The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-11


Of Crime.
New York, Repruary lo.-Ths two men
whose names hsvs bssn most Intimately
connected with the death Of Mrs. Kate
J.Adams were on the witness stand today
before Coroner Hart and Jury and were
put through rigid oross-exAminstion
BY Assistant District Attorney Osborne
Harry s. Cornish, who gave the poison
to Mrs. Adams. was ths first witness
called this morning. and ~ ths afternoon
session, Roland u Aolineaux who had
bean named By Cornish on the stand ~
the man he believed to have ssnt the
poisoned bromo ssltzer through the mails
was called.
Cornish was again today somewhat
retioent ard equivocai In his answers 10
questions put 10 him By the assistant dis
trict attorney and In one instance at lesst
interview with anumber Of Newspaper
representatives previous to the commence
msnt Of the EXAMINATION, Cornish when
asked II he knew Mrs Molineaux aud II
she could have any connection with the
case. said that he wished the assistant
district attorney would ask him that
question on the stand. IA man is sup
posed to perjure himself for woman"
said Cornish. "but / am here to tell the
truth II they ask me such q question"
Ibis seemed . Significant statement,
but whom Assistant District Attorney
Osborne put that very question, Cornish
replied: ,..,
her and never saw her when she was
blanche Cheshrough."
Didn't you," asked Mr. Osborne.
SAY to two men this morning when
asked II you knew Mrs. Molinsaux, that
you wished would ask you thar ques-
ton, and although some men would per-
lure themselves, you would tell the truthY
Cornish denied this at first but later
he admitted that he might have said 1t rs
he had said so many things and that he
was very much ratified ut the time. Cor
nIsn aid not prove to be q very good wit
ness, as he threw but little light ON the
case. He stated that he had suspected
Molinsaux Of having prepared the poison
because chemist. friend OF his had
suggested, on account OF sediment left
In the glass from which Mrs. Adams
drank, that the bromo seltzer preparation
had bean put up by a half chemist. man
who had some knowledge Of chemistry
but not complete knowledge. As Mol
ineaux knew something Of chemistry his
name naturally suggested itself. An.
other reason Tor suspecting Molineaux
was that he had . quarrel with him.
Cornish gave way on the stand tempo
there after wIanRle between a ssistant
District Attorney Osborne and Barlow
5. Weeks, Molineaux's counsel. Mr.
Weeks objected on the q ound shat Mol
ineaux had not been properly subpoensed
and during the course OF Il wrangle, Q
second subpoena was prepared which
Moiineaux accepted being apparently
that Il could go on the record that Mol
ineaux had appeared as witness at his
REQ uest, and then asked tne witness
abruptly II be was innocent OF the poison.
ing Of Mrs. Adams.
Molineaux replied: 81 am absolutely
innocent.
the Kniokorbo booker and New York Ath
lstic club. and said that he had left the
former club largely because Of his quarrel
with Cornish he was asked II he knew
Henry G. Barnet and replied that he was
a warm personal friend OF that man.
friendship that had iasted several years
he could suggest no motive why anyone
should send poison TO Barnet and de-
olared that he he'd not known that. Barnet
was siok until few days before his d ath
and this he learned, he explained. becauss
he Was to give dinner at which Barnet
was to be present. A mutual friend told
him OF BArnet's illness.
Molineaux then described the rooms
at the Knickerbocker Athletic club on
the second floor, occupied by himself
Barnet Cornish and Auams. a'tsr which.
the yachting trip of the yacht Viator.
which has recently been Introduces into
the case came up for consideration.
Moiineaux said that he had been on sew
sral cruises on this yacht but that Bar
net had never been with him. He met
Miss Chesbrough on one Of these trips,
being introduced to her BY her married
sister.
At this interesting point the hearing
was adjourned until Tuesday morning
next.