Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-02-15
MOLIhEUx Is FOUND
GUILTY OF MURDER.
Jury in Famous New York Poisoning
Case Returns Its YER
dict.
WILL BE SENTENCED FRIDAY
After ses IN Hours and Half De-
liberation the jury Says
"Murder in the First
Degree"
'ILL BE SENTENCED FRIDAY

ating seven and a half hours the Jury
returned Il verdict of murder in the
first degree against Roland Il. Mol
ineuS, charged with the murder of
Mrs. Katharine j. Adams by poison on
December Is, 1s9s
Barlow S. Weeks, counsel for the de-
Tense, made the usual motion, and Re
corder Golf adjourned court until
February 1G, when he said he would
hear the motion and sentence the de-
PENDANT.
From the time the jury went out at
room watched the door through which
pectancy.
The jury came in shortly after 9
o'clock to ask for exhibits of hand
writing, and again at 1880 they came
in for instructions. Fifteen minutes
later they again entered, and this time
ut WAS apparent they had reached an
ed for silence. Doors were locked and
the gray haired clerk of the court
took his seat below the recorders
bench. General MolineuN sat straight
in his chair, a CLASSY look in his eyes,
and his hands folded on the table in
front of him. trembling IL little in
spite of himself. Then there was a
hush, the jurors walked to their
chairs. and as soon as they had taken
their seats a deputy sheriff Brought
MolineuN from the prison.
There was no sign of apprehens.rss
on the Young mans face. His step was
light and springy, and he smiled as ii
he had not Il care in the world. Then
he sat down and whispered to Weeks,
who was showing signs of nervous
ness. a moment later the recorder
entered.
The names of the jury were read.
and the clerk asked: Gentlemen OF
the jury, have you agreed upon vcr-
dict %
1--WE have" replied the foreman.
The jurors will please rise. The de-
PENDANT will rise
''What is your verdict"
I'VE find the defendant guilty OF
murder in the first degree
AS the words were spoken the bell
in the fire house near by struck IL
O'clock 1t sounded like the tolling of
a church bell for the dead. MolineuN
hardly moved. His neck stiffcned a
little, and he Strengthened his back.
General MolineuN reached his hand TO
his sons shoulder and pressed it hard.
MolineuN put his own hand ON his
fathers shoulder and stood without
further movement while his counsel
asked that the jury be polled. Each
juror agreed with the verdict rendered
by the foreman. The recorder then
announced he would hear the motion
and sentence the prisoner on Friday
next.
MolineuN shook hands With his
ather and his brother Leslie, and
tarted to follow the deputy sheriff to
prison AS he left his seat General
Molineux said to him, in tones loud
enough to be heard by all: "Keep up
Your nerve" and the prisoner replied
with a smile, "Yes: don't be afraid
Moineux's mother and his wife, UNI
able to bear the strain of long waiting
for the verdict, had left the court
room soon after the jury went out.
I, The recorder granted General Moli-
ncuX permission to visit his SON.
| Foreman Martin stated that the jury
lad agreed among themselves to abso-
| lutely refrain from the discussion of
any of the proceedings in the jury
room.
a tremendous crowd waited about
| the building, and when MolineuN was
brought out by the deputy sheriff
somebody called for "three cheers for
MolineuN,' and a remarkable demon
stration, with great cheering. followed
Many women were in the crowd and
took part in the demonstration. 1t
seemed to please MolneuN, for he
smiled and bowed again and again.
There were calls of Cornish, also.
but the cheers for Molineux over
topped these cries.
Regarding the verdict Assistant At
| torncy Osborne said:
IL am confident that the verdict will
stand. Upon the presentation of the
case as furnished by the police depart.
ment, there could not have been any
other verdict"
Barlow s. Weeks. Molineux's coun-
sci, would say nothing about the ver-
dict
Harry Cornish said: 81 do not sec
| how amy twelve men could hear the ev-
idence given and render amy other YER
diet | cannot say anything else about
the verdict, and Furthermore will not. >
The announcement of the verdict OF
guilty was received in.the uptown dis
tricts and about the clubs apparently
with great surprise. Many of the clul
men seemed to be staggered 10y the an
nouncement. and it was the main topi,
of discussion for the night.
In opening his charge Recorder Cot
told the jury that the rules OF law are
to shape their judgments. He said he
would not comment on the facts OF the
case. The presumption of innocence
he said, remains with the defendan!
until his guilt is proven beyond "A rea.
sonable doubt. "lou may find,' he
said. 81 verdict of murdtp in the frs,
or second degree. but must not use
your power capriciously.'
The recorder went over the indict-
ment and its several counts, and then
said:
IF you find that MolineuN sent the
| poison he is Just as guilty as if Cornish
had died instead of Mrs. Adams Did
the defendant send the poison pack
age TO Cornish? Upon that controlling
| question the whole case hangs If he
did not then all the other questions
are disposed of. If you are satisfied
he did not then you shall acqnit.''
AS to the testimony of the fourteen
| hanQwritinu eypertS callpu Inv the