The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-01
WITH IRON NERVE
MOLINEUX STANDS THE CROSS
EXAMINATION.
TESTIFIES IN OWN BEHALF
AND DENIES ALL PART IN OR
KNOWLEDGE OF CRIME.

taurt0
Withdrawal of MoIineux From the
CIub-CourtrOOm damned With
Curiosity Seekers.
New York, Oct. S1.-Roland B.
Molineux took the witness stand to-
day to testify in his own dafense
against the charge of numbering Mrs.
Katherine ]. Adams In response to
the questions of his counsel, ex-Gov.
Black, he declared his absolute inno-
cence of any part in or knowledge of
the crime, and categorically 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 bottle in which the
poison was sent until it was exhibited
in court. He admitted having written
and signed with his own hands one
letter, asking for certain patent rem
edy, on the famous blue interlaced
crescent paper, identical with that on
which the Cornish letters were writ
ten, and said that he procured the pa
per at the Waldorf-Astoria His bitter
differences with Cornish which resulted
in his leaving the Knickerbocker Attn
letic Club were told by Molineux with
out any apparent reserve.
The witness sustained unmoved a
rigorous cross-exa mination by Assist
ant District Attorney Osborne, answer
ing 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 a common enmity to the
two named.
The feature of the REORGANIZATION
was Mr.. Osborne's successful effort to
place before the jury the substance of
the testimony given at the first trial
by Mamie Melando and Detective Far
reil, but excluded by Justice Lambert.
This was accomplished by the expe-
dent of framing a series of questions,
relative to statements purporting to
nave been made by the witnesses out
side of their testimony, but practically
covering every essential feature of it.
to which frequent and vehement OBJ
jections were made by Mr.. Black.
Throughout his examination and
cross examination Molineux preserved
an unruffied and confident demeanor,
answering all questions promptly and
NfNi oiihlth6 OCCASIONALLY W1en reply
ing to his own counsel.
The announcement that a defense
would be made, none having been I'M
dertaken at the first trial, and that Mo-
lineux himself would face his accuser
drew an immense throng to the court
room. In the afternoon so great was
the crush that the police reserves
were called out to preserve order, and.
Justice Lambert himself had the ut
most difficulty in forcing a passage
through the crowd into the courtroom.
The prisoners wife was not In court
while he testified. She has not attend
ed any session of the court at this
trial
As soon as the Jury was polled ex-
Gov. Black began his opening address.
He kept his promise made yesterday
and spoke for less than five minutes.
He declared the accused man innocent
of any connection with the crime and
promised to show to the satisfaction of
the jury that Molineux never wrote
any Of the discriminating letters. or the
address on the poison package.
When he had finished he called out:
Roland b. Molineux, take the wit
ness chair"
Molineux gave his age as 36 years.
When he was 16 years old he went to
Utah and Mexico. He was correspond
ent in a divorce suit, and 1t was
thought better that he should leave the
city for while. He returned to New
York one year later.
Molineux said he did not approve of
Cornish's management of the bath or
of the gymnasium. He objected to a
man in Cornishs position in the club
occupying a room. spending the clubs
money without having to account to
anyone, and also to his use of the clubs
stationery to write his insulting opin-
ions and threats against an officer of
a friendly club.
did you speak to Cornish about your
feelings?" asked Mr.. Black.
He knew had practically said that
If he did not get out Of the club I
would" replied Molineux. "The club
thought he was in the right, and tust
before I resigned, met Cornish on the
STAIRS
What did you say?"
lie called me
and said had not succeeded in getting
him out. I replied No you win >"
Had you any feelings Of bitter ami
mostly to him when you left the c1ub?"
II was very angry"
Mr.. Black questioned the defendant
as to his movements on Dec. 21, 1898,
and Molineux said that he went to
as usual that day to attend
to business and returned to New York
In the evening.
Did you buy the bottleholder?"
asked Mr. Black.
NO" replied Molineux.
Did you ever see it?"
In the evening he went to the opera.
He was not nearer to the general post
office that day than Cortlandt street
which is four blocks away. The poison
package was mailed at the general
postoffice
did you mail the poison package?"
asked Mr.. Black.
mo"
when did you first see the address
m the package?"
II think at the last trial. have
never had 1T in my hands,"
The questions of counsel were then
directed to the material used in color
Molineux said that cyanide
Of mercury had never been used by
lim.
Mr.. Black showed Molineux the Bar
act and Cornish letters and the poison
and asked:
Did you write that address?"
IT did not"
did you ever see II before ?"
mot before this trial was begun"
The whole list Of disputed writings
was shown one at time, and Moli-
1eux said he had never seen the let
-ers before. and he had not seen the
reproductions. He had
aever used bromo seltzer and had never