Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-10-23

ling O. AIolinouN were also submitted
TO The experts.
MolineuN, in company with his
counsel went to the district al
torney's office and there, at the dieta,
ton of Export Kinsley, wrote with
certain pen, and holding his penholder
and the paper in a way indicated by
the expert These samples of die
tated handwriting were also sub
mitted to the experts in secret con.
ference they decided that the bogus
Barnet and Cornish letters and the
address on the poison package was all
the handwriting OF Molineux
Col. Asa Bird Gardiner. who was
district attorney at the time, decided
that an inquest should be held, Cor
oner Hart presided. Mr.. Osborne APP
peared for the district attorneys Of
fee. MolineuX himself was a witness.
Mr.. Osborne handled him with kid
gloves. He "lured him on" as Mr..
Osborne explained his conduct later.
1t was the most sensational inquest
that was ever held. In the midst of
the excitement one of the letter-hox
men pointed out Molineux as the one
who, under the alias of Barnet had
hired a letter-boX from him. Then
the five experts in handwriting were
called. They promptly swore that
MolineuX was the person who had
written the address on the poison
package
Gardeners Summing Up.
Col, Gardiner personally summed
up before the Corouers jury. He told
how sorry he felt for his lifelong
friend and comrade-in-arms, Gen e.
l., MolineuX, but said that as district
attorney he had a solemn duty to
perform, and therefore he suggested
that the coroner's jury bring in YER
dict that Roland b. Molineux had sent
the poison to Cornish, which the
latter innocently administered to Mrs.
Adams. This occurred on Feb. q, |
1899, or two months after the death of
Mrs. Adams. Molineux was placed
under arrest and held without bail.
The detectives continued their in
vestigation. They found in the pos
session of Kutnow Bros, an applca-
ton for a sample package of their |
powder, said to have been in the
writing of Molineux. This applica-
ton was written on a peculiar kind of |
note paper.
Mamie Melando. who used to look
after Molineux's rooms In Newark, |
swore that she had seen the same !
kind of paper in Molineuxs room.
The girl was lured to New York .
later on and forced to become a wit
ness for the prosecution.
The first grand jury that considered
he case failed to find an Indictment
and Molineux was actually discharged
n court, only to be rearrested. A
second grand jury found an indict-
nent.
Then followed the trial. It was
commenced Nov. IA, 1899 The trial
asted thirteen weeks. Gen Molineux
sat beside his son throughout the
rial He never missed a session.
The generals wife and Mrs. Roland
dolineuX were on hand at times.
Ihey were not in court. however.
When the verdict was rendered.
No Defense offered. -
After the prosecution rested. +
notion was made for the dismissal of !
he indictment. Recorder Goff de t
led the motion. No defense was put c
n. After consulting twelve hours a
n Feb. 10, 1900, the jurors brought S
n a verdict of guilty. Il
Never mind, my boy" said Gea. Il
lolneuX to his son, as soon as the v
erdict had been announced. -
now that you are innocent. We will b
tick to you; you'll be acquitted yet" h
They took Molineux back to his cell \