The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-24
A BAD MESS.
Testimony Given Before the
COrOner's Jury
In the Adams Poisoning Case in
New York
THROWS NO LIGHT
On the Mystery as Regards the
Perpetr alton
But Much on the Character of
Some Witnesses.

on the witness stand at the Adams in
quest yesterday, accused Roland B. Mo-
hneux of having sent him the poisoned
bromo Seltzer. His story was that he
thought Molineux had sent him the
poison because he was the only man
who had shown great enmity toward
him; that he had lied about him and
prosecuted him; that he had lied about
others in the club; that there was en-
nifty between Barnet and MolineuX,
and that Molineux had started stories
about members of the Knickerbocker
Athletic club. Witness stated that Mo
lineux, being in a rival club, was jeal-
Gus of him. He declared that the coro-
ner must search the athletic clubs of
New York city for the murderer of Mrs.
Adams. He suspected Molineux of hav-
ing sent kutnow powders to Barnet He
testified that Mrs. Molineux's statement
that she had never been in Barnet's
room alone was false. He knew of a
person who had seen Mrs. Molineux and
Barnet drinking wine in the 1atter'S
room when no other person was pres
ent. Witness stated that Molineux was
his bitter enemy and the only man he
knew of who could have a motive for
wishing to take his life. Cornish was
earnest in teStffying, and contradicted
much that he had said when he was
first examined by the coroner. Cornish
was asked several times to give the
names of men who had told the stories
He said that he could not remember
them all, but he had no doubt these
men would come forward and substan-
tiate his story as soon as they heard he
had told it.
The statement was interspersed with
derogatory remarks regarding Molin-
eux. Much was based upon things Corn
ish had heard other people say.
Cornish denied that the statement
produced as his by the police was cor
rect.
1T sounded" said Cornish, like Cap
tain McCluskey's recollection of my
conversation. 1 was and am most anx-
ious to find out who sent the poison. I
believe it was intended to kill me. l
believe the police will admit that
helped them considerably.
AT first" continued Cornish, 81 could
not think that 1 had any enemy who
had it in for me, enough to want TO XIII
me. I have had squabbles with every
man in the business. The quarrel with
Mr. Weeks was such a Squabble and
the statement and letter shown that L
would get even with Weeks meant IN
an athletic way. There was an atm
letic rivalry between the Knickerbocker
and the New York Athletic clubs.
1.-THE hand writing was shown to me
but not the signatures, but if we could
have had before US a letter from
Molineux written to my Friend Cornish
and compared it with the clipping from
a, newspaper any one would have sworn
that the same man wrote both. After
intuition and 1 said that's the man who
sent the stuff to Barnet
About Jan. 1, fifty men in the club
were saying the same thing. His name
was connected with the case on all
sides. 1 could not think of any one on
earth who had shown the same animos-
ity to me. He had lied about me and
got Mr.. Hughes to make charges against
me. Mr.. Hughes has since told me he
was sorry and could not understand
how it is he had been led into the mat
ter. L have since heard that the reason
MoIineaux left the board meeting was
because he learned he had been nom
mated for governor of the New York
Athletic club. He has carried his enmity
right along. When began to make in
quiries about him, I heard many state
mentS.
Strange stories were told Of his
library works on great crimes, book
that no layman should read. Then there
was talk of his collection of pictures.
These things were only hearsay but
they Influenced my mind. Then his own
course of procedure when he was first
talked about. He hired a lawyer and
a handwriting expert He has a bad
mind
Cornish said Molineaux had made an
unpubIishable and false accusation
against two prominent members of the
Knickerbocker Athletic club. Continu-
ing Cornish said:
''Then Molineaux marrying so sudden
ly created some suspicion in my mind,
especially when I heard that he was
married to Miss Cheesboro, who, mem
bers of the club told me, was very init
mate with Barnet. Cornish related that
ON the evening of the aforementioned
amateur circus at the Knickerbocker
Athletic club house he was invited into
Barnet's room, as he was passing.
mo other person. Cornish said, was
in the room with Barnet besides Miss
Cheesboro. There was a partly filled
bottle of wine on the table and glasses
were there also which showed that the
two had been drinking"
Cornish asserted that Barnet had left
the club house to go a yachting trip, but
had changed his plan. because as he
BarneD said to witness, he had learned
Molineaux was to be one of the party.
Cornish denied Molineaux's statement
that Barnets room was quarantined
previous to his death.
"Molineaux could have entered at any
time he might have seen fit said Cor
had been the intimate friend of Barnet,
as he now pretends he was
We're called to Captain McCluskey's office
and there asked to write their names, the
MIR. Osborne said Cornish. addressing
the assistant district attorney, there is
the Knickerboci1er club for the poisoner.
That person must have known that Harp
Detroit and he must have known that I
knew fdr 1t also. T t1s are, also SAID be
this: One was myself and the other was
MOHneuX- 6arpSter. II L am properly in
formed, never told anybody else about it,
and it was not known until this case
came up"
Cornish denied that the two books he is
credited with having written showed any
evidence that he knew something about
chemistry.
Mr.. Osborne then began a cross-exam-
nation He wanted to know why Cor
nish had Immediately concluded upon
Mrs. Adams death that this was
similar to Barnet's, when he did not even
suspect the poison had been sent to Bar
net. Cornish was perplexed- He could
not explain it