The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-13
EXPERT TALKS ALL DAY.
GIVES hrs REASONS FOR LAYING
POISON LETTERS TO MoLINEUG.

ter of Molineux's That L. Devoid OF His
Char cteristics''-Ha writings of the
Whole Knickerbocker Athletic Club Re.
amined-J. Morton Riggs Mentioned.
For the first time since the beginning OF the
Molineux poisoning trial the proceedings yes
terday we're conducted without interruption OF
the order Of proof There was only one witness
on the stand. He was Kinsley. the handwrit-
ing expert. II was his fourth day as q witness,
and when court adjourned for the day his direct
examination had not been completed. Mr..
Kinsley was made to repeat in as many ways
as District Attorney Osborne could put the
question that In his opinion Roland b. Molineux
wrote the letters that are signed H. G. Barnet"
and III Cornish" that have been admitted
In the case as evidence. and that he
also wrote the address on the package
that contained the poison Harry Cornish
received through the mail and dose OF
which he administered TO Mrs. Katherine j
Adams. causing her death. Mr.. Kinsley had
made remarkable statements on the stand re-
garding the ability or the inability OF any two
human beings out OF the billion and half who
make up the worlds population to write alike.
Mr.. Osborne evidently thought that there was
danger Of a question arising about the fairness
OF his witness. and he took occasion carly In
the day TO bring out from him statement that
he had come to the conclusion that all the
writing was done by Mollneux only after he
had examined many thousand specimens OF
the admitted handwriting OF moro than one
hundred persons lie had examined the hand
writing. he said. OF every member OF the
Knickerbocker Athletic Club.
In the course OF his examination a name was
brought out that had not heretofore been
mentioned In the trial and which there 10 .
very general understanding will figure later
on. perhaps in a sensational manner. The
name was that Of ]. Morton Riggs. who was
once a member OF the club.
One OF Mr.. Osborne's statements conveyed
an impression that Mollneux had done his best
to conceal his real handwriting whom he wrote
specimens for Expert Kinsley and he oontended
that certain peculiarities that had always be-
fore appeared In the handwriting OF MollneuI
| did not appear after Molineux had talked with
| his handwriting expert. David n. Carvalho. Mr..
| Osborne was promptly called 10 order for the
remark by Molineux's counsel and the Re-
corder directed that the Jury must disregard It.
| Mr.. Knsey illustrated his testimony from
start to finish by illustrations on white paper
| with oil crayon. There was sameness about
much Of the testimony that made IL dry hear
| ing. But one thing noticeable was that the
| members OF the jury seemed to be interested
| In IL ALL and frequently interrupted the proceed
| ings TO ask questions themselves. Another
noticeable feature OF the day was an extraordi-
nary absence Of objections and a decided
| change in the manner OF the Recorder who u
the presiding Magistrate at the trial.
KISsLEY EXAMINED MANY HASDwRITISGs.
| At half past 10 in the morning. the hour for
| the trial to begin. Ave members OF the jury had
| not yet arrived and there was no representa-
tive from the District Attorneys Office. The
| iurymen struggled in for five or six minutes
1 -. IA. NE.sa alH
| from a Seeding by arriving Just as the last
! ,uryman got there. Young Molineux. whose
| lie Is In the balance. appeared to be In better
| humor and In better spirits than he had been
| for IA week. He came across the bridge from
the Tombs, his face all smiles. and as he made
his way behind the seats OF his counsel he
| greeted each OF them. said something that
made them laugh. and then sat down ana
talked cheertully to his father who handed
! him the daily letter from his wife.
Mr.. osforns said; Mr.. Weeks asked you II
Il think he asked If you had received sl.1oo."
said the Recorder.
yT ySnMS r h R8ssy M you se
the, Jury Just what position YOU have occupied,
1 ME3t SPm hny S Ss F s'
Jan. i, detective ssfSsans Mccaacrty 6rouSh:
the handwrtinG, that We're to lie examined,
and | started in then aud worked
times ali nigh, AMI on sunday, until made
my report on the 2lst day u February. ! also
| worked after that time in the preparation o.
the case for the Coroncr's Jury and for one, Of
shs Grahd Jrres,, remGmG ,h,, th M6r me or,
amined every scrap OF paper that, the police
had gathered, including III handwriting OF
G%rnsh M9insGY lem m naHm Gsss Mh;
had written for me or whose handwriting had
SGa@sI n; gsfKa Sss
Athletic CLUB or al smployeS q III. club"
Mis-, KoEsrS, ila-sett. Iiarpster and GallaSher''
'A He s'' snbmttteI tho handwriting OF all Of
these persons. though not ut the same time"
booker !' HVhlS %% Dub 10 4 Yes. - WV N'
=, There were books there were there not
q Did you study the handwriting of the late
u q. Sow. then. out OF ali the han writing sub
mittcd YOU could only reach tho conclusion
that
QUESTIONS RULED OUT, But ANSWERED.
81 respectfully suggest" said Mr.. Weeks at
this point. that the District Attorney should
be directed that it is the witness and not the
nas Is sad NJ osborne
thing that you say. Now, Mr., ktnsey.. did
Capt McClusky mention 70 you the name OF tho
oh "h'Sh Nhio NA'ihO "eo w W
nNedy"
Mr.; Kinsley smiled as he replied. NO. he did
not
=. So after a study OF seven weeks. you
formed an opinion. did your A. did,
=, Why was u that IL took 80 long to form an
opinionr A. Well. there was 80 much In dis
putc and
Mr.. Osborne interrupted here and said.
Now. listen. didn't you recognize that on
the careiunoss OF your examination great
deal rested that human life might be In tho
balance"
MIR. Weeks and tho Recorder both objected
to this question. but before they could get
their Objection stated, Mr. ktnsey had re-
MIR. Osborne asked again. Did you know
that an outcome Of your opinion that the man
whose handwriting you selected as tho
original OF the Barnet and the Cornish letters
would DO treated by the police as the guilty
man In this casey"
Again both the Recorder and Mr. Weeks OBJ
Iected. but the witness replied Il did, before
the objections were stated. Tho Recorder
took Mr.. Osborne to task. and that lawyer.
having accomplished his point. smiled grimly
and put another question. thus:
Were you not selected by the police departs
ment TO aid them in discovering who was the
murderer" Mr.. kinsley replied quickly. Yes,
|