The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-18
HILL IS FOR THE PEOPLE
Milburn Opens With an Argument for
the Defense.
WHEN RECESS y TAKEN
The Oral Argument Submitting The Briefs IS to
be Shot and May be Concluded To-
day. APrvIeged Few Only
Hear the Trial.
(By the Asaociated Press.l

Buffalo, N. Y, June 1.-THE second
plea for the life of Roland B. Molineux
claimed by the law for the mysterious
murder of mailed poison of Mrs. Kath-
arine j. Adams in New York, in Decem-
ber, 1898, began today before the Court of
Appeals. Chief Judge Parker and Asso-
ciate Judges Vann, Bartlett, Gray,
O'Brien, Haight and Werner will decide
the appeal and the respective arguments
are in the hands of specially retained
counsel. John G. Milburn represents the
defendant and former United States SEN
ator David Bennett Hill speaks for the
people.
The printed record of the case is the
largest ever submitted in the State in a
criminal case and upon its consideration
during the interim between now and the
fall session of the court rests the decis-
ion The oral argument submitting the
briefs is to be short and it is anticipated
that it will be concluded by tomorrow
afternoon. The officers of the court, fear
ing the annoyance of a large crowd,
locked the outer doors of the Supreme
court room and admitted the privileged
lew NY TIE private SnlA
As the district attorney, LeBarbiour,
of New York, who assisting Mr. Hill was
the first to appear and after him came
Barlow S. Weeks and George Gordon Bat
tie, who defended Molinex at his trial in
New York. With them were General
Molineux, the aged father of the defend
ant and David N. arvalho, the handwrit-
ing expert, who advised the defense at
al, ~
clerks carrying law books and records
Mr.. Hill and Mr.. Milburn came last, stop
ping at the doorway to exchange friendly
greetings.
Judge Parker asked counsel if an ex-
tension beyond the two hours usually al
lated 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.. Milburn 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 a sketch
of the chief personnel of the case. He
sketched the training of young Molineux
as an expert paint and color manufacturer
and in turn told of his connection with
the Knickerbocker and New York Atb-
letic Clubs, his marriage to Blanche
Cheseborough, and his relations with Har-
ry Cornish, manager of the Knickerbocker
Athletic Club. Mr.. Milburn passed on to
the receipts Of bottle purporting to con-
tain medicine and of Mrs. Adams death
after taking a dose Of the supposed medi-
cine and contended that the prosecution
had failed to connect the accused with the
sending of the bottle through the mails
Mr.. Milburn also attacked the evidence
on handwriting, and as to the robin S
egg blue paper with the crest of inter-
locked crescents, on which some OF the
Cornish letters were written, he said
it was in general use, so that possession
of paper of this description by the ac-
cused had no significance. The absence
Of motive for desiring the death of Cor
nish, to whom, as alleged, the poison
was sent, was commented upon by Mr..
Milburn. Mr.. Milburn criticised the dis
trict attorney for bringing into the case
the name of Barnet. who died in the
Knickerbocker Athletic Club House and
attempting to show that Barnett's death
and Cornish's illness were caused by
mercury poisoning. The lawyer also
blamed the other side for the attack on
Mrs. Molineux's character. He said it
had not been proved that Cornish re-
ceived the alleged poison in his box at
the club. The prosecution, he said, had
taken up series of points, advanced two
theories and sought to connect them and
complete a case against the defendant.
Court took recess until tomorrow,
when Mr.. Milburn will conclude his argu-
ment.