The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-05
Igly discriminating Evidence
introduced.
Chemical Test Made
Before Jury.
Molineux's Writing on Poison
Package Identified.

New York, January 4.-Interest did not
lag for moment today In the trial Of
Roland b. Molinsux for the murder Of
Mrs katherine J. Adams. Ttrse Of the
Witnesses called gave testimony eoncsrn-
ing the sickness Of Henry @ Barnet. who
died at the Kniokerbocker A. Q. In tho
fall of 1898 and who, the prosecution
claims. was poisoned BY cyanide Of mer-
curry contained In Kutnow powders. The
prosecution was also enabled to intro
duoc the marriage certificate Of Roland
b. Molineux and Blanche Oh ese brough,
the alleged purpose Of Offering 1t being
to DIX the age of Aolineux. In one Of the
letters asking for . patent medicine
signed aH. q. Barnet" the writer gave
his age. It corrcsponded with that In
the certificate, but did not answer for
Barnet
A witness testified to the effort BY Mol
ineux to have Cornish disciplined by
the kniokerbocksr A. g., and u bank
teller identified this poison package adj
dress and the Barnet Cornish letters rs
all written by Molineux. All the testi-
mony today strengthened the prosscu-
TONS case except that Barnet's attend
ing physician, while conoeding that there
had Teen merourial poisoning, insisted
that the GAUSS Of death was heart failure.
following diphtheria.
He was asked:
"You have no doubt that Bsrnst's
death was due to diphtheria, and re-
piled: 81 am just rs sur, as oAn be
tn
ria with symptoms Of mercurial stomatis.'
"Aon. Guy Z. Ellison, . chemist, tes-
titled that he han reserved some of the
mysterious powder taken from the box In
Barnet's room, and was sent to his office
for the powder and tor apparatus to ana
lyzs 1t. He made demonstration before
the Jury. He placed part Of the powder
In . test tube and poured SOME muriatio
acid on top of 1t. The fumes of hydro.
liquid became perfectly white. Then the
witness took up small phial Of iodide
Of potash and emptied 1t into the test
tube. The liquid first turned orange,
then gradually turned darker and darker
until 1t was bright red. "This," said the
witness, "is red mercury iodide."
Than the recorder asked for the tube.
and 1t was passed up to him. He held 1t
aloft and looked through 1t. As the re-
came white at the bottom. and turned
lighter at the top.
Later the white turned red like the rest
Of tho fluid, showing the witness said,
that mercury wa S present.
Charles q. Hughes, q member Of the
Knlckerbocker A. g., testified that he
had repeated to Molineux o statement
made by Cornish that he (Aolineux)
had made money by selling liquor in a
disreputable way"
"What did Molineux say" asked Mr..
Osborne.
che said ID WIS an outrage and that
an employe should not be allowed to
max, such statements"
Witness then told how Molinsux COM
planned to the board Of governors Of the
club of Cornish slandering him and also
complained of the conditions Of the bath
which were under Cornish's charge.
When Hughes left the stand and rassed
around behind the jury box Molinsux
turned around In his seat and bowed and
smiled to him with great show of COR
dia;ity. Hughes returned his bow and
smiled at the defendant as he walked to
his seat among the spectators.
Joseph Farrell, . Newark policeman,
testified to meeting and speaking to
Molineux on Dscem ber 81, 1895, In New
ark, near the store of Hart, Degan &
Co., where the silver bottls-holder that
contained the poison received by Cornish
is supposed to have been purchased.
Gilbert d. Sayres. paying teller of the
National Shoe and Leather bank, was
positive in hi Is Identification Of she
poison package address, the admitted
MoIineux letters and the Barnet and
Cornish letters as having been written by
the same psrson. He had studied the
writing for two weeks, he said. and be-
gan the study believing Molinsux inno-
cent 81 have to be very careful" said
the witness, "tor the paying out Of thou
sands OF dollars rests on my Judgment l
have examined these writings and am
very sure that my opinion is correct
All the writings are very much alike.
The DISCUSSES are very transparent
Court adjourned until tomorrow when
IL IL expected that Joseph Koch. the
letter box man win identify Molinsux as
his patron.