The morning news., 1899-02-10
HAD CORNISH UNDER FIRE.
INVESTIGATION OF ADAMS POISON
ING CASE BEGUN.

Cornish Was Charged With Making
Charges Against Two Members of
the hnfckerbOcker Athletic Club.
Said MOIincux Was the Only One
Who Was Vindictive Toward Him.
He and Barnet Had No Common
Enemy-Must Clear His own skirts.
New York, Feb. 9.-The inquiry into the
death of Mrs Kate ]. Adams, who died af
ter taking bromo-seltzer containing cya-
nlde of mercury. which had been sent
through the mails to Harry c. Cornish.
physical director of the Knickerbocker
Athletic Club was begun by Coroner Hart
to-day.
Crowds OF people who gathered early In
the corridors of the Criminal Court build
ing, were refused admission to the Coro-
ners Court. where there were present only
those intimately connected with the case or
Interested in public capacity.
Little difficulty was experienced In Sc
curing a jury, and then Harry Cornish was
put on the stand. The taking of his tes-
timony occupied the entire day and he will
go on the stand again tomorrow.
According to District Attorney Gardiner.
who was himself present at the inquiry
for a brief period, and who was represent
ed by Assistant District Attorney Os-
borne, the testimony given by Cornish was
not entirely satisfactory, nor, the district
attorney asserted. was ii as complete as
had been expected.
Roland b. Molineux's name was brought
into the case at the start. and Cornish
TAltn UrAY
thoroughly
During the early part of the examina-
ton. Cornish was very self-possessed and
gave his answers quickly Toward the end
of the examination he gave his answers
with much more deliberauon and some
times after a careful consideration.
Charges Against Two Members.
A large amount of the time of to-day's
session was taken up in re-telling the story
of the receipt OF the package through the
mails. and the giving of the poison TO mrs
Adams, but the progress OF the case Is not
likely TO be interfered with tomorrow oy
details that have been so frequently pup
lished
During his testimony to-day, Mr. Cor
nish said that he never had any personal
quarrel with any member of the knicker-
booker Athletic Club, but twice charges
had been preferred against him. lie was
accused. he said, of saying things about
Two members of the club TO thlrd mem
Der. The charges were made by {. G.
Hughes and the names of the two mem
bers involved in the quarrel were foiahu
b. Molineux and H. c. Barnet That was
two wears ago, and the witness could not
remember further details.
what the Charges Were.
"What did Hughes say to you of Moli-
Ilu 9r asked MIR. Osborne, the
assistant district attorney.
"Ho said that l said that Molineux had
made his money by the improper use OF
house property he owned in Newark lie
said I accused Barnet of improper prac-
ties with women
"Did that mean that Molineux let MS
house for purposes of prostitutionY'
,That and his gambling, / should think
is what he meant The charges were ois-
missed"
Mr. Cornish was asked If he was ac-
ousad Of saving that a member or the
TInickerbocISer Athletic Club was in the
habit of sending women to a disorderiy
ho1se kept by Mrs. Stern, IN rory
seventh street. He said he had hearo II
said. He knew there was such d place
and such a woman. He had visited the
house once.
neufed Charges Against Him.
denied again anu dbdhi thN'
was any truth in the charges preferred
aooinst him. He said he understood that
a9 a conference held after dinner at the
TTnior League Club Mr.. Molineux had de-
c1ared that he would leave the Knicker-
becker Athletic Club unless he Cornish
was discharged from it's employ
Mr. Osborne's cross-examinauon was
nerciless, and Mr.. Cornish got mixed up
in his dates.
ala NOT consider Mr. .Molineux's statements
could be called charges
"Did YOU have any idea who sent you
thai box?'' asked Mr.. Osborne, suddenly
"T have no idea; was in no position
to know"
"Did YOU not tell Capt. t.McCluskeyy read
;np from a typewriter statement, III came
over me in an instant when thought OF
Molineux-that Is just the fellow who sent
that box to me?
Cornish replied that that must have been
bis ,nnression when he made the state
ment 10 McCluskey
Thought of No other Man.
He could not think of any other man
on earth with whom he had had any kind
OF quarrel that could leave a feeling of
vindictiveness When the witness heard
about the handwriting 1t struck him that
the writing on the wrappers was like the
writing of Moineux.
'I did not make any charge"
Don't you think II was a charge when
you tod the chief of detectives Of New
York that the only man in the world who
could have done Il was Molneux?'
= mo, / made no charge. Anything I
said to McCluskey was made as a sug-
gestion TO aid him in his work.
Cornish said he had heard that Molineux
since he left the Knickerbocker Club, had
written letter about him.
Talk of IndIcting Cornish.
In answer to Coroner Hart. Cornish