The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-11-26
MouNEUx IS ACQUITTED
Verdict Of ''Not Guilty" Reached by
the Jury in a Few Minutes.
ESCORTED HOME IN TRIUMPH

Thousands Cheer lGsdiy In and Abo1t the
Ceurt. and Many Women Weep. Bys.
tssiss,iy o. Msa,ins the vsrdies-Joy
se the Tarssts, Home - jury feok
Only o.s Bsiles-cess Of the Trials.
New York City. - Roland Burnham
Mollneux is free. He spent the hrst
evening In years ut the home OF his
happy parents. In Fort Greene place.
Brooklyn. After nearly four years
spent behind prison bars. many months
Of the time being In condemned cell
IN Sing Sing. under conviction Of nur-
Der. the young elubman regaiIed his
liberty.
Ten thousand persons cheered madly
In md around the courtroom when
he was acquitted. Women wept hys-
terically. waved their handkerchiefs
and rushed to press his hands. The
central figure In the most sensational
murder trial ever held In this State
rode through the streets receiving the
plaudits of q general returning rom
q successful battle.
There was an enormous crowd Igain
In the courtroom when the trial OF
Molineux on the charge Of numbering
Mrs. Kate ]. Adams was resumed. As.
sistant District Attorney Osborne re-
suned his speech In behalf Of the
State. After Osborne finished his
speech for the prosecution. In which
he made q strong attack on Molineux,
court adjourned until I O'Clock. Jus.
tice Lambert began his charge to the
Jury at LIS In the afternoon. Both
aides regarded his charge as impartial
and both sides were satisfied with II.
The Jury was given the case after
the Judge had talked two hours.
Just ten minutes after the jury had
retired there was q loud, sharp rap on
the inside Of the jury's door. a balllR
opened the door and q man inside
whispered to him. The bailiff turned
around. amusement on his face.
-They have reached a verdict" he
said.
Justice Lambert took his place on the
Sench. and said, Bring In the pris-
orer."
There was q short wait and at 3.35
M0lineux walked into the courtroom
and took q seat beside his white haired
father. The prisoners face was drawn
and his cheeks sunken; the corners Of
his mouth we've turned down. and
there was q firm look about his face.
There was absolute silence for q
few seconds after the Jurors had taken
their seats. Then Justice Lambert
looked at the large audience In the
courtroom and admonished the people
10 keep perfect order upon the an.
nouncement Of the verdict.
Molineux arose quickly and faced the
Jury. The moment he had been long.
ing for for four years was at hand.
He believed his rising was prelim-
held high and his hands were clenched
nervocsly. His lips were closed tight
u and his muscles were rigid.
"Have you reached verdictT asked
the clerk Of the jury.
I'VE have" said the foreman. Mr..
Young.
A,what 10 your verdictw
..Not guilty."
3folineux dropped. almost prosrrated.
Into his chair. His old father, with
teers Of Joy on his cheeks. seized the
freed mans hands In his, and Rolands
brother Leslie also grasped his hands.
Then Molineux shook hands with his
lawyers. Mr.. Black and the others.
The jury had taken only one ballot.
and all voted for scQuittal.
Mr.. Osborne, the Prosecutor, who has
been working on the case for nearly
four years, looked stunned, and o feel.
ing OF relief that Il was all over was
apparent In his manner. Several Of
the jurors shook hands with Osborne.
When the verdict was rendered there
was q hum Of approval In the court
room. At that instant q boy outside
the Court building shouted: "@olineux
10 free" There was shout and cheers
In the street, and an immense crowd
rushed to the steps Of the Court House.
but were driven hack by policemen.
The baili6 who had guarded Molineux
an through the trial left the young
mans side.
Moiireux realized that he was free.
He walked back over the Bridge Of
Sighs to the Tombs, and packed up his
clothing and books. and before i
o'clock emerged Into the street smiling
with Joy and relief. General Molineux
and Leslie Molineux and two friends
waited for the ex-prisoner In q car.
rage.
The ride to the Molineux home was q
triumphal march. Women and men
tined the streets end waved handker.
chiefs and cheered. and many rushed
10 the carriage and tried to shake
Roland's hind. He took of his hat
several times and bowed to the people.
Two thousand persons filed the quiet
Brooklyn street In front Of the Mol.
ineux home when the carriage stopped.
A loud cheer was giveI, the front door
Of the home opened and Mrs. M0lineux.
the mother, appeared. Roland rushed
up the steps, and his mother threw her
arms around him. Again the crowd
cheered, the mother drew him into
the hallway. the others followed and
the door was closed.
not at the Brooklyn house to welcome
her husband. She heard the news in
an uptown hotel. where she has been
living for some time. When told what
the verdict was. she said: II knew II.
am 90 happy that I can't talk"
II is estimated that the two trials
cost the Molineux family $4,000.
Cha1ss and Wright Arrive Home.
1 Majcr- r-Genefal Adna r. Chaffee. who
has been In command Of the army in
Tho philiDDines ami IL on his way 10