New-York tribune., 1899-12-30
PRICE THREE CENTS.
THE POISON SCENE ACTED
CORNISH SHOWS JURY HOW HE GAVE
MRS. ADAMS THE FATAL DOSE.
JOHN D. ADAMS PROTESTS AGAINST THE IN.
PRODUCTION OF A PRIVATE LETTER.
WHICH HE SAYS WAS STOLEN
FROM HIM


voted to the continuance OF the trial OF Roland
B. Moneux yesterday, the short session was
marked by more than one dramatic incident.
The testimony adduced was also of a character
to sustain the interest of every in court at
the highest pitch. Only two witnesses on
the stand but these two men whose names
are almost prominently identified with the
as that of the defendant himself John ID.
Adams the secretary OF the Knckerbocker Ath-
letic Club, called in order that his cross-ex-
animation might be completed by Mr. Weeks.
and then Harry S. Cornish took the stand and
continued his story Of how he received the
poisoned bromo- seltzer. and Of the subsequent
circumstances which led TO the death OF Mrs.
Adams His direct examination was Of much
shorter duration than was generally expected.
1t was over shortly before noon. and then Cor
nish was turned to Mr. Weeks for cross-ex-
animation. In the little while that counsel for
the defence had at his disposal before the ad-
tournment he brought out nothing in the nature
OF new developments in the case. but IL is un-
derstood that Mr. Weeks has yet merely
touched upon the fringe Of his cross-examination.
ADAMS CAUSES A STIR.
John D. Adams caused the first stir Of the day
when on examining a letter shown to him by Mr..
into anger and declared that It had been stolen
from his private files. When Mr. Weeks pressed
him TO answer the question which had been put
TO him Mr. Adams appealed 10 the Court for pro-
lection urging that the letter referred 10 college
fraternity matters and had no relevancy In the
case The Court ordered the witness 10 reply TO
counsers inquiry and in obeying Mr.. Adams ad-
mitted that the handwriting OF the letter was
his Mr. Osborne wanted TO look at the letter.
but Mr. Weeks refused. as he had not offered IL
in evidence. II was marked for identincation'
however and given into the possession OF the
clerk Of the court. with instructions from the
Recorder that should be allowed 10 see IL
Just what the mysterious letter was Mr.. weeks
would not divulge when he was asked ABOUT IL at
the close OF the days proceedings. but II Is SAID
that he will make use Of 1t in support OF part OF
his plan Of defence, which will be to snow thae
evidence which has been brought against Moii-
neux might with equal facility be brought
against other persons
Mr. Weeks's cross-examnation Of Adams was
particularly severe. He brought out the race
that il was the witness who first brought Moli-
reux's name into the case. Adams. 1t seemed
discovered what TO his mind seemed TO pe
similarity between the defendants handwriting
and facsimile, what purported to be one'
the poison package Having formed the opinion
that Molineux wrote the address he unearthed
some specimens of the defendants handwriting
from the files Of the club. and took them 20
gatber with the alleged fac-simile to Cornish.
Thus It appeared from yesterdays evidence
WAS Molineux's name first attached 10 the case.
OBJECT LESSON BY CORNISH
The day's session closed with an incident OF
I urog
nv Cornish Of the scene of the drinking or the
,oisoned nowder by Mrs. Adams. When Mr.
Ueol,s sucrested that Cornish should give an
ohiect lesson as he called IT, Of the way IN
which the fatal drink was prepared and now IL
WAS taken by Mrs Adams, the prosecution
vigorously objected, but finally Mr.. osborne
withdrew his protest. Thereupon MI WEEKS
produced from a satchel two glasses such as
are commonly used for table purposes spoon
and an empty seltzer bottle. Then CORNISH was
renuested to take a seat at the Assistant Dis
trict Attorneys table
Now be careful and mix the drink just as
Won did for Mrs. Adams" instructed Mr. U.s.
borne. -
Thereupon Cornish removed the cork from INC
hottie explaining as he did that he had re-
moved the original cork with a dining iorh'
Then he went through the motions OF knocking
tho hottie on the palm of his hand TO loosen the
nowder and to 1ll the teaspoonfui with H. lh'
Silence in the court profound ana eVerS'
eve was intently fixed on the man at the taple.
Recorder Goff and Justice Dickey' VINO were
talking together paused in their cohNetsa.Iooii
TO watch Cornishs dumb show. ana many OF @ tne
reople in court IN their excitement inVoluntaruy
rose TO their feet. The tension OF every one was
at the highest point. ,
Having filled the teaspoon with the imaginary
powder and placed It in the empty gass LAS
was about to pour the water from another gas
into &C. when he stopped ana salu ne couL'
not do that because Mrs. Adams poured III u,
water while he stirred II. one or the court OF
dcers thereupon poured In the water as NIT
adams did while Cornish stirred with the spooi
The drinking pagt was left to the lmagha,,oi,
Cornish indicated how much or the mixture Nts
Adams drank and said that he himself took
big swallow Mr. Weeks asked MN IL ne or
not drink all that remained. but CORNISH IN.
sisted that he did not. Counsel requested MN 10
Illustrate by drinking from the small quantity
OF water that was left In the glass just now
much he did swallow. but the Recorder inter-
posed saying that the show had gone tar
enough.
DETAILS OF THE TESTIMONY.
When by permission OF the Court on Thursday
rho cross examination of John ID. Adams was tenn
norar,lv SUSPENDED at the request OF Mr.. Weeks. It
was arranged that counsel for the defence should
continue his cross questioning on the following
morning Accordingly when the trial was re-
sumed yesterday Mr. Adams was at once called to
the stand He brought with him, as he had been
asked to do by Mr. Weeks. the minutes of the
House and Athletic committees Of the Kntcker-
booker Athletic Club They were made up In tho
form OF a sealed package. and. displaying them.
he said he had difficulty in obtaining permission
TO bring the records OF tho club for public scrutiny.
He said the minutes contained all the references
70 matters connected with Moneux's resignation
from, tho club and he asked that the Court should
protect the private minutes OF the club from be-
coming public. except in so far as they were con-
nected with the case
Taking the documents and examining them. Mr..
Weeks said: II here in the minutes OF a meet
ing IN March that one Race was discharged Why
was he discharged" Mr. Osborne Instantly OBJ
jected and was sustained. so that. whatever sig
nincance might attach to the discharge OF Race.
Mr. Weeks was not allowed to make use OF Il.
Counsel however. asked the witness II he had re-
ceved a letter from Race after his discharge. Mr..
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