New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-30
PRICE THREE CENTS.
NOT NEAR A SOLUTION YET
POLICE AND DISTRICT-ATTORNEY WORK
ING ON THE ADAMS CASE.

STUN PoIsoNING-EDwARD r. ROGERS. THE
POISONED woMAN's soN.IN-LAw. HERE
STATEMENTS TAKEN FROM CORN
IsH AND MRS. ROGERS
The mystery surrounding the death Of Mrs.
Kate ]. Adams at her home, at No. I'll west
Eighty-sixth-st, Wednesday morning.
seemed no solution last night than 1t did
at the time she died The District-Attorney's
office. which has taken entire charge OF the
case. is confident that Mrs Adams was poisoned
by a dose OF cyanide Of potassium. taken from
bottle presumably containing bromo- -seltzer,
which was received as a Christmas gift by
Harry s. Cornish. physical director OF tho
Knckerbocker Athletic Club.
The Police Department, which was let into the
yesterday afternoon. is also conndent as
to this dose causing Mrs Adams's death, ana
Deputy Coroner Weston, who performed the au-
topsy, yesterday afternoon said that all indica-
tions pointed to cyanide Of potassium poison
Ing but before the office could fully determine
this point the contents OF the woman's stomach
would have TO be analysed by the chemists Sc
ected by the District-Attorney's office, and the
result of this examination would not be made
public for several d4ys.
Edward f. Rogers. the son-in-law Of Mrs.
Adams, arrived in New-York last night from
tel and did not call the apartments where his
wife lived with her mother. When by a
Tribune reporter late last night, Mr.. Rogers
said
Il do not care to talk about the case. and
have nothing to say whatever about it-at least
not now"
Mr.. Rogers put some little emphasis the
"at least not now" and repeated it several
times. as If he might say something after he
more familiar with the facts in regard TO
the poisoning.
Mr.. Rogers is general insurance adjuster OF
the Lion Fire Insurance Company, Of Hartford,
and makes his headquarters in Buffalo.
One particular feature of the which is
causing unusual comment is the remarkable
activity of the District-Attorneys office in look
ing after all matters connected with it, In fact.
the Assistant District-Attorneys on the are
not only acting in their legal capacity. but are
also looking into the case and apparently seek
ing for clews just as the detectives OF the
Central Office would do Assistant District-Attor-
ney Mcintyre called at the house where the poi
sonlng took place late Wednesday afternoon and
took entire charge Of everything there He
gave orders TO the policemen and Coroners' Of
flee officials as TO answering questions in regard
to the case. He made two other calls at the
house on the same evening. and yesterday was
extremely active in looking after the interests
Of Mr.. Cornish and others connected with the
This activity Of Mr. Mcintyre caused
little comment. and at time it looked il
there would be considerable friction between
the Dstrict-Attorney's office and the Police
Department. owing TO the fact that the case
had been taken out OF the hands of the police.
This, however was apparently settled at noon
yesterday when Mr.. Mcintyre had consulta-
tion with Chief Of Police Devery and Captain
McClusky. Chief of Detectives. After this
meeting Captain McCusky went to the Knick-
erbocker Athletic Club and took the statement
Of Mr. Cornish. and later had Mrs. Florence
Rogers. the daughter Of Mrs. Adams. at his Of
flee. The result of these inquiries was not
given out by either Captain McClusky or Mr..
Mcintyre. who present when they were
made. Mr.. Mcintyre however. said that In the
evening DistrctAttorney Gardiner would give
out a typewriter statement covering all points
in the case. This statement, it was announced
would be given out at the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
and not the Democratic Club which is the
political headquarters Of Colonel Gardiner.
THE DIsTRICT-ATTORNEY's STATEMENT
The statement which was given out by Colo.
mel Gardeners private secretary and the son Of
Mr.. Mcintyre is follows
The first information as to the death OF Mrs
Adams received at this office was communicated
to Assistant District Attorney John f. Mcintyre
Wednesday afternoon at / o'clock by H. S.
Cornish athletic director of the Knickerb booker
Athletic club Upon his arrival the District
Attorneys office Mr.. Cornish directed TO Mr.
Mcintyre, who Immediately thereafter apprised
me of the death OF Mrs Adams under suspicious
circumstances, and presented to me the full
facts, which had been detailed TO him by Mr..
Cornish Appreciating the gravity OF the stu
alton at once authorized Mr.. Mcintyre (who
has had great experience in the prosecution OF
cases OF this nature, and In whom | have the
utmost confidence) TO enter upon immediate in
vestigation. and further directed him TO visit
the house Of the deceased. and use every means
his disposal TO ascertain the complete facts
surrounding her death. In cases OF this nature
1t is of the highest importance that every cir
cumstance connected with the death Of the
poisoned victim be ascertained and kept intact.
as in several instances heretofore vital evidence
necessary TO establish guilt has been overlooked
due entirely to the nexperience Of the investi-
gators and their lack OF knowledge to what
constitutes the important and vital legal proofs.
The exhibits in former cases owing 10 a lack
OF knowledge as 10 their proper tracing and
Identification. were excluded upon the trial be-
cause the witnesses could not completely trace
them through the hands OF the various persons
through whom they had passed and properly
identify them at the trial Such condition
arose at the Fleming poisoning case
Since the beginning OF my administration as
District Attorney OF this county it has been my
policy to assign member Of my professional
staff 10 fully investigate grave offences OF this
sort, as, for example, those Of murder and arson
Immediately upon the receipt OF allegations Of
their commission. / considered such a course
my duty in order TO insure that all the required
technical legal proofs would be obtained. AS
constitutional officer the District Attorney Is
empowered to use every means at his command
TO collect evidences of the commission OF crimes
within the Jurisdiction OF his office. and IL be-
comes his duty to do The Court Of Appeals
recognizing the Importance of the Dstrict-At-
torney being possessed Of every circumstance
connected with the commission Of a crime with
in his jurisdiction. In recent opinion In the
case OF the People rel Gardiner agt the
Board Of Supervisors 03i y. Y. pages. !. 4. g.
and s. held that "a criminal case arises when
the offence is committed and the duties OF the
District Attorney prior 10 indictment not
limited to issuing subpPnas for witnesses and
attending upon the Grand Jury. The whole sub