The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-11
TESTIMONY OF R. B. MOLlNEUX
HUSBAND OF THE WOMAN AND WITH
WHOM CORNISH QUARRELED,
And Who Also Was Suspected of Pre-
pairing the Poisoned BrOmO-Seltzer
"A Personal Friend of Barnet.

through a rigid cross-eXamnation by As
sistant District Attorney Osborne, who is
conducting the case. Harry S. Cornish,
who gave the poison to Mrs. Adams, was
the first witness called this morning, and
at the afternoon session r. b. MolineuX,
who had been named by Cornish on the
stand as the man believed to have sent the
poisoned bromo-saltzer through the mails,
was called.
Cornish was again to-day somewhat reti-
cent and equivocal in his answers to ques-
lions put to him by the assistant district
attorney, and in one instance, at least &C.
casioned a good deal of surprise. In an In
terview with a number of newspaper repre-
sentatives previous to the commencement
of the examination, Cornish, when asked if
he knew Mrs. MolineuX, and if she could
have any connection with the case, said
that he wished the district attorney would
ask him that question on the stand. "A man
is supposed to perjure himself for a wom-
an" said Cornish, but 1 am here to tell
the truth if they ask me such a question"
This seemed a significant statement at the
time, and Assistant District Attorney Os-
borne put those very questions to him, to
which Cornish made the following answer:
Il never saw Mrs. Molineux to know her,
and never saw her when she was Blanche
Chesebrough."
i He made the statement that he had sus-
pected Molineux of having prepared the poi
son, because chemist, a friend of his, had
suggested, on account of a sediment having
been left in the glass from which Mrs.
Adams drank that the bromo-seltzer
preparation had been put up by a half
chemist, a man who had some knowledge
and that as Molineux knew something of
chemistry, his name naturally suggested it.
self. This was the reason, Cornish said,
and the fact that he had a quarrel with
Molineux was another reason.
MOLINEUX'S TESTIMONY.
Cornish gave way on the stand temporar-
lily to Molineux. Mr.. Osborne asked the
witness abruptly if he was innocent of the
poisoning of Mrs Adams. Molneux re-
piled. Il am absolutely innocent" Molineux
told of his connection with the Knicker-
booker and New York Athletic clubs, and
said he had left the former club largely be-
cause of his quarrel with Cornish. He was
asked if he had known Henry c. Barnet
and replied that he was a warm personal
friend of that man. friendship that had
lasted several years. He could suggest no
motive why any one should send poison to
Barnet. Molineux then described the rooms
at the Knickerbocker Athletic Club on the
second floor, occupied by himself. Barnet,
Cornish and Adams. after which the yacht
ing trip on A j. MOrgan's yacht ViatoT
which has recently been introduced into the
case, came up for cOnsidera ton. MolineuX
said that he had been on several cruises
on this yacht but that Barnet had never
been with him. lie met Miss Chesebrough
on one of these trips. being introduced to
her by her married sister A this interest
ing point the hearing was adjourned until
tuesday morning next.
Previous to the commencement Of the pro-
Ceedlngs this morning. Harry Cornish Wis
tied the district attorneys Office and en-
deavored to see Colonel Gardiner. The lat
ter however. sent word that any commune
cation Cornish had TO make must come
through Assistant District Attorney Os-
borne. who is conducting the examination
on the behalf of Colonel GARDENERS depart
ment. Cornish then had a lengthy CONSUL
tation with Mr.. Mcintyre. who. besides be-
ing a personal friend of Cornish, is said to
have knowledge of many peculiar ramifica-
tons which the mysterious poisoning has
brought about. After consulting Mr.. McIn-
tyre Cornish returned to the inquest room.
None of the many other witnesses sub
poenaed was present. Cornish declined to
say anything regarding District Attorney
GARDENERS remarks last nght-that it now
behCoVed him TO "cear his skirts" IT is
understood that Colonel Gardiner made this
remark in connection With CCrnish's APP
parent unwllingnesS to tell everything he
knew regarding the state of affairs at the
Athletic Club and regarding his relations
with those persons who have been brought
into the case more or less in the guise of
suspects.
WHY HE SUSPECTED MOLINEUX.
The first question that Assistant District
Attorney Osborne asked Cornish to-day was
somewhat abrupt "Will you tell me-" he
said, "all your reasons for supposing MoH-
neux committed this crime?"
Cornish answered. as he did yesterday,
that the idea came to him when he exam
ined the handwriting on the package con-
tanning the bromo-seltzer bottle and the
poison.
You don't believe, now, that Molineux
wrote that address," queried Mr.. Osborne
No, l don't" replied Cornish, shortly
Gallagher Wrote the address GoTnisb said aid
that he had learned from the police that
whoever prepared the bromo-seltzer bottle
must thaVe been a chemist. Besides Moli-
neuX there We're in the KnickerboCker Club
two chemists Jollum and futile. "Jokum"
SAID cornish, told me that it was evident
that the poison compounder was only half
a chemist
The question How did Jokum see the
poison?' brought out the fact that Jol1um
was quite intimate with the Adams family
and had examined the poison before the po-
lice took it away.
Nov look here, Cornish" said the assist
ant district attorney you came to my or
fee this morning ard told me that | was
not treating you fairly. | told YOU then
and ] tell you now. | do not suspect you of
the crime, and | wish to give you every
chance, TO tell al you know. Are you being
perfectly candid"
nish.
Mr.. Osborne asked Cornish if he had any
opinion as to who wrote the address on the
poison package Cornish said he had not
did not YOU tell Col. Gardiner that YOU
thought Felix Gallagher wrote that ad-
dress?" asked Osborne.
Il told him the experts said the letters
were written by the man who addressed the
poison packages. and / felt sure Gallagher
had written the letters.
And you think he wrote the address on
the package?"
NO; / think there is a resemblance in
the writing. / cannot say who wrote that
address The experts said the handwriting
was the same.
Cornish produced what purported to be
fac-simile of the address on the poison
OF the jury. with letter written by Gal
lagher.
In answer to question from Coroner
Hart 10 whether he had any difficulty
with Mrs. Molineux. Cornish said: Il never
saw Mrs. MolineuX before or since her mar
riage. l would not know her If she stood
before me-.
An effort apparently to throw doubt on
this statement of the witness was made
when two reporters were asked TO stand up,
and Osborne asked Cornish If he had not
said 70 them previous 10 the inquest that he
mad wished 70 be questioned regarding his
relations with Mrs. Molineux. Cornish de-
MED this and said that after searching for
q man with common motive against him