episode sup- plied by J. E. Fennessee. The accused | woman remarked that every one agreed | that she could not have been th2 woman who acted so strangely at| the ferry postal station. That being the case, Mrs. Botkin suggested that it might be a wise endeavor on the part of the detectives to try and discover who the mysterious woman really was. They might be rewarded for their suc- A. Rauof Tells What Knows of the Accused Woman. Police. She Gay Life. will say that he seemed to bemore than friendly with several others. Who these women were the authorities have yet to learn. As a woman’'s jealousy is the only assigned motive for the terrifying crime at Dover it is not improbable | that some other of Dunning's many women friends may have been quite as jealous as Mrs. Botkin is represent- whole matter may be simplified and the uncertainty removed by Charles Le Grand, the candy maker of the “Wave" store. Le Grand is positive that he can identify the candy made by him. There is a defect in the mold used at the store and Le Grand knows that the product of his shop had a certain in- dividuality. By summoning him it would seem that the police could at least determine once for all whether or not the poisoned candy was bought at the Stockton store. As the authorities progressed in their inquiry yesterday they became convinced that it would be a wise plan to have Mrs. Botkin indicted by the local Grand Jury. Before the day was over the District Attorney and the po- lice realized that they were on the point of committing a serious if not fatal blunder. The authorities in this city do not wish to try the accused woman in this State. A trial here means a tremendous expense to Cali- fornia. tnesses cannot be forced to come from Delaware to California and if any one should refuse there is no law to force them here. In addition to this, the local prosecutors do not possess evidence enough against Mrs. Botkin to warrant an indictment. Before the District Attorney and the police realized where they were drift- ing 3ubpoenaes had been served on several pefsons who might be wit- nesses of value. The witnesses were on ed to have been. If the police pursue Q}mnc\ gnd the Grand Jury was in ses- | plying paper and envelopes. -of "~ all are continuing their good work among the soldiers at the Presidio. “We are greatly in need of funds to carry on the worl,” said Mrs. R. J. Byrne yesterday. “The impression has gone out that since the war Is practically over there 18 no longer any need of funds for the soclety. We know the war is at an end, but our labor is not, for as long as there s a soldier here, just so long will there be something for the Catholic Truth Society to do. We propose to keep the tent open and to do this we need funds. The soclety mails on an average 1000 letters each day for the men, besides sup- Major Rice of the California Heavy Artillery has kindly furnished an orderly each day for the ladies in charge of the tent and he Is always on duty. There is a petition being circulated by the men asking Father Yorke to repeat his splendid lecture of last Sunday. The voung ladies of the society are dolng a noble work in visiting the convalescents in their quarters. They have been given ermits by the various commanding of- cers and are accompanied by an orderly when they make their visits. = They carry the men dejjcacies and attend to thelr many wants. The society is furnishing a large quantity of milk to the different regiments and they are greatly in need that can_be sent them by thelr friends. Father Yorke will probably de- liver a lecture at the Metropolitan Hall shortly for the purpose of raising funds for the soclety. Delicacies for the sick soldiers have bden donated by the following (?orsnns: Mlss B. Tobin, Mrs. Shea, Mrs. Gardner, Mrs. J. F. Sullivan, Mrs. Richard Queen, 000000000000 000000000000000000000000C000000000000000 00000000000000Q00C000000000000C00000000C00000000 000CCCO0000C0O000000000C000000C0CO0000000C0000000000000000 Mrs. A. Rauof, Once Friend and Companion of Mrs. Botkin, and Detective McVey Compare Notes While Enjoying Lunch. their Inquiries upon this line, which | promises to be fruitful, the i find also that Dunning and hi companions were frequent visitors to | the winerooms at the tracks. This fact | and a little judicious investigation may | lead to the discovery of the mysterious blonde woman of whom so much has | been said and of whom the police know nothing. s While this fleld of inquiry is as vet | untouched the case against Mrs. Bot- Kin 18 daily becoming weaker. There | cess, she said, by discovering the cruel | assassin who had taken the lives of | Mrs. Dunning and Mrs. Deane. Fur- | ther than this Mrs. Botkin declined | to talk, except to say that she was well and hopeful of the outcome. | Early yesterday morning Mrs. A. Rauof arrived at police headquarters, accompanied by Detective Wren. Mrs. Rauof came all the way from Healds burg to tell the police what she knows | of the affairs of Mrs. Botkin. The | visitor was closeted for hours with the Chief of Police, but after Ler long talk was over she had added no material fact to the evidence and had imparted no information that has not already | been published. She verified Mrs. | Botkin’s assertion that she had been | ill at Stockton from the morning of July 28 to the evening M and Mrs. Rauof thought unusually suspicious on incidental matters. As Mrs. Rauof very frankly confesses that she is not friendly with Mrs. Bot- kin, her construction of the latter’s ac- tions will probably be taken for what it s worth. Mrs. Rauof also told the Chief of Police that Mrs. Botkin once sought from her $500 with which to as- sist John P. Dunning in his necessi- tigs. This naturally led to a discus- sion of the relations existing between Dunning and Mrs. Botkin, but Mrs. Rauof could tell nothing more than was already generally known. Dun- ning and the accused woman were very friendly. Whatever -else there may have been between them Mrs. Rauof did not know. In her interview with the Chief of Police yesterday Mrs. Rauot carried the authorities no nearer to a solution of the mystery than other witnesges have done. She knew nothing 'il( shed light as actual evidence upon the murder. She knew, as many others know, and Dunning admits, that he and Mrs. Botkin were very friendly. But Dunning was friendly with several other women, who have not yet been found Ly the police. Dunning was a frequent visitor to the race tracks, to Ingleside and Emeryville. He had passes to both tracks and used them very often. He sought and obtained many passes for his women friends. Horsemen, gamblers, jockeys and track followers will tell the police, if inquiry be made, that Dunning went often to the tracks, but not often in the com- pany of the same women. He admits himself that he was on terms of intimacy with at least three, and the frequenters of the racecourses of July 20.| Botkin was occasionally hysterical | sfon last night when the decision was reached not to attempt to secure an indictment. A new tangle of technical- ity would have been created and no advantage would have been won. Mrs. Botkin will be retained in custody through othsr means. Her attorneys were eager to see the authorities fall into the are several days more, which to make mistakes. Mrs. Eleanor Martin, Mrs. Egan, Miss Nolan, Mrs, Wilson, Miss Marchand, Mrs. Mayo ‘and Mrs. Luke Robinson. The so- clety hopes that a ready response will be | made by its many friends to its call for | funds. [ A Hero’s Estate. Johanna H. Wehser has applied for let- pitfall, and | ters of administration upon the estate of | | they are chagrined at the escape. There | Maurice Justh, a private in the First Cal- | however, in | ifornia Regiment, who was killed in the The extra- | pattle of Manila on July 3L The estate dition papers will not arrive here for | left by decedent does not exceed $650 in is now practically no evidence to show | a week. There was delay in securing | value. \ | that the poisoned candy was pur- ichflfled at Stockton. Neither the box nor its contents answers the descrip- tion given by the people at Stockton. The candy manufacturer has said that the box contained some chocolate wafers_avith a white button on each. There are chocolate wafers in the poi- | soned candy, but they have no white | button. The manufacturer declared that his strange customer placed a | large quantity of home-made candy in the box. In the exhibit brought by Detective McVey there is not a single piece of home-made candy, and the | box is still almost full of the deadly | sweetmeats. | The discrepancies are carried still | further when the wrapper is inspected. | The candy manufacturer is positive | that blue wrapping paper was used. | The exhibit of death was folded in buff- colored paper. The box sold to the mysterious unknown woman at Stock- ton had a candy tongs. That which the Dunning family received had none. It has been noted also that the handwrit- | ing on the wrapper is very unlike that [ of Mrs. Botkin in those examples which have already been published. When these discrepancies are noted in con- Jjunction with the fact that the strange woman of Stockton has not been iden- | tified as Mrs. Botkin, the case becomes more mysterious than ever. It is even said now that Frank Gat- trell, the clerk who sold the candy at Stockton, will not be summoned by the police. There is a possibility that the affidavits. Information was received from Wilmington last night showing that the last obtained was that of | the murdered women. fett e GRAY HAIRS TO BE SAVED FROM SORROW Every Effort Being Made to Keep the | Aged Parents of Mrs. Botkin From Knowing Her Disgrace If the kind intentions of friends and loving children prevail the last days of Colonel and Mrs. Brown, the aged par- ents of Mrs. Botkin, will not be sad- dened by the shadow of crime and scan- dal which involves their daughter. Since the first publication of the ac- cused woman’'s name in connection with the Dunning case her sisters have kept all the newspapers from reaching their parents. Friends of the family have been warned not to refer ta the trouble when visiting the old people. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have long since passed the allotted span of four-score years and it is feared by their children that they would not long survive the shock which would knowledge of the charge against their daughter. CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY. The ladies of the Catholic Truth Soclety | John P. Dunning, husband of one of: surely follow a | T0BUILD A BRIDLE PATH IN THE PARK Will Run Through to the Cliff House. PICTURESQUE ROUTE CHOSEN THE HIGHEST POINTS ARE TO BE CROSSED. Surveyed So As to Afford Magnifi- cent Views of All Surround- ing Objects of Interest. Those who enjoy equestrian exercise will learn with satisfaction that the Com- missioners of Golden Gate Park have de- cided to build a bridle path to the CIiff House for their exclusive use. At a re- cent conference of members of the board it was decided that in view of the fact that drives, roadways, bicycle paths and footpaths had been provided it was time to do something for that part of the community who are horseback riders. In accordance with that decision Presi- dent A. B. Spreckels of the commission and Park Superintendent McLaren sur- veyed the proposed path yesterday after- noon. It will be constructed fourteen feet wide, and beginning not far from the lodge, will pass over the highest points in the great play ground, with the excep- tion of Strawberry Hill, and end at the Cliff House. The route selected will cross the main drive three times, and at various alti- tudes will afford magnificent views of this beautiful public domain. Its prin- cipal points of interest include the speed track, the main drive, the museum, the proposed site of the new music stand and concourse, the ocean and Sutro Heights. One of the great attractions of the bridle path will be the picturesque sec- tions through which it will pass—portions of the park almost entirely unknown to the general public. It will’ be diversified with open_reaches, shady lanes, rustic bridges and as nearly as possible laid out in imitation of the famous driving course in Central Park, New York. It is expected that by reason of the superior beauties of San Francisco’'s celebrated outing place it can be eventually made even more attractive than that after which it 1s to be modeled. Work on the path will be commenced at once and completed as soon as possible. aslitan WANTS HIS FOUNTAIN BACK. Dr. Cogswell Requests the Return of Statuary Presented to Golden Gate Park. The venerable and persistent Dr. Cogs- well is still engaged in having sore trials with those famous Cogswell plug-hat fountains that will not “stay put.” The general public has settied down to the comfortable bellef that with_the tur- mofl which followed the destruction by vandals of the fountain at the intersec- tion of Mdrket and Davis streets, the painful incident was closed. However, the Doctor was not so certain of this proposition. He had a hazy idea that somewhere there was one of his loved images se- uestered to_the detriment of the name of “ogswell. He dreamed and thought of the matter until he unearthed the book in which gift fountains of the Cogswellian brand were recorded, and there after checking back he Jocated the missing Idol. It was anclent history, but it made the Doctor exceedingly wroth. What was his chagrin_and indignation to find _that eleven years ago he had presented the Commissioners of Golden Gate Park with a brand-new fresh-painted fountain, in- tended to beam down upon coming’ gen- erations from some conspicuous point in the park. The Doctor thought some warm senti- ments and hastened to put them on pa- per before they became cold. Then he placed them in an asbestos envelope and sent the hot epistle to the Park Commis- sioners. It was read yesterday by the officials. The letter said that if the statue was not erected at once in the park it must be re- turned to the donor forthwith. What the Commissioners sald was a different story that can’t be printed. They sent the irate doctor a communica- tion” in which he was informed in diplo- matic language that the quicker he took back his fountain the sooner they would have the use of some very valuable stor- age room that had been unavailable eleven yvears. The question that will now deeply con- cern the public is as to where that resur- rected statue fountain is liable to be planted nex OWNERS WILL DRIVE. Members of Golden Gate Park Driv- ing Association Plan an Inter- esting Meeting at Ingle- side. The members of Golden Gate Park Driving Assoclation held a ltvely meet- ing last night at 1200 Market street, Ed Aigeltinger presiding. There were about sixty owners of fast horses present, and all were enthusiastic in their predictions that the trotting and pacing meeting to be held at Ingleside track on the afternoons of September 9 and 10 would be the most successful in the history of the assoclation. It was decided to strictly enforce the rules pro- viding that owners must drive their horses, none being eligible to race unless they are in good standing In the asso- clation. Among the principal entries were the following: s . Kirkpatrick's “Harvey Mc," %; W. 8. obart’s “Our Dick,” 2:10' Aigeltinger’'s *“Our Joe,” 2:28%; 2:13(5}6: E. Cerciat’ E. es F. Kapp's gher’'s *“Butcher DOMESTIC DEPARTMENT. SPECIAL SALE ——OoF— . TAPESTRY TABLE COVERS. As these goods come at very low prices. We have just received a very large shipment of FINE TAPESTRY TABLE COVERS, all new designs and the very latest colorings. to us direct from the manufacturer, we are enabled to offer them SPECIALS. 750 Each. E 65 . $2.5U Each. 34.50 Each. $4|00 Each, 35.00 Each, | | | E E 150 4-4x4-4 FRINGED TABLE COVERS. 200 6-4x6-4 FRINGED TABLE COVERS. 175 8-4x8-4 FRINGED TABLE COVERS. 125 8-4x8-4 FRINGED TAPESTRY TA- BLE COVERS, very handsome designs. 50 8-4x10-4 TABLE COVERS. 75 8-4x12-4 FRINGED TAPESTRY TABLE COVERS. > SEE DISPLAY OF ABOVE GOODS IN OUR SHOW WINDOWS. TAPESTRY TAPESTRY TAPESTRY FRINGED TAPESTRY EORPORAR 1892 ‘¢ m, u3, 15, uT, 19, 121 POST STREET.V @ @® year's pack of canned salmon. pack is as follows: British Columbia Alaska . Puget Sound Sacramento River spring pack. Columbia River spring pack. Total . = The fall pack in 189 kets. made on the domestic sales. POEOEEPOPPEPPEPPPPPOCEPOOE @ [OJOXOO] FoYororororCroloXoXooXOXOXOXOXOROROROROROCORORCKOROROROROROROROKO] A SHORTAGE IN CANNED SALMON. Yesterday’s advices from the North confirm the large shortage of this The summary of the reports on the 1338 T o estimated that the pack will not be over 200,000 cases this year, making the total shortage of this year's pack over 1,000,000 cases. canners, expecting a very large pack, sold futures‘at low prices and many of the districts are heavily oversold. British Columbia leaves large markets uncovered. canners did not sell futures and having packed within 10 per cent of the pack of 1897, are In a comfortable position. tures to the extent of 135,000 cases for export and 400,000 for domestic mar- The export sales will be filled, having been made by canners who made a comparatively good pack, but not over 30 per cent deliveries will be The Sacramento spring and fall packs are sold, the Columbia River canners are at least 100,000 cases oversold. foJoloxcloxcoXooJoJoJoJoJooJoRoXOROROROROROROROORORONOJO] 400,000 cases. 840,000 cases. 260,000 cases. 20,000 cases. 360,000 cases. Most of the The shortage of 600,000 cases in The largest Alaska The Puget Sound has sold fu- CROEEEEEMEEEEEPPERPEPRERIO ® O ® @ UPHEAVAL IN TRE TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION THE LATE ELECTION OF OFFI- CERS DECLARED ILLEGAL. At the meeting of San Francisco Typo- graphical Union Sunday afternoon the resignations of W. B. Benolst, who has for several years been financial secretary, and Terry McGowan, who has served sev- eral terms in the exalted position of ser- geant-at-arms, were called for. The office of financial secretary of the local union carries with it a substantial salary and as the duties are comparative- 1v light it is hotly contested for each year. Mr. Benoist has served several terms and was always considered a faithful and effi- clent officer. This year he was unusually anxious to be elected, as he had an- nounced himself a candidate for State Printer on the Democratic ticket, and he thought his standing in the union would pave his pathway to political fame with roses. He enlisted all his friends to can- vass for votes, but soon found that he tain to make a hit, was up against a harder game than he thought. The result of the election showed him to be winner by thirty-two vgles, db%[ {ll;n.ud was at once openly charged by his opponents. A %orma.l protest was filed by Harry Gibb, a defeated candidate for delegate to the International convention, and an in- vestigating committee was appointed. The committee found that several members had voted who were in “bad standing and not entitled to a vote. When an at- tempt was made to prove this by the books they were found to be In such a chaotic condition that an expert was em- ployed, but after vainly struggling with them for three days he handed them back to the commlttc'ei_l saying that he could do nothing with them. Sufflclen% evidence was procured to rove that elghty-six fraudulent votes gnd been cast, and Mr. Benoist accord- ingly walved the right of trial and hand- od 1o his resignation, Evidence was brought to show that “Terry” McGowan had been an active factor in bringing Nitumers” to the polls, and things wers made so warm that the flery little door- keeper handed in his resignation, which was accepted with applause. It is not definitely known whether Benoist is short in his accounts or not, but all are satisfied that if there is any deficit it is due wholly to carelessness and will not Sxceed the amount of his bond. He says that he does not know just how he stands, but if there is any deflcit he will set it right at once. ‘The election has been declared flle and the old officers will hold the chairs until new ones are elected. The date for the re-election has been set for Wednes- day, September 7. J. J. O'Neil has been appointed temporary secretary. B e — Alhambra Theater Opening. The advance sale at the Alhambra The- ater has been something enormous and far beyond the expectations of the man- agement. The bill for the opening week s undoubtedly the great attraction. Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew, who have Just left a successful season in London, Wwill head the Dbill. Signor Del Puente, the famous barytone, will surely be one of the hits of the season. Corinne, cele- brated in comic opera and burlesque, has arrived, and will_draw her host of old admirers in San Francisco. De Vil- Hers, an illusfonist of rare ability, makes his San Francisco debut at this time. His feats are said to be wonderful. Wil- liam Josh Daly, the refined monologue artist, will contribute his share to the opening programme. De Torelll broth- ers, grotesque musical stars, have an amusing and entertaining act. Mr. and Mrs. Tom MclIntosh will offer a sketch ghlch is sald to be kde"ilr'k Hyde ::d owers, champlon cake walkers, are cer- S i while the Three the admirers of Rossis satisfy muscle. Steamship Australla, recently in the service of the Government as & troop- ship, has been returned to the Oceanio line and will resume her Honolulu o or about tember 1. Fare $76. un trip flfi.' s’fifik‘;‘ office, 114 Montgomerv.$ will R ) ¥

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