The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-10-15
History Of Famous Case.


History Of Famous Case.
The crime of which Molineux is ac-
cused is one of the most remarkable
and deepest.laid of the century. AS an
active member of the Knickerbocker
Athletic Club Molineux was intimate
with Henry c. Barnet, a wealthy club
member and bachelor, who made his
home at the club. The two men were
infatuated with Blanche Cheesbrough.
handsome young woman, who gained
favorable notice in musical circles,
first as a choir singer and later as a
singer in concerts. Molineux, accord
ing to testimony, first proposed mar
riage to Miss Cheesbrough in the
spring of 1899. She refused him, and
showed a preference for Henry G.
Barnet, then Molineux's best friend.
little later Molineux, after a quar-
rel with Harry Cornish, the physical
Instructor of the Knickerbocker Club.
resigned from the club and became an
active member OF the New York Ath-
letic Club After leaving the Knicker-
hooker Atletic Club, Molineux gave his
room to Barnett, still his warmest
friend apparently, but his successful
rival.
In November, 1899, Barnet was taken
i'll after swallowing some medicine
which came to him through the mail,
and which was supposed to be a sam
pie of Kutnow powder. His illness re-
sembled diphtheria and later II was
discovered that he had been poisoned
with cyanide of mercury, which was
mixed in the powder and sent through
the mails. Molineux did not call to
see Barnett during his illness, nor did
he attend the funeral of his best
friend. but Miss Cheesbrough attended
the funeral, and for a few days after
ward dressed in black. Two weeks af-
ter Barnet died Molineux married
Miss Cheesbrough.
The fact that Barnet was poisoned
did not leak out until after the death
of Mrs. Adams. Il was known that
cyanide of mercury was in the Kutnow
powder sent him, but it was supposed
that he died from diphtheria, as the
physicians certificate stated. II was
the purpose of the club members to
prevent scandal in the club ii possible,
and the matter was hushed up. Then
came the poisoning of Mrs. Adams, in
an attempt TO poison Harry Cornish, II
was said. the man whom .MolineuX
hated A bottle of bromo seltzer was
sent to Cornish through the mail. Il
was in a little silver holder, and came
two days before Christmas. It was
supposed to be a Christmas gift. Cor
nish took the supposed bromo seltzer
to his room, where he lived with Mrs,
Adams and her daughter Mrs. Flor
ence Rogers. A few days after Christ
mas Mrs. Rogers was feeling ill., and
asked Cornish, so Cornish testified, 20
give her some bromo seltzer. The bot.
tie in the silver holder was brought
and dose taken out, one for Mrs.
Adams. Mrs Adams fell TO the floor,
and expired soon after swallowing the
drug. Cornish said he took some of
the stun left in the glass and was
made IN, though one physician denied
he was sick.
Then the story was told of the poi
soning of Barnet. His body was disin'
TERED, and an examination of the pow
der taken before his death proved that
the same poison which caused the
death OF Mrs. Adams was instrumental
In causing the death of Barnet. For
weeks the police We're at loss for a
clew 10 the sender of the poison and
the motive of the double murder Cor
nish said from the first that he sus-
pected Mollneux, but the police had
absolutely no information on which
to base their suspicion. Then came the
examination OF the handwriting OF the
on the poison packages. A
sample Of Molineux's handwriting was
obtained. and experts declared that he
had addressed the poison packages. Il
was on this evidence almost entirely
that Mollneux was convicted and
sentenced 20 death. Following the con
viction the family and friends Of the
condemned man, through the efforts
OF eminent counsel. succeeded In stay
ing the execution for more than two
years. while Molineux remained in
the condemned chamber of Sing Sing
prison. Finally second trial was OBJ
tanned since which time Molineux has
been confined in the TOmbs.
There We're few better known men
In the athletic circles of New York
than Molineux. For years he was re-
garded as one OF the best allround
amateur athletics In the state. His
father and mother are among the most
prominent persons socially in Brook
lyn. and young Molineux figured more
or less DrOminQnfly I'm societv Drior Ia |