The Portland daily press., 1900-02-17
Execution Set for Week
of March 26.
Gen. Molineux Issues Statement
to the Press.

New York, February l6.-Thsre have
lesn many dramatic incidents connected
with the trial OF Roland B. Molinsux for
the murder of Mrs katherine j. Adams,
but none more dramatic than the reply OF
the prisoner today when he appeared be-
fore Recorder Gofi, for sentence to death
in the electric chair. Heretofore, though
entering plea Of not guilty, Cat the be-
ginning Of the trial, Molineux has al
ways declined to say one word In his own
defense, even when the character OF his
wife was attacked by witnesses and BY
Asst slant District Attorney Osborne, but
today when the conventional legal ques-
tion of whether there was any reason why
sentence should not be pronounced upon
him was asked by the Recorder, the pris-
oner defended his wife and referred to the
action OF the assistant district attorney
as that of a "plaokguard."
Molineux's statement was brief ana
soon after he made 1t, he hurri ed out
of the court room, through throng OF
thousands Of cheering people to the
Grand Central depot and then on New
York Central train to Sing Sing, where
he rests tonight In one of the new cages
In the death house in the state prison
there.
Every word that Molineux said, cut the
sir like knife, SO intense was the still
ness in the court room. Standing with
head erect, his slight frame bent far
back, his position one that would please
the trained athlete or the master Of mill
tAry tactics, his eyes fixed upon the
Recorder, apparently as defiant as ever,
certainly as much at ease as though In
a!favorits club room or at thu home of
some social friend, Molireux protested
his innocence. and denounced the men
and the methods by which his conviction
was procured. His tones were we'll
mod alased, his manner earnest. mis- word
solemn and apparently sincere and he
raised his voice towards the close and
denounced the prosecuting official with
dramatic fervor.
When the young man commenced his
address TO the court. the Recorder, with
a motion Of the hand, waved him aside
and asked: SIS this by advice of oouu-
SELF" The counsel for the defense replied
that 1t was the request Of the. defendant
and that he believed 1t was his right.
The Recorder then announced that he
would permit the prisoner to address the
court though 1t was an unusual thing to
do.
The Defendant thank your honor.
or the crime for which l stand convicted
and for still another crime with which
am charged, / am absolutely and entire
" innocent. All OF the evidence
The Court-You are not charged with
any other crime.
The Defendant-I supposed that
might refer to 1t since the district Attor-
ney did in his opening and closing argu-
ments.
The Court--Your counsel has attended
to all of that matter.
The defendant Very well, your honor.
All of the evidence produced here does
not point In the direction Of the guilt on
my part. refer especially to the evidence
Of Miss Miller In regard to the purchase
of that silver bottle holder-shs did not
sell 1t TO me. Also to the evidence OF
Mr. Koch respecting the letter box hired
by somebody In the name of Harry
Cornish. 1t was not hired by me. Also
to the evidence given BY Mr.. Kutnow
respecting sample boxes ssnt around the
country by his firm, one OF which came
to me. Nor did possess at any time