The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-10
CLOSING SCENES.
The M0lineuX Case Is Nearing a
Termination.
Second Trial of Man Accused of
Adams Murder.
NEARLY FOUR YEARS
Have Elapsed Since the Crime
Was Committed.
Hundreds of Men and Women
Besiege the Court.

branch of the supreme court opened to-
day upon the closing scenes in the sec
ond trial of Roland B. Molineux for the
murder of Katherine J. Adams on De-
cember 2s, 1898.
An hour before the official time of
opening the court a crowd of more than
a thousand men and women thronged
| the corridors of the criminal building
and clamored for admission. A special
squad of policemen was on duty to re-
inforce the court squad, and the Wis
itors were formed into lines four deep
and compelled to show their cards of ad-
mittance.
At least 20 per cent were women and
most of them had cards from the jurors
! or from the lawyers in the case, or from
attaches of the district attorneys Office.
AS consequence, before $50 o'clock ev-
cry seat was occupied, the reporters ta-
bles were overwhelmed, chairs blocked
the aisles and in the passa geway be-
tween the Justices chamber and the
bench, were about 20 women. Contra
ry to general expectation the proceed
ings did not open with the appeal of ex-
Governor Black for dismissal of the
charges against the accused. That was
the scheduled programme. but for some
season or other a change was made and
Assistant District Attorney Osborne
called out:
rs Mr.. Eveal here?"
Mr.. Osborne's invitation Mr.. Eveal
walked to the witness chair.
Ex-Governor Black protested that the
case was closed as far as the taking of
testimony was concerned and the coun-
sci for the defense and prosecution had
a long whispered conference with JUS
tice Lambert as to the admissibility of
the testimony
Eveal did not testify. and the sum-
ming up of counsel was begun.
In opening his address former Gov
ernor Frank S. Black said that Mol
ineux was a director of the Knicker-
booker Athletic club where Cornish was
employed. Molineux did not like Cor
nish and he did not like Harpster. He
had many friends in the club, and per
haps many enemies. Cornish wrote
what Molineux considered improper
letter and Molineux complained of it.
WAS that any reason for Molineux
sending to Cornish quantity of poison
sufficient to kill any man in that club?"
asked Mr. Black
Cornish insulted Molineux, and Mol
ineux behaved like a gentleman, regard
ing the difference of their STATION and
passed on. Is that proof of murder? ?
Nothing else under the sky has been
produced here to indicate any motive
Molineux could have for wanting to kill
} Cornish.
THE trouble between Cornish and
Molineux occurred more than a year
before the poison package appeared No
evidence has been presented here to
show that in all that time Molineux has
said unkind word or uttered one un-
charitable thought toward Cornish. All
the evidence in this case points away
} from Molineux and to another man. L
shall indicate who that man is before L
sit down. The case points to that man
just as surely as the needle points to
In commenting upon the evidence
Mr.. Black began with that of Miss
Emma Miller. the clerk at Hartdegan's
store. who sold the silver bottle-holder
Il eos1 y ho6 orifT Toio he a+t do
of the district attorney toward that wit
ness. He thought it was unfair to force
Miss Miller to admit that she had been
paid $3.50 for her testimony.
DO you know why Miss Miller was
treated as she was? ?' he asked.
1T was because after she had volun-
teered to testify. and she could only be
brought here as a volunteer. she de-
: ciined to periure herself. She told the
] truth. Molineux did not buy the bottle
! holder.
1.-The detective, Farrell. is the only
witness who has brought MOlineux any
where near that bottIe-holder and the
nearest he brought him was three-quar-
f ters of mile. And that is the nearest
: any one has brought him to the case
Ex-Governor Black ridiculed the tes-
timony of Joseph Koch. the Broadway
letter-box man, who said Molineux rent
1 ed a lettar-box from him and declared
it to be the evidence of q man who
'tpeddled mis- story and his eternal soul
at the same time The governor took
up the question OF writing and declared
that the Washington expert, Hay, was
"a stupendous fraud" when he testified
that none of the request writing made
by Molineux contained characteristic
n to be found in his other writing and III
: the disputed writing. Then re dwelt al
length upon the alleged suppression OF
c evidence by the district attorney0s office
4 and argued that the evidence 1aigh-
point to some ore other than MolinelX
Q THE prosecution he said has pro
+ duced here the poison package wrapper
: the envelope to the Burns letter we con
= cede to have been written by Molineux
: the envelope to the HarDsIer and the
Barnet letters but where are the envei
opes to the Cornish letters? Not one oi
them has been presented in evidence
Why have they been suppressed Dif
: they show too much? You may forge
T to date your letters, but Uncle Sam new
: er forgets. Did the Cornish envelope:
= show too much:
J: In Molineux's desk, Newark, was
q package of small envelopes used for en-
e closing cards. The detectives of the dis
trict attorneys office found them bu
they did not match envelopes that ac
= companied the poison package and 81
= they were suppressed. Was that t
shield anybody?
TT was crime to murder Mrs Ad
ans" he said but it would be no les
$ crime to murder this man upon tn
A. evidence in this case. You are asked t
n believe that no man can get cyanide O
l. mercury unless he approaches it with
= mask, and in fact the prosecution ask
d you to believe that it can only be got i
It Newark. If you want it you can get il
ID If any of you want cyanide of mercur
"a get it when you go to lunch. Or. if yo
3 have not time, I'll get you enough t
poison every man within the sound c
my voice and it shall not cost you NOR
than 35 cents
4 AS to The Barnet letters. Mr. Blac
s. said: It don't know and I don't car
when or where they were mailed an