The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-07
Announces That No Testimony VIII
BE introduced to Prove the
Defendants Innocence.
WEEKS BEGINS SUMMING UP
HE INDIRECTLY CHARGES CORNISH
WITH POISONING MRS. ADAMS.
Ridfcules Testimony of Prosecution
and Scores the State for Squan-
dering Money on Experts.

NEW YORK, Feb. 6.-Counsel for Roland
B. Molineux. charged with numbering Mrs.
Katherine ]. Adams by poison sent to
Harry Cornish in December, 1898, took
bold and unexpected step to-day, announc-
ing that the defense would submit no evil
dence. Last night Barlow s. Weeks, coun-
sci for Molineux, stated that the defense
would consume less time than the prose-
cution, but it had been the general expec-
tation that many witnesses would be
called, including Handwriting Expert Car
valho and a. number of persons who would
attack the character of Harry Cornish. In
three notable poison trials in this city
those of Carlisle Harris. Meyer and Mrs
Fleming-the- defense called no witnesses.
Harris and Meyer were convicted and ex-
eeuted. and Mrs. Fleming went free.
Mr.. Weeks began his summing up to-day
and had not finished when court adjourned
He spoke with great earnestness, and the
jury listened to him intently He told of
his long personal friendship with Molineux,
and he attacked Harry Cornish bitterly.
sThe tenor of his argument was that the
proofs pointed more strongly to Cornish
as the murderer than to Molineux Mol
ineux's father, mother and wife were in
court, as was Cornish who was visibly
nervous. Molineux seemed cool and COL
lected.
"Only one person could have had the sill
yer bottle holder" said Mr.. Weeks. "Only
one person had those particular articles
contained in the box. If they could have
proved to you that they had been in his
possession, then you would not have been
long in making up your mind But there
is absolute, positive and undlsputable evil
dence that the man who bought that silver
bottle holder was not the defendant
Let US take this package and make IL
up. We have a blue box from Tiffanys
1t is the size used in silverware Is that
connected in any way with the defendant?
Any proof that he had the blue box? Not
one word. The district attorney showed
that he had an account in the stationery
department, but they had not the boxes of
that size"
HANDWRITING EXPERTS.
So Mr.. Weeks went along through each
article. declaring that not the slightest evil
dence had been showed to connect the de-
PENDANT with either of them. Then he dis
cussed the experts. us 1t reasonable to be-
lieve that twelve sensible men will send
this man to his death on the testimony of
these experts" he asked. by these ex-
perts in handwriting they expect to prove
beyond reasonable doubt that the de-
PENDANTS hand wrote Exhibit A, and on
| this testimony they ask you to send this
young man to his DEATH Because this great
city of New York has unlimited wealth,
has boundless treasury, is ii right and
| just that they should bring army
of handwriting experts from California to
Maine, carrying them in palace cars, feed
| ing them at the Waldorf-Astoria, paying
them exorbitant fees-brought on to drown
| this young man in an avalanche of ex-
pert testimony? And they expect you to
believe this testimony, and on that take a
mans life.
Remember, there must be no compro-
| mise. You must believe or not. Either
| this young man is entitled to be restored
| to his wife and family or give up every
drop of his life's blood to the electric chair.
| He Is guilty or not guilty. 1t is death or
| freedom. No testimony has been produced
| to show that this defendant mailed this
| package or was I'm the vicinity of the post
| office at $3.50 o'clock Dec %. 1898, the day
| this package was mailed. But, said Mr..
Weeks, pausing an instant and posing his
| hand in the air, while his eyes swept over
| the jury. Harry Cornish was. and he was
| at the postoffice at exactly the time the
| package was mailed on that day.
THAT silver bottle holder was bought by
| a man who said that he wanted 1T for a
| ladys dresser, as it matched the silver on
| that dresser. There is not a syllable of
| evidence or scintilla of proof that that
| package ever came through the mails, ex-
| cept Mr.. Cornish Has he told the truth !?
! This is important. No one proves the re-
| ceipt, no postman proves the delivery. ex-
| cept Cornish"
| Word by word Mr.. Weeks went over Cor
| nish's testimony and strove to impress on
| The jury the suspicion that Cornish might
| have been guilty. He dilated on the sus-
| picious circumstances. Mrs. Adams took
| a dose of medicine and died." he said Mr..
| Cornish took dose, or says he did, on an
| empty stomach, and wandered around all
| the day with evil effect He says he
| took dose. He even went to see Yocum a
| man who knows how to make cyanide of
mercury. Now, what reasonable excuse did
| Cornish have for visiting Yocum on that
| day of all days?'
| Mr.. Weeks then described Molineux's ac-
| tons ever since the newspapers accused
| him of the murder those of an innocent
man. Mr.. Weeks asked for an adjourn
ment until tomorrow. his voice having
| failed. The jury was locked up tonight In
res adj