Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-10
CORONER's INQUEST IN MRS. ADAMS
MURDER BEGINS.
HARRY CORNISH ON THE STAND
TELLS THE TALE OF THE DEATH OF
THE VICTIM.
KnickerbOcker Athletic Club EN-
ploye Acknowledges That Mrs.
Adams Received the Poison
From His Hands-Some
Inside History.

NEW YORK, Feb. 9.-Coroner Hart be-
gan to-day an inquest into the death OF
Mrs. Kate ]. Adams. who died from poison
on December %. The most generally ac-
cepted theory has been that some person
or persons, with a secret to hide, mad at
tempted to dispose of those having knowl-
edge of the secret, and Henry G. Barnet,
former member of the Knickerbocker
Athletic Club. who died November TO- had
fallen victim to poison sent to him an
onymously in the mails.
Harry Cornish was the first witness. Mr..
Cornish told of receiving the bottle of
medicine and silver bottle holder at the
Knickerbocker Club on December "a. and
of preserving the wrapper, and OF subse-
quentIy taking the articles to the fiat where
he lived with Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Rog-
ers. He narrated the circumstances lead
ing to the preparation Of dose of the drug
for Mrs. Adams. who. after drinking re-
marked that it was very bitter
Cornish said he drank what was LEFT In
the glass and said: That's all right.
Then he sat down to read. but was startled
by call from Mrs. Rogers. Come ana
hold mamma" He found Mrs. Adams ap-
parently very Ill in the bathroom. He hur-
ried the hall boy for doctor and ran to
drug store for instructions. The druggist
No doctor having arrived. Cornish ran for
DR.. Hitchcock, and later. at DIR. Hitch
cocks request, fetched DR.. Potter. Mrs.
Adams died and the doctors told him the
case must be reported to the coroner
The witness said he went to Assistant
District Attorney Mcintyre, his personal
friend, and asked him to expedite the ac-
ton OF the coroner. All this while, wit
ness said he was i'll. He went to the CLUB
O.
occurred during the forenoon), and there
was taken Ill. DR.. Phillips gave him
treatment for over an hour, using stom-
ach pump Witness could suggest no mo-
| tive for the poisoning; he had no quarrel
with anyone and. so far as he knew, had
no enemies. Subsequently he modified this
statement and admitted that he had had
differences" ons being about eighteen
months ago.
Mr. Cornish was questioned about the
illness and death of H. c. Barnet. the
questioning bringing out the fact that the
| two men had not been on the best of
terms.
| personal quarrel with any member Of the
Knickerbocker Athletic Club, but twice
had been against thing: him.
| about two members of the club to thfrd
member. The charges were made by e. c.
HUGHES and the names Of the ers two Rnans m
B. Moiineux and II. G. Barnet. That was
| two years ago and the witness could not
| remember further details.
Mr.. Cornish said he was employed by ].
Herbert BalIsntyns. president of the cor cor.
poration that conducts the Knickerbockef
That corporation, said the witness. is the
Peaua Club Association.
did apghe. ssy t. y9n OF MoliP tP.
assistant district attorney.
HE said that I said that Molineux had
| made his money by the improper use OF
said nIaSe paeG accused ed Barnet Of improper prac.
"Did that mean that Melineu1 let this
s'That and his sambiinE. i should think.
was whatI meant The charges were dis
MI. Cornish was asked II he was ac-
| cused Of saying that q member Of the
Knickerbocker Athletic Club was in. the
habit of sending women to a disorderly
seventh street. He said he had heard it
said. He knew there was such q place
and such dea He ahan had visited S the
that there was any truth in the charges
| preferred against him. He said he under
soosr at ~ at nsd after
| neux had declared that he would leave the
Knickerbocker Athletic Club unless he
| (Cornish) were discharged from its en-
Mr.. osborne's cross-examination was
mereiless and Mr.. Cornish got mixed up in
Of Of the Informal charees 1a a against T him bs by
Molineux until after December Is, and then
| he said he knew of Molineux' statement
NJ cerns hf fy e1paaed s he did
could be called charges; He said that either
told him Of Molineux' statement.
| Did YOU have any idea who sent you
ssT M idea N in M "a
Did you, tell Captain Mcclusky,". (read-
over me in an instant when thought of
Moli1eux.that.s Mol a just the fellow who sent
Cornish replied that that must have been
| his impression when he made the state
ment to Mr.. McClusky.
He could not think Of any other man on
| earth with whom he had had any kind Of
tnat sEHId leave s.d feeling Of vim
heard n to abGa Ss the M Whsn Z struck wps S
the writing of Molineux.. He had not the
in the newspapers reminded him OF Of % MoIi.
| neux' writing and asked If. 1t was not like
the neWspaper fac simile: Adams was real
agreement between Molineux and Adams. ms
Witness had IA IN never yer had quarrel with
| Molfneux,'' said Mr.. Osborne, "were thar
| he demanded your discharge from the
| Knickerbocker Athletic Club and that Mr.
Adams suggested that this handwriting was
like lirt that published in the newspapers"
Well, before you made the charger"
Il did not make any charge"
Don't you think 1t was a charge when
| you told the chief of detectives of New
| York that the only man in the world who
| could have done It was MoIineaux?'
No. | made no charge. Anything said
| 70 McCiuskey was made as q suggestion
Cornish said he had heard that Molineaux.
| since he left the Knickerbocker Club. had
| written letter about him. In answer to
Coroner Hart. Cornish Acknowledged that
| he had said that DR.. Phillips told him
| Barnet was poisoned. Witness knew of no