Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-12
Expert Identifies Writing Said to Be
That of Molineux.
A LETTER SIGNED 4. c. BARNET
It Was Compared With the
"Burns" Letter.
MR.. WEEKS OBJECTIONS

NEW YORK, December 12.-Today's ses-
| sion in the trial of Roland B. Molineux, &C.
| cused of causing the death of Mrs. Rather
| inc J. Adams, began with VIM. ]. Kinsley,
expert in chirography. in the witness chair.
Mr.. Osborne said to the witness: "Mr.
Weeks asked you If you had earned S1,S0O. "
Excuse me- said Mr.. Weeks. II asked
how he made that sum-
Now, will you tell the jury first how
you earned that sum; tell them all about
it; how you worked and when?" said Mr..
Osborne
Mr.. Kinsley began detailed explanation
by saying that about January 1, 1899 he
began his study of the case. How he gath
cred his material how he secured speci-
mems Of handwriting of Barnet, Cornish,
Harpster and of every man who had ever
worked on the books of the Knckerbocker
Athletic Club he told at length. The witness
then told OF having spent seven weeks in
studying the handwriting of the various
individuals before he announced his de-
ciSion.
Selected by Police Authorities.
Mr.. Osborne then asked him: "You were
selected by the police department to aid
| them in this case, were you not Mr. Kins-
ley?
IT was"
did you realize at that time that a
prosecution Tor murder against some one
might result from the Investigations
I thought SO. though l did not know
Did you know any of the men you met
during that period of work?'
They were all strangers to me when I
began the case"
There ensued at this point a warm dis
| cussion between counsel relative to an
objection made by Mr.. Weeks.
One Of the III. c. Barnet letters writ
ten to a patent medicine company and in
closing IS for treatment, was offered for
comparison with the Burns letter, which
has been admitted by the defense to be
in the genuine handwriting of the defend
ant. Mr.. Kfnsley was asked to demonstrate
in crayon the similarity and characteristics
of the handwriting. The Barnet letter
Dear Sir: Please find inclosed So. for
which please send me one months remedy
for impotency, and greatly -oblige.
yours truly, H. c. BARNET,
Box -,7-257 West AID street.
New York City"
Mr.. Weeks objected to the comparison on
the statutory ground that It was not a
comparison Of disputed handwritings, and
on the further ground that it was not nee
essary for the witness to copy the letters
on the sheet of paper before the jury in
view of the fact that each juror had a
Photographic set of the exhibits.
MIR. Weeks Overruled.
The objection was overruled.
When the witness began his demonstra-
ton Mr. Weeks again objected, saying:
Il object your honor Do l understand
you permitting this witness to show his
ability to forge these letters?"
"Overruled,'' replied the court
Mr.. kinsley reproduced on the paper the
Burns letter, signed Roland MolineuX"
and admitted to be in the defendants hand
writing. He then explained the technical
qualities of each letter in each word
1t took fully thirty minutes for Mr.. Kins
ley to demonstrate all the characteristics
in the words, please fird inclosed." The
jurors looked YEARLY about the court room
and the defendant chatted with his father
or with Mr. Battle. one of his counsel. Mr..
Weeks attempted to liven things up some
by assisting Mr.. Osborne In the examina
ton of Mr.. kinSley. Mr.. Osborne objected
and said he was profoundly astonished' at
| the 'temerity'' of counsel for the defense.
Mr.. Weeks then sat down and looked bored.
The recorder gaZed out of the window OF
chatted with Judge Winslow of the Wis
consin supreme court who sat beside him
today.