New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-08
WEEKS CLOSES HIS PLEA.
CASE LIKELY TO GO TO THE JURY To-
MORROW.
,-or-NsEr. FOR THE DEFENDANT scATH-
INGLY ATTACKS THE TESTIMONY OF
HICKMAN, THE .1DENTIFIER"

Barlow S. Weeks. the chief counsel for Roland
b Molineux, closed his argument for the de-
fence shortly before the adjournment yesterday
afternoon Mr. Weeks had occupied two days In
his appeal 10 the Jury on behalf of the accused
man Piece by piece Mr.. Weeks reviewed every
scrap of evidence presented by the prosecution
He dissected IL, analysed 1T, and at the emo OF
this sitting process he declared that the whole
theory and case Of the prosecution were TOO
superficial and too fimsy 10 warrant the con-
signnnent of man to death. 1t Is rarely that q
lawyer on the defensive side has had such spien-
did opportunities as were afforded In this case
for forensic display and for shatterins py pure
force of reasoning and Of plea to common sense
a fabric Of circumstantial evidence. The trial
Is prooably one Of the most remarkable that has
ever been held IN this city. 1t Is case OF
young man OF good social position, OF high INTEL
lectuaI attachments. and the son OF general
who won distinction in the Civil War. accused
Of murder upon evidence substantially OF slip
of paper He is charged with having caused
woman's death in consequence of her having
partaken OF dose of poisoned bromo seltxer
which he sent to another individual, man
whose life as alleged he was bent taking.
In support of this accusation. the only direct
evidence is that of handwriting experts who
have sworn that the address on the poison pack
age was written by Moiineux. The rest OK the
Prosecutions case is admittedly based upon cir
cumstance and deduction.
The opportunity that the thus presented
70 Mr.. Weeks as counsel for the defence he made
the most OF. II generally agreed by every
one who heard mis- argument-and these included
several men who in their time have themselves
sat upon the bench-that Mr.. Weeks had made a
brilliant and convincing effort. He succeeded so
well I'm tearing to shreds that imaginary coat
which Mr. Osborne promised he would so stitch
together that il would fit none other than the
prisoner that the strongest doubts were ex-
messed as TO Mr. Osborne's ability to tack 1t
together again to-day, when 1t will be his turn
10 address the jury.
Mr.. Weeks assaiIed even more fercey than
on the day before the integrity Of some Of the
witnesses brought forward by the prosecution
In effect Mr. Weeks contended that Hickman,
the letterbox man, who swore that Molineux
had hired a box from him IN the name of Bar
net had perjured himself for money, and sub
seouently while dwelling upon the testimony OF
the handwriting experts he insnuated that
any opinion could be readily procured from this
kind Of expert by paying the market price
therefor.
A JURORS ALLEGED REMARK.
When ordering on Tuesday morning that the
jury should be confined from then on until the
verdict was reached, Recorder Golf explained
that this procedure was imperative because the
case had reached a stage where. looking at
the grave issue at stake. IL advisable that
the jury should not be allowed TO separate again.
4 report published yesterday morning gave an
other reason for the isolation Of the jury. 1t
was stated that one of the jurors, disobeying the
daily admonition of the Court. talked about the
to club friends and was alleged to
have made use of the expression that he would
not hang yellow dog upon the evidence which
had been adduced. Mr.. Billings. "the million
ARE juror" as he is often called is the
10 whom rumor in Court yesterday ascribed
this utterance of opinion But when efforts
were made to ascertain just what foundation
there was for the report it was found to be
based upon nothing tangible than ir-
responsible gossip. Recorder Golf and counsel
for the prosecution and defence disclaimed all
knowledge Of the matter and no reference what
ever was made to 1T at any time in the days
proceedings. Newspaper men, however, who
were assigned to probe into the truth or other
wise underlying the story, told that Emile
b Meyrowitz, the optician, Of Twenty-third-st..
was the authority for the report and that he
had learned Of the jurors remark through a
friend who a friend Of another friend Of
the supposedly indiscreet juror. When Mr.. Mey-
rowitz seen yesterday afternoon he denied
ernphatfcally that he had made any statement Of
the nature that attributed 70 him, and added
mat so lar as ne was concerned the report
absolutely false. After the sdfogrnrnsnt Of the
court last night, Mr.. MeyrsEftz appeared be-
fore Recorder Golf in chambers and repeated
this denial under oath
1t is now certain that the case VIII 20 20 the
jury tomorrow. Mr.. Osborrs WAC began his
summing up last night, promised t.as he would
finish before the hour Of s6s0a-zzssxt to-day.
In that event, since the defeacs hss SPOKEN It's
last word, Recorder Golf viii beyfn his charge
tomorrow morning. The Recorder Is g. man
who never uses two words where one will suf-
flee, and, presuming that his charge will be no
longer than it was In the Fleming case where
there was much contradictory evidence that
needed explaining. the jury ought to retire 10
consider their verdict about noon.
Molineux's wife, his mother and his father
were again in court yesterday. The defendan,
greeted them with affection when he wa.
brought into court, and throughout the day hi,
wife sat next 90 him. occasionally placing he,
arm on his shoulder. Only once was she moved {,
tears by Mr.. Weeks's eloquence. That was wher
he was verbally Staying the prosecution for i'm
pugning the good name OF a defenceless woman
But neither she nor the defendants mothe,
lost self control during the closing appeals O.
Mr. Weeks for the vindication Of the defendant
when counsel himself was unable to suppress hi
emotion.
MOTHERS INTENSE INTEREST
An extremely pathetic figure was the defend
ants mother. Not for instant during the
whole day did she take her eyes from the fact
of Mr.. Weeks he battled with all the force o.
his stalwart strength and forensic skill for hel
sons life. Judge, jury and everybody else In
court were forgotten by her she leaned for
ward, eager TO catch every syllable that should
drop from the counsel's lips. So intently was