The Indianapolis journal., 1899-02-28

MOLlNEUA HANIW hIIlNNT.
William. ]. Kinsley was called. He said
he was editor of the Penmans Art Journal
and that during the past four years he had
testified in three hundred court cases as a
handwriting expert. He had examined
some specimens of Molineux's handwriting
They were written in the assistant district
attorneys office on Feb. 90 The afternoon
of the same day witness requested Mr.
Molineux to call at his office, where the
specimens were rewritten, because the ones
written in the morning were not satisfac-
tory. Mr.. Kinsley was shown the speci-
mems he examined and other specimens.
What is your opinion as to the identity
of the handwriting" asked Mr.. Osborne.
1.-THE writing is all in the same hand" re-
piled the expert.
Were the letters signed Barnet and
Cornish written by the same person?"
Yes
Mr.. Kinsey was then shown the address
on the poison package and asked, Have
you compared this writing with the letter?"
Il have
us it your opinion that they were all
written by the same hand?'
II am Of the opinion that all the writ
ing was done by the same hand"
How strong is that opinion?"
II am positive of it."
"Have you any doubt of it whatever?"
"None whatever"
"IIave you compared exhibit No. (Which
is the handwriting of Molineux) and the
letters signed H. c. Barnet and H Corn
ish' with the handwriting of Moineux?"
Il have"
'What is your opinion?"
1.-THE four sets of writing are in one and
the same hand"
''You have no doubt of it?
mo, none whatever"
Give US your reasons for believing Moli-
neux wrote all the letters"
II have been studying the handwriting
since Jan. /. The mechanical arrangement
in the known handwriting of Mr. Molneux
and in the disputed handwriting is the same.
The word-spacing and paragraphing are
alike None of the disputed letters are
dated None of the known letters are
dated. The punctuation and lack of punctu-
alton are the same. In the H. Cornish let
ter written to Stearns the punctuation
comedies with the copy made at my office
by Mr.. Molineux.
"Have you compared them with the ad-
dress on the poison package?'
81 have"
What is your opinion about them?"
"The man who wrote the letters wrote
the address on the package"
General Molineux appeared to be greatly
affected His son was smiling. The jury
asked to see the speciments and exhibits.
They were handed around.
did you compare these specimens with
Cornish's writing?
Il did, and found many disslmilarites
that 1 told the police Cornish could not
have written the wrapper" That concluded
Mr.. Kinsleys testimony
LAWYER WEEKS REBUFFED.
Mr.. Weeks addressing the coroner, said:
NOW that there is no question that this
testimony accuses Mr.. Molineux of a crime,
1 ask that he be permitted to exercise his
constitutional right"
your honor" interrupted Colonel Gard
irer, sit has been held that a party ac-
cused of a crime has no right to cross-ex-
anime in an investigation before the cor
oner.'
Mr.. Weeks denied this. Finally Mr.
Weeks was induced to sit down, after Cor
cner Hart had refused to rule on any ques-
ton.
Edward B. Hay, a handwriting expert,
of Washington, d. c., the next witness,
testified that he had examined carefully the
admitted handwriting of Mr.. Molineux
the inscription upon the wrapper in which
the poison bottle was mailed and the let
ters signed III. c. Barnet and Harry
Cornish.
"And you have compared these writings
very carefully?"
"Very carefully"
"And your opinion is?'
THAT all were written by the same
hand"
'And what is your opinion as to who
wrote the address on the poison package?"
'.NIr. Molineux 1t has the same char
acteristics of all the other writing"
During this trying ordeal Molineux sat
like a statue.
In answer to Colonel GARDENERS last ques-
ton Hay stated that, while the handwrit-
ing of Molineux throughout his work done
prior to this case and in the ordinary trans
action of business made the comparison
stronger than the Cornish and Barnet let
ters, the latter gave conclusive evidence
that they were written by Molineux. The
witness gave a minute idea of his reasons,
calling attention to various little habits and
characteristics, and was finally asked by
Mr.. Gardiner:
'Have you any doubt in your mind that
the person who wrote the address on the
wrapper around the poison bottle was
Roland B. Molineux?'
Il have none whatever"
do yoE realize the gravity of your
claim?'
Il DO I would not give my opinion if
We're moi absolutely certain in my mind as
to it's correctness"
Henry L. Tolman, of Chicago, handwrit-
ing expert, was the next witness He said
he had occasion to examine the exhibits Of
Mr.. Molineux's handwriting, together with
letters and documents signed H. c. Bar
net and Harry Cornish" also the inscrip-
tion on the wrapper. He said that he had
given them a very careful comparison.
And what is your opinion as to who they
may have been written by?'
Il will say that not only who may have
written them. but who did write hem The
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