The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-17
District Attorney Called q Black
guard for vilifying Mrs. Molineux
and Yellow Journalism Scored.
APPEAL FROM THE FATHER
GENERAL MoLINEUx CONVINCED HIS
son is NOT GUILTY.
Prayers of Friends Askel-Financial
Assistance Not Needed-Methods of
the Prosecution Criticised.

NEW YORK, Feb. 16.-Roland B. Moli-
neux was to-day sentenced to die in Sing
Sing prison during the week of March 26,
for the murder of Mrs. Katherine ].
Adams. This afternoon he was taken to
the penitentiary. He made statement in
court asserting that he had not been fairly
convicted, and that yellow journalism"
had put a price on his head. Recorder
Goff, in pronouncing sentence. reminded
the defendant that his counsel had already
presented all the facts to the jury and that
the court had but the one duty to perform.
Mr.. Weeks moved for a new trial on the
ground that the verdict was contrary to
the law and the evidence. He read ten
basing them chiefly on the legal exceptions
taken to the evidence and the ruling of the
recorder AS soon as he handed in his ex-
ceptions Mr.. Weeks asked that the de-
| fendant be permitted to speak In his own
behalf. To this Recorder Goff at first de-
INJURED. saying that the request was un-
usual, but finally. after some discussion
| with Mr.. Weeks. ruled that Molineux
| might be heard.
Molineux Strengthened himself up and
| began: 'I thank your Honor. OF the crime
| for which 1 stand convicted, and for still
| another crime with which was charged,
| am absolutely and entirely innocent. All of
| the evidence"
The Court-You are not charged with any
! ether crime.
The Defendant-I suppose that I might
| refer to it since the district attorney did In
| his opening and closing argument
The Court-Your counsel has attended to
| all Of that matter.
| Molineux then said: Every well, your
Honor. All of the evidence produced here
does not point in the direction of guilt on
my part. 1 refer especially to the evidence
| OF Miss Miller in regard to the purchase of
that silver bottle-holder; she did not sell it
| to me. Also to the evidence of Mr.. Koch,
respecting the letter box hired by a some
body in the name Of Henry Cornish-it was
not hired by me. Also to the evidence given
by Mr.. Kutnow respecting sample boxes
sent around the country by his f1rm-none
OF which came to me. Nor did possess at
| eny time any of the instruments which ap-
| pear to have been used in this crime and
1 never for one moment had a murderous
motive. AS for the theories which the
| prosecution offers. 1 do not think L should
be convicted on their suppositions or the
guesses they may wish to indulge in.
A PRICE ON HIS HEAD
| Il cannot conceive, your Honor, how any
| honest man can believe the testimony of
| Nicholas Hickman, who convicted me
! upon an Identification which was for sale.
| Yellow journalism put a price on my head
LII was an invitation to every blackmailer.
| every perjurer, every rogue, every man
| without principle but with a price and to
that invitation Mr.. Heckmann responded.
The handwriting experts who have testified
against me, your honor. may give their
| opinion, they may give their reasons, what
they believe. what they think, but 1 know
that these hands never put pen to paper 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
matter Of history, but experts in hand
| writing have made mistakes 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 de-
| spise the action OF the district attorney I'm
attempting to villify and attack the char
acter of the pure and lovely woman who
bears my name. 1t was the act Of a black
guard. It was damnable lie Now, your
! Honor, am prepared to hear you sentence
me. / am not afraid, because / am not
guilty"
Directly after sentence had been pro-
| nounced Molineux was taken back on his
way to the Tombs. Almost before he had
left the courtroom Mr.. Battle served notice
of appeal upon District Attorney Gardiner
and upon the chief clerk
When Molineux was asked about the
fund it was proposed to raise for him to
defray his expenses he said: Absolutely
and under no circumstances would 1 accept
such a thing"
Molineux was taken to Sing Sing this
afternoon by Sheriff Grell and a deputy
They rode in the smoking car. where they
were joined by General Molineux. Passeu-
gers crowded into the car when they heard
Molineux was there and stood In the aisles
and sat on arms Of seats to look at him
Molineux did not seem to care. but his
father hardly relished the actions Of the
| passengers.
When the prisoner arrived at Sing Sing
there was curious crowd about the sta
ton. Molineux appeared cool and did not
seem to notice the crowd Molineux was
taken at once TO the death house, where
he took leave OF his father. his brother
and Lawyer Battle. who had accompanied
him from New York. He maintained his
wonderful nerve and shook hands with
each. and in parting with his father said
l"Good-bye, governor General Molineua