The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-01
HIS ANSWERS ARE l' PROMPT
Preserves an Unrufned De-
I meanor Throughout.
Prosecuting Attorney Osborne Bames
the Judge and Opposing Lawyers
and Gets in Testimony of
lxelando and Farrel.


New York, Oct. s1.-Roland B. Moiineux
took the witness stand today to testify In
his, own defense against the charge Of
mardering Mrs katherine y. Adams
In response to the questions Of his
counsel. former, Governor Black, he de-
clared his absolute Innocence of any part
or knowledge of the crime and catego-
rically denied that he had written the
Barnet and Cornish letters; that he had
ever made cyanide of mercury or that
he had ever seen the silver bottleholder
In which the poison was sent until 1t was
exhibited In, court. ~
He admitted having written and signed
with his own hands one letter asking for
certain patent remedy on the famous
blue interiaced crescent paper. Identical
with that on which the Cornish letters
were written. and said he procured the
paper at the waldorf-Astoria Hotel. His
bitter differences with Cornish which re-
suited in his Leaving the Knickerbocker
Athletic Club were related by Molineux
without any apparent reserve.
The witness sustained unmoved a rig
orous examination by Assistant District
Attorney Osborne. answering readily all
questions as to his past life. his relations
with Cornish and Barnet, and the efforts
he and other members OF the club had
made to- discover any one who had q
common enmity to the two named.
Osborne Bafiies Defense.
The feature of the cross-examination
was Mr. Osborne's successful effort to
place before the Jury the substance Of
the testimony given at the, first trial by
a. a. 49, 49, "a ~
but excluded by Justice Lambert. This
was accomplished by the experiment OF
framing series Of questions relating to
statements purporting to have been made
by witnesses outside Of their testimony
hut practically covering every essential
feature OF 1t. to which frequent and vehe-
nnent objections were niade by Mr.. Black.
Throughout his examination and cross
examination Molineux preserved an un-
ruffied and confident demAanor, answer
ing all questions promptly and even smil-
ing occasionally when replying to hts own
counsel. n ~ r.
The announcement that defense would
be made none having been undertaken at
the first trial and that Molineux himself
would face his accuser, drew an immense
throng to the court room In the after
noon so great was the crush. that police
reserves were called out to preserve or
der and Justice Lambert himself had the
utmost difficulty in forcing passage
through the crowd In the court room.
The crowd whicn thronged the Grim
inal Court building today probably was
the largest ever seen there.
AS soon as the jury was poiled. former
Governor Black began his opening ad-
dress He kept the promise he made yes
terday and spoke for less than five min
utes. He declared the accused man inRo-
ent of any connection with the crime.
and promised to show to the satisfac tion
of the jury that Molineux never wrote
any of the eliminating letters or the ad-
dress on the poison package.
Molineux Takes the Stand.
When he finished he called: Roland B.
MoIineux, take the witness chair"
Replying to the first question of his
lawyer Molineux gave his age as 80
years, told the date OF his arrest and
the length Of time he was in the looms
and in Sing Sing prison.
He said he took a course In chemistry
in Cooper Union after he left school
When he was 16 years old he went TO Utah
ana Mexico. He was correspondent in a
divorce suit. and it was thought better
that he should leave the city for a while.
He returned to New York a year later
and got employment in his fathers firm.
Devoe, Reynolds & Co., paints and colors.
He continued with the firm until he went
10 Newark. as superintendent Of the color
factory Of Morris. Herman O. Co. He
was a member of the Knickerbocker Attn
letic Club for two years. resigned In 1897.
when he went to the New York Club. He
was a member of the governing board
Of the Knickerbocker Athletic Club.
Mollneux said he did not approve of
Cornish's management of the baths of
the gymnasium.
Complained of Cornish.
Molineux said he talked to Rudolph
HeiIes about Cornish, saying he did not
thing Cornish was any good"
Mr.. Black then questioned the defend
ant as to his movements December 81,
1898, and Molineux said he went to New
ark as usual that day 10 attend to bust
ness and returned to New York in the
evening.
"Did you buy the bottisholder?" asked
MI. Black.
NO" replied Molineux.
Did you ever see it,"
No"
On December % he went to Columbia
College. and he thought 1t probable that
he called at the New York once OF his
firm. as was his custom to do almost
every day.
that day than Cortland, which Is four
blocks away The poison package was
nailed at the general postoffice.
Did you mail the poison PACKAGE
asked Mr.. Black.
No. sir"
when did you first see the address on
the packageT
II think at the last trial have never
Nd II in my hands" The questions of
oa,,rsel were then directed to the mate
mi used in color mixing
Mollneux said that cyonido OF mercury
~ never been used by him.
Mr. Black showed witness the Barnett
- cornish letters and the poison pack
an wrapper and asked: did you write
tFat address?
II did not.
..HN,t before this trial was begun"
~ uhole LIST Of disputed writings was