The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-17
.MOLIBEgE
SENTENCED
TO DEATH.
Made a Speech, Denouncing Wit
nesses, Defendins the Character
Of his wife and
PROTESTING Ills INNOCENCE
The Prisoner Was Taken TO Sing Sing
Yesterday BY the sheriR and
his Deputy.

NEW YORK. Feb. ie.-Rolaid B.
Mollneux was to-day esntenced to die in
Sing Sing prison during the week Of
March %. for the murder Of Mrs. Kath-
crime J. Adams
Mr.. Weeks moved for a new trial on
the ground that the verdict was con-
trary to the law and the evidence. He
read ten grounds for his application for
new trial, baslng them chiefly on the
legal exceptions taken to the evidence
and the rulings Of the recorder.
AS soon as he handed in his excep-
tions, Mr.. Weeks asked that the defen-
dant be permitted to speak in his own
behalf. To this Recorder Con at first
demurred, saying that the request was
unusual. but finally after some discus
sion with Mr.. Weeks. ruled that MolI-
neux might be heard.
Speaks In ELis own Behalf.
Mollnsux straightcned himself up
and began:
II thank your honor. OF the crime
for which I stand convicted and for
stIll another crime with which / am
charged, / am absolutely and entirely
innocent. All Of the evidence
The Court-'You are not charged
with any other crime"
The DeEendant-"I suppose that l
might refer to 1t since the district at
torney did in his opening and closing
argument"
The court-"Your counsel has at
tended to all Of that matter"
The Defendant-"very well, your
honor All OF the evidence produced
here does not point in the direction Of
guilt on my part. / refer especially to
the evidence OF MISS Miller in regard to
the purchase of that silver bottle hold
er; she did not sell 1t to me. Also. to
the evidence Of Mr.. Koch, respecting
the letter box hired by somebody in
the name of Harry cornish-It was not
hired by me. Also. to the evidence
given by Mr.. Eutnow respecting sam
Die boxes sent around the country by
his frm-none OF which came to me.
Nor did / possess at any time any Of
the instruments which appear to have
been used In this crime, and never for
one moment had murderous motive.
AS for the theories which the proseeu-
ton offers, I don't think / should be
convicted upon their dsupposltlons or
the guesses they may wish 10 Indulge
In. / cannot conceive, your honor. how
any. honest man can believe the teSti-
moEy Of Nicholas Hickman. who con-
victed me upon an Identification which
was for sale. Yellow Journalism put o
price upon my head.
ut was an invitation to every black
mailer. every perjurer, every rogue. ev-
cry man without principle, but with a
price. and to that invitation Mr.. Heck
mann responded. The handwriting ex-
perts who have testified against me-
your honor, may give their opinion;
they may give their reasons what they
believe, what they think. but l know
that these hands never put pen to pa
per to address that poison package or
to write the disputed letters.
your honor will not permit US to
make mention OF the great injustice
which is a matter OF history, but ex-
perts in handwriting have made mis-
takes before and they have repeated it
here.
Your honor all this is nothing to
what is in my heart-at this moment
Above and beyond everything else /
denounce and despIse the action of the
district attorney in attempting to Will
Ry and attack the character of the pure
and lovely woman who bears my name.
1t was the act of q blackguard. twas
n damnable lie. Now, your honor, am
prepared to hear you sentence me. I
am not afraid, because l am not
guilty"
Directly after sentence had been pro-
nounced Mollneux was taken back on
his way to the Tombs Almost before
he had left the court room, Mr.. Battle
served notice OF appeal upon District
Attorney Gardiner and upon the chief
clerk.