Jury Fixes Penalty for the Heinous Crime at Imprisonment for the Term of the Inhuman Perpetrator's Natural Life. The Condemned Woman Receives the Verdict With Tearless Eyes and Unnatural Composure.

We find the defendant, Cordelia Botkin. guilty of murder in the first degree, and fix her punishment at imprisonment for the term of her natural life.

WITH these words a Jury fastened upon Mrs. Cordelia Botkin yesterday one of the most cruel crimes of the century - the murder of Mrs. John P. Dunning and Mrs. Joshua Deane at Dover, Del., on the night of August 9. This modern Borgia sent through the mails a box of chocolate bonbons, the contents of which were heavily charged with arsenic. The prosecution weaved a remarkable web of circumstantial evidence about the woman upon whom suspicion was first directed and she was convicted last night. As a motive for the crime they showed her infatuation for John P. Dunning, the husband of one of the unfortunate victims.

Her manner when the verdict was announced was in keeping with her actions from the start. There was no sob —no piteous moan as of a heart and spirit crushed by the enormity of the crime thus brought home to her. The leaning which she has toward the melodramatic was with her to the end. As Oscar Tolle read the verdict of the jury with all Its dreadful Import she watched him as though transfixed and as immovable as stone. When the jury was being polled she bent a look of supreme disdain upon the men who had weighed the evidence against her and had said “thou art the woman.”

At fourteen minutes past nine the courtroom bell which is connected with the Jury-room, rang out sharp and clear. There was a peremptory tone to its ring and those experienced in the ways of Juries at once said it meant a verdict had been decided upon and that it was not likely to be favorable to Mrs. Botkin.

A moment before those in the courtroom stood about In little groups discussing the possibility of the jury being out all night. This seemed likely as valises full of clothes were being brought in from time to time. At the premonitory signal from the bell a hush fell upon those in the room.

Mrs. Botkin fidgeted about in her chair and apparently could find no comfortable attitude. Her hand went to her head and she fingered nervously at her mouth. Attorneys Knight and McGowan were in their accustomed places, as were her sisters, Mrs. McClure and Mrs. Robarts, and their husbands. The silence was oppressive. It was some minutes before the door opened and the jury filed In. The relatives and supporters of the woman accused sat with their backs toward the door and gave no token of their knowledge that the men were coming in. Those who could see the faces of the jurymen knew at once what the verdict was at which they had arrived. There was a set expression which told of an unpleasant duty performed in keeping with the trust and responsibility reposed in them. They were asked if they had arrived at a verdict and Foreman Kennedy arose and said they had.

He handed a slip of paper to Clerk Tolle, who in turn passed it to Judson Cook. He read It to himself and then ordered it read aloud. The word 6 of such terrible import were spoken and nothing broke the stillness save the order of the Judson that it be recorded. This required some moments and no one in the court room stirred. Attorney Knight looked neither to the right nor the left. Mrs. Botkin cast one long look at the jury and then gazed at the desk before her.

Her slaters were struck dumb and could utter no words of sympathy or cheer to the condemned woman. The prisoner’s face was sphinx-like and betrayed no emotion, no feeling. The room was cleared. No one seemed brave enough to break in upon Mrs. Botkin and disturb her thoughts, whatever they may have been. She sat perfectly upright with her hands on the table opening and shutting as though clutching at something unseen by human eyes. She fanned herself automatically and suddenly went off into a faint. But this was but momentarily, and she was soon herself again.