The times., 1899-12-14

NEW YORK, Dec 1S,-There were two
sensational happenings in the MoIineux
poison trial today. The first was the bring
ing in of the name of Mrs. Roland B.
Molineux, the wife of the man who is on
trial for his life. The second was the action
of Recorder Goff, the presiding magistrate,
in the last few minutes of the day s session.
He permitted the comparison of the address
on the poison package with the letter
known in the trial as Exhibit E, one of the
letters signed H. Cornish which the
prosecution asserts was written by Molin-
enx.
From the beginning of the trial the prose
cution had used its best endeayors to have
this comparison made. The district attor-
ney has frequently handed 70 his expert,
Kinsley, three pieces OF handwriting at
once; one specimen of the admitted hand
writing of MolineuX, another letter signed
H c. Barnet" which the prosecution de-
clares Molineux wrote, and the third
similar letter signed " H. Cornish
The expert was expected to compare them
and after the rain Of objections the record
er has every time decided that the expert
i
with the admitted handwriting, but has for
bidden him 10 compare disputed handwrit-
ing with disputed handwriting Today he
permitted a comparison of two disputed
handwritings, aud heard no argument on
the objection raised by Mr. Weeks
Lawyers said that the ruling practically
took away from the jury the question
whether the letters signed II. Cornish and
II. c. Barnet were written by MolineuX,
and decided that they were written by
Molineux and that the ruling therefore,
/ was a vital one.
The name OF Molineux's wife was
brought into the trial for the first time
! today. Robert S. Holt was called 10 The
/ stand TO show that II. c. Barnet's hand
writing was not like that of the Barnet
/ letters in evidence. He identified letter
! which was actually written by Barnet,
( and this letter was put in evidence for
the purpose of comparing il with the bogus
4 letters. Mr.. Osborne asked Mr.. Holt no
/ further questions, but Mr. Weeks, on
/ cross s-eXamination asked the witness if
! woman from out Of town had not stayed
/ at his house for some time In November,
+ 1898. Mr. Holt answered yes The Tele-
/ vancy of the question did not appear but
/ Mr.. Osborne Immediately seized the op-
Dortunity to question the witness about
! Mrs MoineuX.
I Mr.. Holt said that he had been ac-
( quainted with her when she was Blanche
] Cheseborough He had met her several
times at the Knickerbocker Athletic Club.
IN reply TO the district attorneys questions
he said that on one occasion he had been
+ in Barnets room al the club when Miss
/ Cheseborough was there The witness,
Barnet Miss Cheseborough, and another
woman had been attending an entertain
ment at the club, but had left and had gone
10 Barnets room. Some champagne was
drunk and Holt and the woman with him
went away. leaving Barnet and Miss CHEESE
borough alone in the room. In reply to
Mr. Weeks Mr.. Holt said that ii was Gus
tOmary for the rooms of the club members
/ 10 be thrown open to guests on nights of
/ entertainments.
After the session was adjourned Detec
tive McCafterty took a man into the room
Of Assistant District Attorney Osborne. The
detective remained on guard outside the
door for two hours while Mr. Osborne and
the man were alone. Neither the detective
nor the assistant district attorney would
say anything about the man or his bust
ness, but that he is in some way connected
| with the case is certain.