The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-11
TWO MEN
On Stand in Adams
Case.
C0RNISH-M ALINEUX.
Latter Declares His limo
cence Of Crime.

New York, Feb. 10.-The two men
whose names have been most intimate
ly connected with the death of Mrs.
Kate j. Adams. were on the witness
stand today before Coroner Hart and
a jury, and were put through a rigid
cross examination by Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Osborne. who is conduct
ing the case.
Harry S. Cornish, who gave the poi
son to Mrs. Adams, was the first wit
ness called this morning, and at the
afternoon session, Roland 3. MolineuX,
who had been named by Cornish on the
stand as the man he believed to have
sent the poisoned bromo seltzerthrough
the mails, was called.
Cornish was again today somewhat
reticent and equivocative in his an
sWers to questions put to him by the
assistant district attorney, and in one
instance, at least, occasioned a good
deal of surprise.
In an interview with a number of
newspaper reporters previous to the
commencement of the examination.
Cornish when asked if he knew Mrs.
Molineux. and if she could have any
connection with the case, said that he
wished the assistant district attorney
Would ask him that question on the
stand.
"A man is supposed to periure him
SELF for woman said Cornish. but
am here to tell the truth if. they ask
me such a question"
rms seemed suggestive statement
but when Assistant District Attornev
osborne put that question, Cornish re-
Piled:
i never saw Mrs. Molineux to know
n 1e' ana never saw her when she was
Blanche Cheesbrough"
Didn't you,' asked Osborne. "sav to
two men this morning, when asked if
you knew Mrs. Molineux, thar you
wished would ask you that question
ana although some men would periure
themselves, you would tell the truth %
Cornish denied this at first. but la
Ter he admitted that he might have
SAID 1t. as he had said so many things
ana that he was very much ratified al
tne tlfne. Cornish did not prove to be
a. very good witness, as he threw but
little light on the case He stated that
ne had suspected Molineux of having
prepared the poison because a chemist
friend of his, had suggested. on ac
count of a sediment left in the plass
from which Mrs. Adams drank. that
the promo seltzer preparation had been
put up by half chemist, a man who
had some knowledge of chemistry, but
not complete knowledge.
AS Molineux knew sometnine of
chemistry, his name suggested itself
Another reason for suspecting MoIin-
eux was that he had had a quarrel
with Molineux
cornish gave way on the stand tenn
porarily to Molineux, who took his
place there after Wrangte between
Assistant District Attorney Osborne
and Barlow S. Weeks, Molineux' coun-
sell Mr.. Weeks objected on the ground
that Molineux had not been properly
subponaed, and during the course of
the Wrangle, second subponae was
prepared which Molinaux accepted. be-
ing apparently willing witness. Mr..
Osborne stated that It could 90 on the
record that Molineux had appeared as
witness at his request, and then
asked abruptly if he was innocent of
the poisoning of Mrs. Adams. Molin-
eux replied: Il am absolutely limo
cent?
Molineux told of his connection with
the Knickerbocker and New York Ath-
letac cluSs, and said that he had left
the former club largely because of his
quarrel with Cornish. He was asked
if he had known Henry C. Barnet and
replied that he was a warm personal
friend of that man, friendship that
had lasted several years. He could
suggest no motive why any one
should send poison 70 Barnet, and de-
clared that he had not known that
Barnet was sick until a few days be-
fore Barnet's death, and this he
learned, he explained, because he was
to give dinner at which Barnet was
to be present. A mutual friend told
him of Barnet's illness.
Molineux then described the rooms at
the Knickerbocker Athletic Club on
the second floor occupied by himself,
Barnet, Cornish and Adams. after
which the yachting trip on A. J. Nor
CAMS yacht Viator, which has recent
ly been introduced into the case, came
up for consideration. Molineux said
that he had been on several cruises on
this yacht, but that Barnet had never
been with him. He met Miss Chees-
brough on one Of these trips, being in
troduced to her by her married sister
At this interesting point, the hearing
was adjourned until Thursday morn
ing next.