The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-18
ON HIS SECOND TRIAL
ROLAND Il. M0LiSEUx BEFORE THE
COURT OF APPEALS.
D. B. HILL FOR THE STATE.
THE PRINTED RECORD LARGEST
EVER SUBMITTED.

Attorney for Defense Attacks Evil
dencc on Handwriting and Com
tends That Prosecution Fails to
Connect Accused with Poison Bot
tie Sent Through the MaiIs-Argu-
ment to BE Continued To-day.
Buffalo. N. Y, June 1.-THE second
plea for the life of Roland B. Molineux.
claimed by the law for the mysterious
murder by mailed poison of Mrs Kathar-
Inc j. Adams in New York, in December.
1885, began to-day before the Court of
Appeals. Chief Judge Parker and Assist
ant Judges Vann, Bartlett. Bray, O'Bnen.
Haight and Werner will decide the ap-
peal. and the respective arguments are
in the hands OF specially retained coun-
sci. John G. Milburn represents the de-
fendant, and ex-senator David B. Hill
speaks for the state.
The printed record of the case is the
largest ever submitted in the state in
criminal case and upon it's consideration
during the interim between now and the
fall session of the court rests the deci-
sion. The oral argument submitting the
briefs is to be short and 1t Is antici-
pated that It will be concluded by to-
morrow afternoon. The officers of the
court, fearing the annoyance of large
crowd locked the outer doors of the Su-
preme Court room and admitted the priv
ileged few by the private entrance.
Assistant District Attorney Lebarbieur
of New York, who is assisting MIR. Hill,
was the first to appear. and after him
came Barlow s. Weeks and George Cor
don Battle, who defended Molineux at
his trial in New York. With them were
Gen. Molineux, the aged father Of the
defendant, and David N. Carvalho the
handw riting expert. who advised the de-
fense at the trial. After them came
corps of clerks carrying law books and
records. MIR. Hin and Mr.. Milburn came
last stopping at the doorway to exchange
friendly greetings.
Judge Parker asked counsel If an ex-
tension beyond the two hours usually al
lotted to an argument was desired Mr.
Milburn said he would probably require
four hours Mr.. Hill nodded his approval
and so it was agreed that each side
should have four hours.
Mr. Mlburn began his address for the
defendant with a brief statement Of the
charge and nature Of the appeal and fol-
lowing IL with what he called sketch of
| the chief personnel of the case. He
slxetched the training OF young Molineux
| as an expert paint and color nanufac-
turer, and in turn told of his connection
with the Knickerbocker and New York
Athletic clubs, his marriage to Blanche
Cheseborough and his relations with Har-
ry Cornish, manager OF the Knickerbock-
er Athletic Club.
Mr. Mi1burn passed on the receipt OF
bottle purposting to contain medicine and
of Mrs. Adams death after taking
..f ha md
tended that the prosecution had failed to
connect the accused with the sending OF
the bottle through the mails.
Mr.. Miburn also attacked the evidence
on handwriting, and as to the
robin's-egg blue paper with the
crest. OF interlocaxed crescents, on
which some of the Cornish letters were
written. He said 1t was in general use,
so that possession of paper of this de-
scription by the accused had no signifi-
canoe. The absence of motive for desir-
ing the death OF Cornish. to whom. as al
legged. the poison was sent, was COM
mented upon by Mr.. Milburn. Mr. Mil
burn criticised the district attorney for
bringing into the case the name of Bar
nett. who died in the Knickerbocker Ath-
letic Club house, and attempting to show
that Barnett's death and Cornishs illness
were caused by mercury poisoning. The
lawyer also blamed the other side for the
attack on Mrs. Molineux's S character. He
said It had not been proved that Cor
nish received the alleged poison in his box
at the club The prosecution, he said,
had taken up a series of points, advanced
two theories and sought to connect them
and complete a case against the defend
ant
Court took a recess until tomorrow,
when Mr.. Milburn will conclude his arsu-
ment.