The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-02-12
MoIIneaux eulIty In IIrat Ilegree

jury returned a verdict OF guilty Of
murder ia the first degree against Re
land B. Molineux. charged with the
murder OF Mrs Katherine J. Aderas,
by poison on December %, 1898.
Barley S. Weeks. counsel for the de-
fense, made the usual motion, and Re
'corder Goff adjourned court until Feb
ruary IS. ,rhen he said he would hear
the motion and sentence the defend
ant.
From the time the jury went out at
3:t5 D. m, the crowd in the court room /
watched the door through which they |
had left the court in silent expectancy /
II was almost two hours before there |
was any noise. The solemnity OF the |
occasion had affected the court officers
and visitors alike.
The Jury came In shortly after nine
o'clock TO ask for exhibits of handwrit /
ing. and again at 1890 they came in
for Instructions. Fifteen minutes lat
er there was no doubt that the jury
had agreed Court officers shouted for
silence. Doors were locked and the
gray haired clerk Of the court took his
seat below the rec5. ter: bench Cen
eral Mullneux sat straight In his chair,
a CLASSY look in his eyes and his hands
folded on the table I'm front OF him,
trembling a little in spite OF himself.
Then there WIS hush. The jurors
walked 10 their chairs between a double
file OF court officials. There was no
sign of cheer IN any Of their faces. As
soon as they had taken their seats a
deputy sheriff brought Molineux from
the prison.
There was no sign OF apprehension on
the young mans face His step was
light and sprlngy and he smiled as II
he had not a care in the world. Then
he sat down. Looked for a moment
straight at the recorders bench and
then whispered no Mr. Weeks. A NOM
ent later the recorder entered The
names Of the jury were read and the
clerk said:
Gentlemen of the jury have you
agred upon a verdict?"
1--WE have" replied the foreman.
"The jurors will please rise. The de-
fendant will rise"
General Molineux sat with his hands
clasped in front OF him on the table.
His face never flinched when the clerk
asked again:
What Is your verdict?"
1--WE find the defendant guilty OF muir
der in the first degree"
AS the words. were spoken the bell
in the fire house near by struck elev-
en- o'clock. 1t sounded like the tolllng
of a church bell for the dead Molin-
eux hardly moved. His neck stiffened a
little and ne Strengthened his back.
General Molneux reached his hand TO
his sons shoulder and pressed It hard.
Molineux put his own hand on his
fathers shoulder and stood without
further movement while his counsel
asked that the jury be polled-
Each juryman agreed with the YER
dict rendered by the foreman and then
the recorder asked II the counsel had
any request TO make.
Recorder Con- then heard the formal
motion and ordered the removal OF the
defendant.
Molineux shook hands with his faith
er and his brother Leslie and started
20 follow the deputy sheriff to the
prison. As he left his seat General Mol
ineux 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"
Molineuxs mother and his wife, un-
able to bear the strain of the lone
waiting for the verdict had left the
court room soon after the jury went
out.
Mr.. Weeks, asked on behalf Of Gen
eral Moineux that the latter be per
mitted to visit his son, and The record
er made an exception in this case anC
granted permission.
Foreman Martin stated that the jur1
had agreed among themselves to ab
solutey refrain from the discussion
of any OF the proceedings in the jul1
room.
A tremendous crowd awaited in tn
corridors OF the court room and abou
and when Molneux was brought on
by the sheriff somebody called 70
three cheers for Molineux and remark
able demonstration. with great cheer
ing, followed. Many women were II
the crowd and took pan, In the demon
stration. 1t seemed to please Molineu
for he smiled and bowed and all tn
way through the great crowd tina
smile and bow a number times 10
the cheers were repeated again an
again There were calls Of Cornish
also but The cheers for MolinuX over
topped these cries.
Regarding the verdict Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Osbore said
II am confident that the verdict wi
stand TTnon tba rsroaaufatfon az IN