The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-12
are now thinking of taking up the regu-
lation of the universe.
THE MoLINEux VERDICT.

No one Is competent to pass on the JUS
tice OF the verdict just rendered by the
Jury in the case Of Roland b. Molineux,
save alone those who participated IN MS
trial The daily press Of New York,
which published ample reports of the tes-
timony, were so shockingly partial as to
render the reading of their reports by
the ordinary person almost certain to be
followed by an acceptance of the guilt
of the accused. The attitude of the World
and Journal, of New York, toward the de-
PENDANT may be described as simply
bloodthirsty. 1t is doubtful, indeed.
whether the court should not, in justice
to the accused and In view Of the recog-
nized large circulation of the papers In
question, have found some way for sup
pressing such barbarous outbreaks, In de-
handing the life of human creature as
these two papers INDUCED themselves In
from the time of the arrest of Molineux.
There is general belief in the guilt OF
the accused man. But that belief Is not
regarded by all who entertained 1t as
sustained by the evidence. The action
of the counsel for the accused In submit
ting his case to the jury on the evidence
of the prosecution was q mistake, ana
may be regarded as explaining the read
mess with which the jury reached YER
dict of guilty Of murder In the first de-
gree.
The trial has been one Of the most re-
markable in recent times. The task Of
the prosecution was apparently an i'm
possible one But the prosecuting at
torney had behind him great skill and
ability in his profession, and the re-
sources of police department not over
scrupulous in the selection Of the means
necessary to its ends, together with all
the aid which a partisan and sensational
daily press could afford him. The result
is one which it is hard to concur in.
1t need surprise none should the result
Of this trial be overthrown on appeal. 1t
would. indeed, be wonderful If, with the
splendid ability and devotion shown by
the counsel for Molineux, he cannot find
an exception taken by him in the progress
of the trial which an appellate court will
Of the legal rights of his client. II he
should succeed in his appeal, 1t will be
virtually equivalent to an acquitta1.
None believe that 1t would be practicable
for the public authorities to again mar
shall their proofs with the extraordinary
skill and completeness which marked the
trial which has just been brought to a
close Besides all this, the expense would
hardly be endurable.
The only hope of the condemned man
lies in the result OF his appeal. The emil
nent fairness and ability of Judge Golf,
who presided, preclude the belief that he
will overturn a verdict on motion which
was reached only after every safeguard
had been thrown around the prisoner
suggested by the most painstaking dis
charge of judicial duty. If appeal should
not avail, Roland B. Molineux will go
to the electric chair. Had he been other
wise an irreproachable man, or, had his
conduct toward Barnett not been distin-
guished by the deadliest enInity, 1t would
not have been possible to weave the web
Of circumstantial proof around him
which may work his destruction. =.
He has himself to blame for the awful
position in which he finds himself, even
though 1t be the fact that he Is innocent
Of the death Of Mrs. Adams Strong as
may be the belief that he has not been
proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt,
ne Is not the type of man In whose be-
half any considerable number of others
would actively concern themselves