Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-02-28
Coronef's Jury Charges Him with
Sending Poison to Cornish.
Writing Experts and Post Office
Keeper Fully Identify Him.
No, sir, ! did not"

NO. sir. ! did not"
Gallagher admitted telling Molineux
that Harpster had been employed by
Frederick X. Stearns & Co. OF De-
troit.
Molineux was then recalled and ad-
mitted to having had the conversation
as testified to by Gallagher.
Joseph f. Murray, chief clerk in the
Central post office. testified that the
wrapper of the bromo- -seltzer bottle
addressed to Cornish had been mailed
at the Broadway city department of
the general office.
Detective Sergeant McCafferty was
then called. He told of visit to New
ark to secure a specimen of Molineux's s
hand writing. He swore that Moli-
neux had refused to give it to him un-
til he had first consulted his counsel
Mr.. Weeks. Mr.. McCafferty said the
same day he met Molineux and his
counsel, Weeks and Battle. Weeks said
he would like everybody else mention
ed in the case to write at the same
time and under the same circum-
stances. 1t was impossible to have
this done. 1IcCafferty could not get a
sample of Molineux's writing until a
few days ago.
Nicholas Hickman, the proprietor of the
private letter box station. was then
called. Mr.. Hickman identified Roland
MolineuX as the man who rented the let
ter box from him. To this box, it is al
legged, letters addressed to III. c. Barnet"
were sent.
The identification of Molineux by Heck
man was dramatic. After testifyng to
his business and that he had rented a
letter box for one month to man who
had given the name of ii. c. Barnet, and
that this man called for letters about 16
or 20 times, Mr.. Osborne asked him:
Gould you recognize him if you saw him
again?"
Yes said Hickman.
"Who is he?" demanded Mr. Osborne
Then, amid the greatest sensation.
Hickman answered.: "Mr. Molineux.
There he is
Molineux heard the accusation without
exhibiting change of color or a trace Of
agitation. He leaned forward with his
hands on the table and staring steadily
at Hickman, said emphatically:
II never saw that man in Al street
NWDSIc He tIdltlS tnc IellcF UuN agency
isl. l saw him at the hotel. where was
on exhibition. and at Newark. where
man brought him to me and asked IL L
was the man. He's liar"
That's ALL" quietly said Mr.. Osborne.
Hickman started to leave the stand.
mir. Coroner" shouted Mr.. Weeks,
who was acting as counsel for Molineux.
''in the interest of justice | ask
II insist that MIR. Weeks be stili.'
shouted Col. Gardiner.
Il insist declaimed Mr.. Weeks, "that
this witness who has offered to make half
a dozen statements. for pay be asked"
Il insist" shouted Col. Gardiner. "that
Mr.. Weeks be punished for contempt of
court"
Despite Mr.. Weeks efforts to have
Hickman cross-examined. he was allowed
to leave the stand, the coroner saying
that he promised the district attorney to
conduct the investigation in his own way.
Mr.. Weeks was not punished. That
closed the incident. and Emma Hitler, the
Newark saleswoman. who sold silver
holder similar to that which held the |
bottle, was called to the |
stand
Miss Miller was asked: "On the 21st |
day of December. 1885, did you sell |
what was considered in your store as a |
match safe?"
Yes. a man came into the store and |
said he wanted to buy bottle holder. |
Instead l showed him a match holder. |
He purchased it,"
Miss Miller then identified the holder |
Of the bromo seltzer bottle as the
match safe she had sold. on Dec. 21A
Have you been able to identify any
,ne who purchased that holder?"
mo SIR"
VIM. j. kinsley was called. He said
hat during the past four years he had
testified in 800 court cases as a hand
writing expert. He had examined some
specimens of Molineux's hand writing.
They were written in the assistant
district attorneys Office, Feb. 20. The
afternoon of the same day. witness re-
luested Mr.. MOlineux to call at his Of
ice, where the specimens were rewrit-
.en. because the ones written in the
morning were not satisfactory.
Mr.. Kinsley was shown the speci-
mems he examined and other speci-
nens
What is your opinion as to the
IDENTIFY of the handwriting asked
Mr.. Osborne.
'The writing is all in the same hand"
Were the letters signed Barnet and
written by the same person."
Yes
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