The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-19
Forbidden TO Call Mere Writing
Experts.
Evidence Relating to
Barnet Poisoning.
Cyanide Mercury Said to Cause
Diphtheria Symptoms.

New York. January 1s-Assistant
District Attorney Osborne announced
| to-day that the prosecution tomorrow
would close its case against Roland
Il. Molineux. charged with the murder
Of Mrs. Katherine J. Adams. The
prosecution today introduced two mere
handwriting experts who testified briefly
that the handwriting of the Cornish
and Barnett letters and of the poison
package address was identical with that
OF Molineux. Recorder Golf ruled that
the prosecution would not be permitted
to call any more handwriting expsrts
and one Of the jurors expressed his weari-
ness Of expert testimony.
The most important testimony today
| related to the poisoning of II. g. Barnet
aud while Mr.. Osborne was always
ohoked OF by the court when he asked
| his Witnesses questions that connected
Molineux with the Barnet orse, still,
the prosecution scored effeotually. Thus
when Edmund Barnet, brother of Ii. q.
Barnet was testifying, exhibit A, the
poison package wrapper was shown to
| the witness and Mr.. Osborne asked:
"Dld you ever see that hand rit!ng be-
fore?"
eyes"
"WhereS"
Among my brothers. Effects
I he court ruled the quettions and an
sweIs out.
MIR. Osborne, 1t appeared, Later was
seeking to prove that previous to Bar
nets receiving the poison powder which
1t Is alleged caused his death, he had re-
ceived ether medicines through the mail,
presumably from the defendant.
James 5. Hudson. salesman, former
| ly associated with ii. G. Barnet, testified
that late In the summer Of 1855, shortly
before Barnet's death, Barnet Iecsive d
by mail a package about 1-2 inches
long and high, In a light cGlored wrap
per. Witness continued:
81 saw MIR. Barnet opsn the package;
saw him take out the ountents As l
recollect 1t, there was some cotton,
smaller box inside and In 1t were some
pink or red capsules"
"Do you remember what he saidf'
Objected to.
ale put the PELLETS In his hand. OK
amined them, then put them In the box
and then put the whole thing back in
DIS pOCkets
"How doss all this become relevantS"
asked the recorder.
"lll show" said Osborne, "that Bar
net received things ANONYMOUSLY through
| the mails and that this defendant bought
| such remedies AS have just been de-
sori 1eh In the name Of II. =. Barnet
| : Edm und Earnet was recalled and was
| asked:
"Did you find anything such as was
described by Mr.. Hudsong"
| "Yes"
What was IT."
"a small white box containing Is
pink pills and also "a box containing salve
labelled 'CElthos, hvs days treatment.
"Whst about the cspsulesy"
'They were filled with q white powd-
err"
DIR. Robert Boocook, homeopathic
physician of 40 years experiences. testified
that small does or cyanide of mercury
| often repeated, would produce all the
| symptoms of diphtheria.
Witness was very positive In his state
ments and the searching cross-exsmina-
| tion only resulted In emphasizing his
testimony. barnet, it vi be remen-
| bsrsd, was treated for diphtheria and his
| physician still insists that dlphtheria
| was the cause of death In spite Of the
| discovery of mercury in Barnet's body
| after death.
Other witnesses today were Vincent
q. Hammill. president OF private rem
| edy agency, who treated by mail the
bogus II. q. Barnet, alleged by the prose-
cution to be Nolireux, for impotency,
| and who testified to his oorresp ondence
| with the so-oallsd Barnet ard William
o. Inglls, newspaper reporter. who
identified new barnet lstter to
Western medical house, asking for
prescription. The hand writing Is iden-
teal with that of the other "Barnet'
| letters