Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-11
FATE Of 'MoLlNEUx
Will Be Decided, Today, by
Jury at New York.
Counsel Black Gives Scathing Ar
raignment Of Cornish for Deed.
Judge Lambert Will Hold Osborne to
Two and Half Hours.

evening, Justice Lambert announced
that he would allow Assistant District
Attorney Osborne but two hours and a
half more to finish summing up, which
means that the court will deliver it's
during the afternoon.
The court room was crowded to suf-
location when, at the opening of to-
days session, former Gov. Black rose
to sum up for the defence. After gen.
eral defence of MolneuX. whom he de-
clared the prosecution had utterly fail
ed 70 connect i'm any way with the
death of Mrs. Adams, Mr.. Black passed
to scathing denunciatiOE of Harry
Cornish, to whose guilt and not that of
MclineuX, he declared every circum-
stance in the case directly pointed.
More than half of Mr.. Blacks ad-
dress, which occupied nearly four
hours. was devoted to an analysis Of
Cornish's conduct and testimony and
of the testimony of other witnesses in
manner to support his contention
that COrnish's actions were not con-
sistent with his innocence of the crime
of which Molineux stands accused.
MIR. Osborne based his argument for
the prosecution largely on the testi-
mOny of the handwriting experts
which, said. conclusively showed Moli-
neux to have been the writer of the
poison package address and of the
other disputed exhibits.
The criminal branch of the supreme
court opened, today. upon the closing
scenes in the second trial of Roland
Is. MolineuX for the murder of
Katherine j. Adams on Dec. 2S, 1873.
"A crowd of more than thousand
men and women filed the corridors
of the criminal court building
seeking admission and half an hour be-
fore the court opened every seat was
occupied reporters tables were
overwhelmed, chairs blocked the aisles
and in the passageways from the JUS
tees chamber to the bench were about
20 women. When Molineux was
brought in no chair could be found for
him. His father. General MoIineux
gave up his place to the defendant.
Contrary to general expectations, the
proceedings did not open with the ap-
peal of eX-GOv. Black for dismissal
Of the charges against the accused
That was the scheduled program but
for some reason or other. change was
made and Assistant District Osborne
called out: rs Mr.. Eveal here?"
A voice replied that he was and at
Mr.. Osborne's invitation, Mr.. Eveal
walked to the witness chair.
EXGov. Black protested that the case
oil 90, tI1x liz =
mOny was concerned and the counsel
for the defense and prosecution had a
long whispered conference with Jus
tice Lambert as to the admissibiIity 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 Moli-
neux was = director of the Knicker-
booker Athletic Club where Cornish
was employed. Molineux did not like
Cornish and he did not like Harpster
He had many friends in the club and
perhaps many enemies. Cornish wrote
what Molineux considered an improper
letter, and Molineux complained of ii.
WAS that any reason for Moli-
of poison sufficient to kill any man in
that club" asked Mr.. Black. Cornish
insulted MolineuX and Molineux he
haved like a gentleman regarding 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
MoIineux occurred more than year
before the poison package appeared. No
evidence has been presented here to
show that in all that time Mr.. Moli-
neux said one unkind word, or uttered
one uncbaritable thought toward Cor
nish. All the evidence in this case
points away from Molineux and to an
other man. l shall indicate who that
man is before / sit down. The case
points to that man Just as surely as the
needle points to the north star. The
needle trembles with every wind and
current, nut when the calm comes it
still points to the north STAR
In commenting upon the evidence.
Mr.. Black began with that of Miss
Emma Miller, the clerk at Hartde-
gar's store. who sold the silver bottle
holder. He said he had to criticise the
attitude of the district attorney to-
ward that witness. He thought 1t was
unfair to force Miss Miller to admit
that she had been paid $3.50 for her tes-
timony "Do you know why Miss Mil
Ter was treated as she was?' ne asked.
1T was because after she had volun-
teered to testify and she could only be
brought here az a volunteer, she de-
clined to perjure herself. he told the
truth. Molineux did not buy the bottle
holder.
THE detective, Farrell, is the only
witness who has brought Molineuxany-
where near that bottleholder and near
est he brought him was three-quarters
OF mile. And that'is the nearest any
one had brough: him to the case.
Ex-Governor Black ridicuied the tes-
tirnony of Joseph Koch. the Broadway
Continued on cage -