The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-10
NEW YORK POISONING CASE
TESTIMONY OF CORNISH 1T IN
QUEST UNS4TISFA CTORY.

Numerically Piled with Questions =
Asked If He Told Truth in Statement
| to Captain McCluskey- Mixed Over His
| Dates-District Attorney Talks OF
| Indictiny Cornish.
| New York, Feb. 9.-Inquiry into the
death of Mrs. Kate j. Adams who died
after taking bromo seltzer containing
cyanide of mercury which had been
sent through the mails to Harry S. Cor
nish, physical director of the Knicker-
booker Athletic club, was begun by Cor
oner Hart ts-day. Crowds Of people
who gathered early in the corridors Of
the criminal court building We're refus-
ed admission to the coroners court,
where there was present only those con-
nected with the case
Little difficulty was experienced in Sc
curing a jury and then Harry Cornish
was put on the stand. The taking Of
his testimony occupied the entire day
and he will go on the stand again to-
morrow. According to District Attor-
ney Gardner, who was present at the
inquiry for a brief period, and who was
represented by Assistant District At
torney Osborne, the testimony given by
Cornish was not entirely satisfactory,
nor, the district attorney asserted, was
it as complete as had been expected
Mr.. Osborne had a typewriter page
in his hand while questioning Mr.. Cor
nish, which proved to be the statement
Cornish had made to Detective Captain
McClusky Mr.. Cornish said he told
Captain McClusky what DR.. Phillips
had told him and identified the state
ment he made. Mr.. Cornish said, refer
ing to the statement to CAPTAIN Nc
Cluskey that he believed he had spolS-
en- of the death of Barnet before Janu-
ary 5, the late of the statement. Now,
without mentioning any names, can you
think of any motive for the attempt to
poison your" asked Mr.. Osborne. II
cannot think of any possible motive"
Being pressed for facts" Mr.. Cornish
said there were no facts sufficient to
supply a motive Continuing, he said
that he had never had any personal
quarrel with any member of the Knick-
erbocker Athletic club, but he twice
had had charges preferred against him
-once that he knew of and once that
he was informed Of. He was accused,
he said, of saying things about two
members of the club to a third member.
The charges were made by c. c. Hugh
es. and the names of the two members
involved in the quarrel were Molineaux
and Barnet.
Coroner Hart interrupted here to ask
the usual practice in clubs as to pre-
ferred charges; if it was usual to make
charges in writing or verbally. Wit
ness did not know the usual course. He
was notified to appear before COM
of c. G. Hughes, e. f.
Bushnell and Chandler Fulton to an
swer charges that he had spoken disre-
spectfully of Mr.. Barnett and Mr.. Moli-
neaux. That was two years ago and
the witness could not remember further
details. "What did Hughes say to you
of Molineaux and Barnet?'' asked Mr.
Osborne.
HE said that 1 said that Molineaux
had made his money by the improper
use of house property owned In New
ark. He said I accused Barnet Of i'm
proper practices with women
Did that mean that Molineaux let
his house for purposes Of prostitution"
answered: THAT, and his
gambling, / should think, is What he
meant. The charges were dismissed"
Mr.. Cornish was asked IL he was ac-
cused of saying that a member OF the
X Kuicl1erbocker Athletic club was in the
habit of sending women to disorderly
house kent by Mrs. Stern in AID
street. He said he had heard it said.
He knew there was such a place ana
yuch a woman. He lad visited the /
house once. He denied again and again
-hat there was any truth in the charges
nreferred against him. He said he un- |
1erstood that at a conference held at |
ar q dinner at the Union League club |
Mr. Molineaux had declared that he |
would leave the Knickerbocker Athletlc |
,Iub unless he (Cornish) was discharg-
ed from its employ.
Mr. OsbOrne's cross-eXanlnatlon was
and Mr.. Cornish got mixed
IN in his dates. First he said that he
xnew nothing of the Informal charges
against him made by MolineauX until
,fter December 2S, and then he said he
snew of MolineauX's statement just at
er the Union League club dinner. MI
Cornish finally explained that he dld
not consider that Mr.. MolineauX's state
nent could be called charges. He said
hat either Mr.. Balantine, Mr.. Sears
" Mr.. Adams told him of MolineauXs
statement. Witness said he was not
discharged from the club. Molineaux
lid not resign from the club. Witness
lid not know that Molineaux was GUST
d from the chairmanship of the house
committee. Mr.. Cornish said that no
could discharge him, but
hat the board of governors could, and
hat a recommendation from any COM
niltee would probably receive favora- 4
lie consideration from the governors.
Witness said he was told that those at
he Union League club dinner were
Iessrs. Adams, Ballantine, Sears, Mol
neaux, Weeks and Watson. Did you
ave any idea who sent you that box?'
sked Mr.. Osborne suddenly. 81 have
10 idea. / was in no position to
now"
Did you not tell Captain McClusky,"
aadipp from the tVDeaWrit fen state |