Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-11
CORNISH Ratified.
Not Making Good impression
in the Adams Case.
MeIineux Takes Stand and Denies that
He Poisoned Mrs. Adams.
Tells Of His Quarrel With Cornish The Tssti.
mony Grows Interesting.

New York, Feb. l0.-TwO men whose
names have been most intimately con-
nccted with the death Of Mrs. Kate J.
Adams were on the witness stand, to-
day, before Coroner Hart and jury
and were put through rigid cross
examination by Assistant District At
torney Osborne. Harry S. Cornish,
who gave the poison to Mrs. Adams.
was the first witness called. this morn
ing. and at the afternoon session. Ro-
land II. MOlineux. who had been named
by Cornish on the stand as the man
he believed to have sent the poisoned
bromo settler through the mails. was
called.
Cornish was again somewhat rcti-
cent and eauivocal in his answers to
questions put to him by the assistant
district attorney and In one instance at
least occasioned q good deal of sur
prise. In an interview with n number
of newspaper representatives. previous
to the commencement OF the cxamina-
lion. Cornish, when asked if he knew
Mrs. MOlincux and il she could have
any connection with the case, said that
he wished the assistant district attor-
ney would ask him that question on
the stand. "A man is supposed to per-
jurc himself when asked about wO-
man said Cornish. but ] am here TO
tell the truth if they ask me such "a
question"
This seemed a significant statement.
but when Assistant District Attorney
Osborne put that very question. Cor
nish replied: IL never saw Mrs. Moli-
L.. H.. l..
when she vas Blanche Chcsbrough.''
Didn't you' asked Mr. Osborne.
SAY to two men. this morning. when
asked IL you knew Mrs. Molineux. that
you wished l would ask you that
question and that. although some men
would perjurc themselves. you would
tell the TRUTH"
Cornish denied this at first but later
he admitted that he might have said
1t. as he had said SO many things and
that he was very much ratified at the
time.
cornish did not prove to be very
good witness. as he threw but little
light on the case. He stated that he
had suspected Molineux Of having pre-
pared the poison. because q chemist, a
friend of his, had suggested. on ac-
count of sediment left in the glass
which Mrs Adams drank. that the
hromo-seltzer preparation had been
put up by a half-chemist man who
had some knowledge Of chemistry. but
not complete knowledge. As Molin-
eux knew something of chemistry his
name naturally suggested itself. An
other reason for suspecting Molineux
"a h,l
Molineux.
cornish gave way on the stand tenn
pora!'ily to IMolineuX. who took his
place there after a wrangle between
Assistant District Attorney Osborne
ara Harlow :. Weeks. Molineux's coun-
sci Mr.. Weeks objscted on the ground
that Molineux had not been properly
subpoenaed, and during the course of
the wranslea second subpoena was pre-
pared which Molineux accepted. being
apparently very willing witness.
Mr.. Osborne stated that it could not
go on the record the Molineux had an
peared as witness at his request, and
then asked the witness abruptly if he
was innocent of the poisoning of Mrs.
Adams
Molineux replied: L am absolutely
Molineux told Of his connection with
the knickerbocker and New York
Athletic Clubs and said that he had left
tlle former club largely because of his
quarrel with Cornish. He was asked
u he had known Henry &. Barnet and
replied that he was Il personal friend
ot that man. friendship that had last
Ell for several years. He could suy-
gest no motive why anyone should send
olson to Barnet and declared that he
had not known that Barnet was sie,,
ur'il a few days before Earnct's death
ana that he learned. he explained. be-
cause he was To give a dinner at which
6arn"t was TO be present. A mutual
friend told him of Barnet's illness.
Molineux then described the rooms at |
the knickcrbockc,' \. e. on the second
'ioor occupied by himself. Barnet. Cor
iIsh and Adams. after which the yacht |
Ing trip on \. ]. Morgan's yacht Via
Tor. which has recently been introduced |
INTO The case. came UP for considera-
ton. Molincux SAL that he had sew |
eral times cruiscd ON the Yacht but |
''lrnet had never been with him. He i
met Miss Chesborough on one OF these |
trips. being introduced to her by her |
married sister.
Ut this interesting. point the hearing |
was adjourned until TucsdAy morning !
next.
1t was noon before the proceedings |
G,4-