The Portland daily press., 1900-02-08

Weeks ''is a. far beneath me (Cornish) az
any man can be below another" 10 was
true that this letter and the subsequent
oomplai Mt By Molineux that the defend
ants resignation from the Knioksrbooksr
Athletic club. was caused. Several Of the
letters written By Moiineux, thoss 70
Ballanytine, Austin, Soheffisr and John
Adams, were read By Mr.. Weeks to the
jury.
els there any thing In these letters that
would lead you to think" asked Mr..
Weeks, THAT the defendant had any
motive TO plan TO take the life Of Harry
8. Cornishf Murder Is fearful thing
10 must have q powerful motive.
"And that 10 submitted 10 you as the
motive that would possibly lead to the
commitment Of the crime Of murder, that
10 Whist the district attorney would have
you believe is the motive. There can be
no paoh motive In these circumstances. I"
Afssr citing the Law on circumstantial
evidence, MIR. Weeks continued; ut 10 .
tsrrible thing TO destro , the tsmpie Of an
Immortal soul You have sworn to decide
this case upon ths evidence and upon the
faots, not upon guessss. You must b
satisfied a. fact that the defendant COM
mittei the crime; that he and he alone Is
charseabls with the death OF Mrs.
Adams The fate of this prisoner 10 In
your hands. What shall 10 bsf Guilty
or innooentf Life q dsathf'
A. Mr.. Weeks closed, Mrs. Molinsux,
the prisoners wife, sat with her face
buried on his shoulder, sobbing. His
mother sat straight IN her chair with
the tears streaming down hsr fnce and
General Moiineux mt. - he bss always
done. with arms folded across his chest.
and unmoved.
Mr.. Osborne then arose to address the
jury. After spoligizing as Mr.. Weeks had
done. for the PERSONAL ties that bad
passed between the opposing council dur
Ing the conduct Of the oass. Mr.. Osborne.
said,
~ feel at times the keenest anguish
when think Of all the bitter things
have said In conducting this case. Who
can look upon this young man sitting
thsrs prisoner. without the feeling Of
profoundsst pityi Who can look upon
that baokground-wife, m other and old
gray haired father-without feeling an
emotion 90 strong a. to almost bias his
sense Of right and justicef
'This defendant has been given every
opportunity TO see his counsel He has
not been placed In . solitary cell. He
has been permitted to sec his wife and his
father and mother. Everything has been
done that he might have the best means
Of defending himself. This trial has not
been hastensd. This prisoner was not
suddenly accused and dragged before q
tribunal. He has had every opportunity.
He sits here before Jury, each member
Of which he selected or ooncurred In the
selection. They are all men from the
same strata Of society - he.
"This prisoner was not the only one
who was suspioionsd. did not want to
think him guilty. And I say to you
that no man on the face OF Gods earth
was ever subj soted to a more rigid exam
ination BY the district attorney Of New
York county than Harry Cornish. He
was almost put to torture and II ever q
man had an awful task OF explaining
conditions, that man was Cornish. did
not want to think this defendant guilty,
because could not bear the thought of
believing the son Of General Molineux
could be guilty Of such crims."
Mr.. Osborne then went on to say that
hs begged Interruptions from the Jurors,
Mr.. wssks or the court. II he ovsrstated
the facts. He would rather. he said, un-
dsrstate than overstate. he hnd under
stated, he asserted, the fact, In his open
ing statement.
The Recorder then suspended proceed
ings until tomorrow morning.
Mr.. Osborne said that he thought he
would complete his argument tomorrow.