The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-01
uOLINLUX'S LONG TRIAL
The Famous New York Murder Case
Has Broken ALI Records.
Arguments OF Counsel May Sot De
Heard Until Some Time in March
forty-scycnuh Day of the Hearing
Begins Tomorrow A Verdict May
Never lie Observation-Disclosures Policy

NEW YORK, Dec S1.-The trlal Of
Roland Molineux for the murder of Mrs.
Kate Adams has lasted longer than any
murder trial ever held in this city and the
end seems nowhere in sight The next
session tomorrow, will be he forty-sev-
enth day of the trial Next in point OF
length was the trial of Mrs. Fleming. no
was acquitted on charge of poisoning
her mother. II lasted forty-three days
Much Of the time in the Fleming case was
taken up with the testimony of medical
exports. That Of the handwriting experts
has consumed the time OF this trial There
is medical expert testimony to come, how
ever. There are some scores of other wit
nesses for the people yet to be heard. The
defence has many witnesses. 1t will bal
ance expert for expert with the proseeu-
tion. II the defences expert testimony
takes up as much time as the prosecu-
ton's. the lawyers may not have a chance
to make their closing addresses until well
on in February. perhaps March. The jury
very probably. will not come to an imme-
date agreement. 1t may never agree But
Recorder Goff will give it plenty OF time
II the Jury does not agree, it is freely pre-
dicted that ii will break all time records
in trying to do go. II is said that the
Recorder may allow the jury some weeks to
make up its verdict. If it be necessary. So
the sprirgtide may be here before the end
Of the Molineux trial may be written.
The prosecution, 50 far. has SHOWN what
may be considered q motive In Moliusux's
great dislike for Cornish. Whs ther or rot
the jury viii consider this dislike, growing
out CT disagreements in the management of
an athletic club a sufficient motive Tor
murder, is, of c0urse, another mater. TIE
prosecution is trying TO bolster up this no.
tive by attempting to show that Molineux
is of an extraordinary vindictive nature,
End that he pursued his dislikes to an ex-
tracrdinary end, as in the case Of Harp
ster. To further strengthen the matt T CT
motive, which in the case OF an o-d uary
man you'd seem aIl-suificient for murder.
the prosecution is openly seeking to con-
meet Molneux with the death of his fellow
clubman and former chum. Henry {. Bar
net The argument is An ordinary nan
would not have cause to harbor murdsrocs
feelings because of Quarre-s regarding club
management. but in the case OF Molineux-
it is different.
The prosecution has shown. further. and
this Is the chief point it has made in the
trial. that Moliueux was in the habit Of
writing upon peculiar sort Of paper, the
same as that upon which certain iette 5.
denied by HIM. were written Proof that
Molineux wrote these disputed letters. the
so-called Cornish and Barnet" letters,
would not necessarily be proof that be
wrote the address that carried poison to
Harry Cornish. but il would probably SUI
fee TO convict him.
Lastly. the prosecution has had a num-
Der Of intelligent men. VINO style them
selves handwriting experts swear, first,
that Molineuy wrote all these disputed let
ters and, finally. that he wrote the fatal
address. They have given their several
reasons. at extremely great length and de-
tail, Tor their opinions. It would be idle
TO sag that these opinions do not carry
some weight
What the prosecution has not shown
vet hut what It expects to show, Is that
Molineux hired certain private boxes,
thereby connecting him with The disputed
Cornish and Barnet letters. 1t expects
to show thar Mrs. Adams died OF cyanide OF
mercury poisoning. and that MolineuS IS
chemist and familiar with that somewhat
rare poison. II expects also to show some
connection between AnlienuN and the pur-
chase OF the silver holder which accompa-
MED the bottle OF poisoned broEo-selt=er.
What the prosecution has not shown,
and can never nope TO shaw directly. IS
thar Molneuz mailed poison to Harry Cor
nish. and juror must be pretty strong in
his opinion before he votes to send fell
low creature to the electric char o. cir
cumstantial evidence.
The policy of the defence seems 20 be
devoted to what may be termed 'diffusinG
the suspicion" MIR. Weeks. M0lineuXs S
counsel. strives to show that every fact.
theoI-. OF opinion advanced to aid in ereat-
inc the impression that MOlineuV is the
guilty one. may be used Just as nationally
to direct the finger Of suspicion toward
some one else The line IS: II 10 be grant
ed that some one sent poison to Cornish.
others had as much cause to do it as Moli-
neux: if it can be argued that MolineuX
writing has characteristics of the disputed
letters and the poison address. so it can be
argued that the writing OF others Dossess
these same characteristics Then, again.
the defence never loses the opportunity to
hint that nobody sent poison to Cornish.
The testimony OF John ID. adams and
Harry Cornish was the feature Of the past
weeks proceedings. Cornish, as against
other occasions. gave his e.idence ia such
manner as to create good impression,
and Mr.. Weeks made little gain in his at
tacks OF cross examination. Cornish will
resume The stand when court reconyenes
Tuesday.