The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-28

New YORK, req. Zt.-ROlaHQ bufllndnl
MolineuX, son of General Leslie McIi-
neuX of Brooklyn, was arrested - light
charged with numbering Mrs. katherine
J. Adams in this city on Dec 2S, 1883.
The arrest followed the verdict of the
coroner's jury accusing him of the
crime. While the inquest was into the
death of Mrs. Adams it also went into
the circumstances of the e,death of Henry
C. Barnet of the Kniclterbocker4 Athletic
club, who was poisoned by a powder re-
ceived through the mail as was Mrs.
Adams. The cases. are so closely con-
nected that they can scarcely be con-
sidered separately.
The proceedings of the final day of
the inquest were sensational in the
highest degree The case had dragged
along monotonously, witnesses being eX-
amined for the sole purpose, as it SEEM
ed. of contradicting Harry Cornish's
testimony in minor details or of elicit
ing suggestions. as to a motive. The
newspapers from the beginning had
stuck to MolineuX as the person most
to be suspected, but the prosecuting Of
ficials apparently never harbored such
thought, The examiner was kind and
gentle when dealing with Molineux, but
gruff and severe with Cornish on the
stand.
The curtain rose on the last act of
the melodrama this afternoon. A shop
keeper who rented private letter boxes
swore positively that MoIineux was his
patron, using the name of III. c.. Bar
net" 1t was proved long ago that the
bottles of medicine had been sent to
that letter box. Then the handwriting
experts We're called and one after an
other declared that the hand that wrote
the address on the poison package and
forged the names of Harry Cornish and
H. G. Barnet to letters sent to drug
firms ordering powder medicines was
the hand of Roland B. MolineuX. The
experts We're absolutely certain in their
identification of the penmanship and
would make no qualifications of their
statements. District Attorney Gardiner
then summed up the case directly ac-
cusing MolineuX. The jury brought in
a verdict charging Molineux with the
murder and he was at once arrested
and committed to the Tombs without
bail.
MolineuX is a member of the New
York Athletic club and was until his
quarrel with Harry Cornish a promi-
nent member Of the knickerbocker
Athletic club. from which he resigned
because of that quarrel. MolineuX' S
father is paint manufacturer and is
reputed to be a millionaire. The pris-
oner has gone in good society, being of
excellent address and manners and
prospective heir to great fortune His
counsel is Barlow S. Weeks of the New
York Athletic club and a personal
enemy of Harry Cornish.
When the inquest was resumed Joseph
KOCH who keeps a letterboX esta blish-
ment at 1880 Broadway, where a box
was rented in the name Of Harry Cor
nish, was called to the witness chair.
He testified that he only once saw the
man who rented it. He gave the name
of H. Cornish. Koch said he was near
sighted and did not think he could iden-
tify the man who had rented the box.
The man had never called for mail
Koch said three pieces of mail had ar
rived for Harry Cornish" box of
Kutnow powders, a letter from a drug
firm of Cincinnati and box of cap
sules. Coroner Hart asked Koch if he
had identified anyone as Cornish. Koch
said he had not.
Felix Gallagher was then called. His
counsel, Charles l.. Brooke. protested
against Gallagher testifying because he
had not been suhpoenaed. Coroner Hart
directed Gallagher to testify. Colonel
Gardner heatedly objected to Counsel
Brooke's interference and thare was
a warm exchange. Gallagher said he
was a clerk at the New York Athletic
club. Previous 10 that he had been
employed at the Knickerbocker Athletic
club. Molineux was instrumental in Sc
curing him his position. For the last
year they had been good friends.
Now, Mr.. Gallagher" asked Osborne,
did you write the address on the pack
age of poison that was received by Mr.
Cornish?''
mo, sir, did not
John F. Murray, chief clerk in the
central postoffice. testified that a wrap
per of the bromo-seltZer bottle address
ed to Cornish had been mailed al the
Broadway city department of the gem
eral postoffice as third or fourth class
matter.
Detective Sergeant James NJ. McCaf-
ferty was then called. He told of a
visit to get a specimen of Molineux's
handwriting. He swore that Molineux