The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-14

SSrsGlRS hAfEbits ere NOt tU
New York, November 11.-Roland 3.
AIoIineux was set at liberty today after
spending nearly four years in prison
and being once condemned to death and
twice placed on trial for his life for the
murder of Mrs. Catherine ]. Adams.
But Is minutes sufficed for the jury
TO reach a verdict of %acquittal at the
close of a trial that has lasted four
weeks, the first trial which resulted in
Moiineux's conviction and sentence "
ing beer prolonged for about three
months.
The verdict, which was confidently
anticipated, was greeted with an in
stantly suppressed outbreak of applause
Justice Lambert having delivered Il
stern admonition that no demonstration
would be permitted.
MOIineux, who was brought into court
as soon as it was known that the jury
had agreed vas apparently as uncon-
cerned as he has been throughout the
trial and gave no evidence of emotion
when the words that established his in
nocence were pronounced. His aged
father, General Molineux, was deeply
affected and could with difficulty re-
Spond to the greetings of fiiendS WHO
pressed onward to offer their congratu-
cations.
Immediately after the rendering Of
the verdict, the prisoner was formally
discharged from custody and left the
court room with his father and coursei.
On passing out of the building, the three
were cheered by Il great crowd that
e thered in anticipation of the acquit-
tai. After removing his effects from
the tombs, MOlineuX went to his faith
er's home in Brooklyn where he WAS
again cheered by a large crowd.
More than a thousand men and Wom-
en- n there were more women than
men, crowded the corridors of the GRIM
jnal court building before 8 o'clock this
morning and fought for admission 70
the court room. After the usual pre-
itminaries, Assistant District Attorney
Osborne resume hs summing up.
He was talking of the Barnett letters
when he vas interrupted by an objec-
ton, which the court sustained.
This defendant and Barnet" Mr.. Os-
borne continued. were friends living
near TO each other on the same floor
OF the Knickerbocker Athletic Club.
They were paying attention to the same
Indy. She rejected Molineux. Barnet
died and eight days later MolineuX
bought for the woman an engagement
ring The wedding was very sudden"
Mr.. Osborne in his peroration pointed
out again the circumstances upon
which he relied for a conviction, turning
at each mention of MollneuX's name to
point his finger at the defendant. Mo-
lineuX sat unmOVed at the Arrangement,
but attentive to every word of it. Not
so with his father. The old general was
wisibly affected by the words of the pros
ecuting officer and Cecil MolineuX, the
prisoners brother. was very nervous
Judge Lambert in his charge summed
UP the admitted facts in the case, the
sending of the package from the gen
eral postoffice, its receipt at the knlck-
erbocker Athletic Club and its admins
tration to Mrs. Adams by Cornish who
received it at the club.
ut is necessary he said, for the
state to prove that the defendant sent
this package, that it was received by
Cornish and innocently administered to
Mrs. Adams hafc--e you cal, aud this de-
feRdant guilty. It is for you TO say II
the necessary evidence has beer suo-
united.
Zone of the most important efforts II
the prosecution has been to onnect this
defendant with the address on that
poison package. The state mas at
tempted to do that by witnesses from
banks and by witnesses presented %
YOU as handwriting experts. 1t is con-
tended by the prosecution tho the de-
d wrote that address. Unless
that is proved the defendant cannot De
convicted of any crime. SO you see Inat
is the central portion of the eVlden'"
that is a fact the state 3 comp 4IlHi 10
prove" ~
of the hand .'iting eXp9Ets on oofh sio'S
and said:
II shall not discuss any of that testi-
Inony. The law places the burden 81
that discussion upon you .
sIf the opinion of the experts are not
controlling upon you, if the peoples case
stood on the question OF handwriting
it should be dismissed. But, II the con-
tention of the prosecution is sustained
in other respects you may CONSIDER tue
handwriting"
."Dfd the defendant obtain the Tiffany
box from Tiffany & co. There is no
evidence here that he did, but evidence
has been submitted that he had an &C
count there. The most that a be said
on hat point is that he had the oppor-
tunity."
hi the defendant have the bottle
OF bromo? He says he did not. There
Is no evidence here to contradict it. but
A. was in the box he had the opportunity
TO obtain"
Coming to the consideration OF the
bottle holder in which the poison was
sent, Justice Lambert said that Miss
Miller and Huff agreed that MohneuS
was not the purchaser.
But" he said, at is my duty to tel
you that no evidence has been presented
here to conneet this defendant with tns
holder"
NOW the question is. did the defen.
liant procure the poison. The defendant
told you he made the poison
Upon the theory that he did not SEND
the poison package. that is reasonable
enough, but if you find from other fact:
that he did send the package. then yot