New-York tribune., 1899-01-11
BARNET END or TT DROPPED.
POLICE CEASE TRYING TO CONNECT HIS
CASE WITH ADAMS POISONING.
40 PROGRESS MADE IN UYRAvEILLNG THE
TALKS ABOUT THE CAsE-NO TM

MEDIATE AEEES1 DDohtD FUN
AS far as could be judged from what the police
made public. their Investigations in the Adams
poisoning case yesterday did not produce any
evidence which would fasten the crime on any
one person. In fact, the results were anything
but satisfactory, although Colonel Gardiner, the
District Attorney. and Chief Of Police Devery
are working with Captain McClusky in the case.
Efforts have been repeatedly made to connect
the death of Henry Crossman Barnet from diph-
theria at the Knickerbocker Athletic Club on
November 10 with the poisoning which re-
suited In the death Of Mrs Adams. and at one
time II said that Mr. Barnets body would
be exhumed. so as to allow an analysis Of the
contents OF the stomach to show that he had
taken cyanide Of mercury sent him In pack
age supposed TO contain an effervescing powder
The police have however. practically decided
TO abandon this end Of the case owing to infor-
nation received from Baltimore which tends to
clear up several obscure points In regard to Mr.
Barnet. and several letters he received from a
young woman. These letters. 1t has been said
were written by some in the city The
statement made by Miss Bates the nurse who
attended Mr.. Barnet. that he said when the last
letter came to him expressing sympathy in his
illness, Il wonder how she knew was ill?" is
explained by the police Investigation.
The police found out from Baltimore that Mr.
Barnet engaged TO be married to Bati-
more girl whom he met az the summer head
quarters of one OF the yacht clubs last summer
She came to this city soon as she heard Of
his death. and attended his funeral. 1t is gen.
orally conceded that she is the young woman
who wrote the letters to Mr.. Barnet during his
illness. When she came to the city Robert s.
Holt. jr., Of No. 2S1 Lexington-ave. met her at
the station Of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
and took her TO the home Of his sister, where
she remained until after the funeral Mr. Holt
was warm friend OF Mr. Barnet. and knew
OF his private affairs.
The information about the young woman from
Baltimore has led Captain McClusky to devote
less time to the Barnet case. and. in fact, al
most to abandon Investigations along mat hhe'
Robert S. Holt IT, when seen yesterday ana
asked about the Baltimore girl. said to Iripuhe
reporter: Il am under instructions from captain
McClusky to say nothing about the case 10 any
person" When asked the direct question:
whether or not the young woman to whoih MI
Barnet was engaged had come to New-fork 10
attend the funeral. Mr. Holt said: i can neither
answer yes or no to that question:.
Captain McClusky. as he left MS o'"ce '"''
night said that no arrests would De H'auc "'
once IN the Adams case. In regard 70 the u'Sap-
nearance Of Moore. the doorkeeper OF the h"ioN
erbocker Athletic Club. who occasiona'ly ao'eu
as Mr. Barnet's valet, the captain saio 'ia' ''7
did not consider Moore an important WITNESS !"
the case and did not know where ne had so"e'
Moore Was said to have heard Mr.. Barnet say
that ne had taken poison enough TO XII loty
men" Not much Importance Is atta'nea ] ~ ''i,s hs
renort owing to- the fact that MISS Bates the
nurse, and DR.. Douglas were inc ON! Peop'e ""'
saw Mr. Barnet during his illness L.,
rr,.o ,lNt Nttrat tinnO
nortant resignation was expected i'll the DlsllcI,
Attorneys Office sent n crowd or reporters W,
upon Colonel Gardiner YESTERDAY; me a.. nres,ion /
Attorney said that the publication IN queS.lon
was the first intimation he had OF any such pos
sibility 1T is here, he said as IL is IN & '.ie
Army-few die. none resign He said ne hao ~
raaeon 10 ask for the resignation OF any OF MS |
staff and did not believe that any memner o, .,ie
STAFF was dissatisfied with his place Askeu 'lie |
result Of his conference win Sn.et J Co1tain
Monday he said he met the Chief ana Napsaln
NcClIsky by appointment and went over car
fully the whole case as prepared ny wy - /
He learned what they had done ana ",iat ,.,t! ~
nronosed 70 do He said he was not at llpef'y !
70 cav what is the important link that Is miSshs'
:.as it might put the parties on their guard oro
"Do Won mean by parties that there is more
than one suspectedF ,,,. .t.o,,
"That 7 am not at liberty 10 say. This posor-
ing act was committed with great premeoIta.lon l
ard deliberation. and the guilty parry OF Pa.ue' P
made every effort 10 conceal identitE, 'onS
ouentlv tho case has taken the shape ol an lnti
cate dificrt and prolx police problem requ,p-
ing the highest form Of detective talent anu III
dustry.' ,. ,.,orover |
homicide was reported TO him to send some
representative Of the Office to the iocanty ~
Gather evidence so as 10 avoid such nlscaI,,
riages of justice as resulted in the Fleming anu
Mamie Cunningham cases . -, ,,.oo
Colonel Gardiner asked II the evidence
submitted to him by the police Indicated tnae
there was any use i'm following clews outslue
Of the city. and he said that the police were
following cews in various directions; ,, .,
,fnlyf no Nyfn ~
Woman" Colonel Gardiner was asked.
Before examining the evidence" Colonel Car
diner replied. II thought woman tne gul,,sg
person. because in most of the famous poisoning
eases a woman has been found TO be the guilty.
one thought go on general principles, VIII
not say that ha 'e changed my mlnd, % am am
not in 4 situation TO come to any definite con-
clus.on While there are grave suspicions-weI'
no ono can lawfully be arrested on suspicion.
The evidence In the possession OF tne P1Ce ,'a a
not Justify an arrest, and so long as have any
authority | will not permit the stigma OF an
arrest FOR murder to rest on any ci,zer ui,'sS'
7 think can convict the person or the crime.
Colonel Gardiner said further. replying 10
questions. that IL any one brought to him any
direct evidence connecting any lhulViupaI VIZ"
tho commission Of the crime-not merely circunl-
stantial evidence that could he upset-he would
go right before a magistrate. constitute hiinseIt
the complaining witness. and apply ior War
rant OF arrest .,
Would n motive ard statement by the
chemist, with the similarity OF handwriting war
rant you in making an arrest"
rest must be sufficiently clear to JUSTIFY the as
sumption that no mistake has been made. Sev-
eral times the police thought they found mo-
tive hut then they failed to connect the motive
with the act They are still hard at work on the
case. and expect to clear the mystery soon.
Mr. Kinsley the handwriting expert. VINO IN
comparing the address on the package sent 70
Mr. Cornish with the writing OF several sus-
pected people. has failed 80 far 70 OBTAIN eEi-
dence that any one Of those suspected sent the
package. He gave up the work entirely on sat
urday last and then Captain McClusky decided
to make public Photographic copy OF lhe au-
dress Later Mr. Kinsley asked for one more
chance. with a promise that he would make his
final decision on Monday. but he failed to report
then. and up TO late hour last night had not op-
tained from his work evidence enough 10 impli-