The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-29
MOLINEUX
MURDER
MYSTERY.
Intense Interest In the Testimony Of
Harry $, Cornish,
THE BPOMO SETTER STORY
at An Interesting Point In the
Testimony the Court Ad,


eat is now lent to tho trial OF Roland
B. Molineux because Of the appearance
on the witness stand OF Harry s. Cor.
nlsh, to whom the poison which killed
Mrs. Adams was sent through the
mails. Cornish was on the stand late
this afternoon, and his examination,
which promises to develop many things
not yet made public. will probably COM
tlnue. for several days with lnterrup-
tlons here and there for other Wit
nesses.
Cornish told to-day OF the receipt by
himself of his famous silver holder and
bottle Of poison. and he reviewed the
story Of Mrs Adams death by the sup
posed "bromo seltzer," which he had
administered to her when she was Ill.
Cornish testified that he was thirty
nine years Of age. He told Of having
only a common school education during
his younger days, then a business
schooling, a term or two In the phy-
slcal training school at Harvard and
of having studied physical anatomy ut
the College Of Physicians and Surgeons
in this city. He stated that he was
connected with the Chicago Athletic
club for two years, and the Western
Athletic club for Ave years. He was
shown several letters, all of which he
Identified as having been written by his
own hand. These letters were offered
In evidence by Mr.. Osborne as stand
ards Of comparison. The letters ad-
mItted were nearly all pertaining to
athletic matters and addressed to DIFF
ferent people.
81 show you exhibit "a" (the poison
package address), Mr.. Cornish, and
ask If you wrote that?' said Mr.. oS-
borne.
81 did not"
did you ever have a letter box at
1890 Broadway"
"I did not"
He was shown exhibits F. H, l, B and
c. the disputed letters signed Bar
net"
"Dld you write any Of them?"
III did not" ~
He said that in December, 1898. he
lived at 81 West Elghty-sixth street.
Ms. Adams, Mrs. Rogers and Mrs
Hawords, all related to Cornish by
marriage, lived there also, He had
known them In Hartford, where he
formerly lived
on the 24th of December, 1898, he re-
ceived a package through the mails. He
got It in his mail box at the Knlcker-
booker Athletic Club. and opened 1t in
his ofIiee at that club, between 10 and
II o'clock. He identified the exhibit
"a" as a portion of the outside wrap
per. When he tore Oft the wrapper he
said he found a small holder, which he
took at the time to be a silver TOOTH
pick holder. In another part Of the
box. he found what purported to be
bottle Of bromo seltzer. He'hGd pre-
viously thrown the wrapper into the
waste basket. He found an envelope in
the box and supposed 1t to contain
card, but there was none. He put the
envelope, the bottle holder and the
bottle, which had revenue stamp on
1t, in his desk.
Later H. A. King came in and took
the bottle OF bromo ssltzer and started
to take some of 1t, but did not. Others
were in the once during the day and
saw the bottle, bottle holder and por-
tlon of the wrapper, His desk was
open the greater part of the day and in
the evening Cornish said he took the
bottle, bottle holder and address home
with him. Cornish was then shown the
poison bottle and the holder and identl-
fled them. Shortly after reaching home
that evening, he said, Mrs. Adams came
in, He showed the things TO her, and
they both commented on the similarity
between the bottle holder and some
small toilet trlnkets she had on her
dressing case. He said he told Mrs.
Adams that he had no use for the
holder and gave It to her, and that he
was now positive that she put It on her
dressing table. He put the supposed
bromo seltGer and the wrapper In his
own desk In his room and left them
there.
The next morning. while he was
reading the paper Mrs Rogers came to
his room, Cornish said, and told him
that her mother was III; that she had Il
headache and wanted him to give her
some bromo seltzer. He said he gave
the bottle to Mrs, Rogers, who took It
out OF the room.
A moment later Mrs. Adams returned
with the bottle and said she could not
open 1t,
MIR. osborne here interposed;
"oh, yes, Cornish, forgot to ask you
II the bottle was sealed?"
ut was" replied the witness sealed
with parafflne wax
Continuing HIS narrative, Cornish
told OF opening the bottle while Mrs.
Adams brought glass for him TO pour
out a dose OF the bromo seltzer. He
poured ont what he termed "a good
big dose" and Mrs, Adams drank IT,
rCmarkIng at the time. Cornish testi-
fed. that ut tasted sour and queer
II told her" continued Cornish. that
the stun was all right, and took dose
of It myself though may he not SO
large one as she did. She then went
out, and / sat down and commenced
reading my paper 1t was not more