New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-30
ACTIVITY IN THE ADAMS CASE
NUMEROUS CONFERENCES OF POLICE
OFFICIALS
A YOUNG HOBOKEN MANS STORY ABOUT
MAILING THE POISON PACKAGE DIS
CREDITED BY THE YOUTHS PRE-
VIOJ-S PE-REORMANCES
vIOUs PERFORMANCES.

CREDITED BY THE YOUTHS PRE-
vIOUs PERFORMANCES.
Conferences were the order OF the day yester-
day in the Adams poisoning case The first was
held early yesterday morning at the Broadway
Central Hotel. where Dstrict-Attorney Gardiner,
Chief OF Police Devery and Captain McClusky
had long talk over the situation This was
followed by another meeting OF the three at
Police Headquarters yesterday afternoon. where
they were together for several hours. Still an
other meeting was on the schedule made out
by Captain McClusky, but for reasons developed
at the other conferences he decided suddenly
that he would abandon this meeting. This was
appointed to take place at the Sinclair House at
Eighth-st and Broadway, where Captain Nc
Clusky and Chief Devery were to meet Barlow
S. Weeks and George Gordon Battle. and their
client, Roland p. Molineux. 1t did not take
place. although Messrs. Weeks and Battle. with
their client, Mr. Molineux were on hand to
meet the police officers and were evidently dis
appointed at their action In abandoning the
meeting
The cause OF this unusual activity in the poi
soning the fact that the police are anx-
ious TO follow up any possible cew which might
aid them In clearing up what they consider the
most mysterious case they have ever handled
As told in yesterdays Tribune. they have some
new and important clews as to the handwriting
on the package sent to Harry Cornish This
writing closely resembles not only that on the
wrapper Of the package sent to Mr. Cornish. but
also the various letters written by H. Cornish
and n. c. Barnet asking for samples Of medi-
cine to be sent to letter-box concerns
Detectives worked on this end Of the case all
day yesterday, and made a partial report to the
conferences to their progress. motive for
the sending Of the poison was at first wanting
but the work yesterday showed at least par
tial motive which may yet develop into such
importance as to warrant an arrest. The police
matter Of preliminary investigation, attach
considerable Importance 10 the work of the
handwriting experts but to preparation Of
the case for trial in court they realize that they
must have considerable evidence outside OF the
similarity Of handwrtings AS result, they
are doing their best to find that evidence at the
Knickerbocker Athletic Club Of which the man
is member whose handwriting resembles that
Of the person sending the poison This phase Of
the case was thoroughly discussed at the con-
ference held at Headquarters, were other de-
velopments.
YOUNG KOUTNIKs STORY.
One or tne new FEATURES IN the case Nds tlc
discovery by newspaper Of young man. Will
lam C. Koutnik, Of West Hoboken, who declares
that he mailed the package to Harry Cornish
According to the young man he was employed
Just before the holidays at an express office at
Forty-seventh-st. and Madson-ave., and on
either December 23 or "a he left the Office and
walked down Madison-ave. as far as Fortieth-
St. where he met man who asked him to take
- ,Af Ci,,t
He told the man that he was not going that
way and then this unknown man placed five
two-cent stamps on the package and gave him
- cents IL he would mail 1t at the General POST
Office The Young man from Hoboken then.
cording TO his story, walked east In Fortieth-st.
to Park-ave.. expecting to find stairs leading
down to the Fourth-ave. trolley line. Not find
ing them as he says. ne walked back TO Forty
second-st and there got on car and rode
down to the Postofice. On his way down he
examined the package carefully and gives a
minute description Of the wrapping paper and
the way II was folded at the ends. but does not
know whether the package was tied with white,
pink or brown twne. Neither does he mention
in his statement to whom the package was ad-
dressed at the Knickerbocker Athletic Club.
He gives a most careful description Of the
clothing OF the man who gave him the package
even TO the color Of the trousers and the white
Alpine hat with black band. He says that the
time when he received the package was about
6 n m. on December % This Hoboken youth
went 10 Police Headquarters yesterday after
noon. in company with newspaper man, and
told his story to Chief Devery, Captain Nc
Clusky and Colonel Gardiner.
His main story was the same as that told oy
him in the newspaper, but when the three orn-
c,als began TO question him there were several
things he could not answer In SATISFACTORY
manner Among these questions was why II ne
was going downtown. he did not get on the car
IN Madison ave. instead Of walking down nVe
blocks then across town one block ana hha'lS
bacl toward his starting point two BLOCKS ms
he could not explain. Neither coud ne e"p'"''l
ybv he had not dropped the package IN one OF
the many parcel boxes he had passed a" ne
could saw 10 this was that he was IN a hul's u
cot down town. other questions were asked ii'i'i
"a m his character and past business eNpei'
.orces the answers TO which were not e"'i''
clear. .,. =,
willing 10 follow closely all possible. cie"' '
tho case Captain McCusky had carry III 'N'
day made an appointment win holahu d. MN
,,, ,,bose name has been dragged Into the
case to meet him at the Sin0ia" ii''
o.cIock last night for the purpose OF haN'''s '
uohoken man see him and hnd out II MI NUN
neux ressmbled in any way the man WIN n"'
sent the package given TO the young man. AZ
cordins to this arrangement har'o" .. ~,
and George Gordon Battle win the'r ''o",' -''
,.-,..,,x went TO the Sinclair House at the
time appointed. followed by an u"uSu"''
delegation Of reporters. VINO hau 'ou"' '''
about the intended meeting
Mr.. Molineux and his lawyers remained ia VI,
hotel lobby, and made no attempt ~ oo"O 80
49, ,oc, that they were there 20 meet the
tt, oecIals Shortly before the time set FOR
.,,, ,roettne CAPTAIN McClusky and the others
o.,o were AT Police Headquarters compieted
,ber examination OF Koutnick. Co'onei oaru'-
nor loft the Headquarters first. and on MS way
on, sa,d that he must decline 20 talk about the
~ he lad Told Captaln MCCIusky