Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-24
| A POINT FOR DEFENCE,
TEE BARNET LETTERS EXCLUDED
AS EVIDENCE
AS EVIDENCE
IN THE M0LlNEUx TRIAL.
for Comparison Of
Handwriting, But Anything Fur
Their would Be in violation of u
Recent Decision Of the Court of
Appeals, Says Justice Lambert.

NEW YORK, October ga strong
point was scored by the defence IN eiis
trial of Roland B. NIolineux to-day "he a
Justice Lambert ruled out the barnel
letters, Justice Lambert decided that as
evidence the letters must be excludeo as
improper. but that he was willing to al
nit them simply as standard OF com
parison in handwriting. The counsei
,ne uelence were hignIy pleased with tfis
decision. It is in line with that OF inc inc
Court of Appeals. which held that .ne
Testimony relative to the letters, given
at this first trial, was Irrelevant
ATTEMPT TO INTRODUCE bAhNt1A
LETTERS.
Mr.. Osborne attempted TO put the let.
ters in evidence during the testimony %
Nicholas a. Hickman, who kept ieLsei !,
boxes. and who testified in the last I .ii..i
that Molireux rented a letter box from
him and received twenty or more lee1 81 >
addressed H. c. Barnet. AS soon as MI
Osborne asked him about these lettels'
Ex-Governor, Black objected. ;, s,ia tho
Il exclude the evidence, sald Tue
Il think I can convince your Honor
Mr.. Osborne said, that the letters are
competent.
Counsel approached the bench and be-
gan to speak in an undertone.
IMPROPER AS EVIDENCE
"Never mind" said the Court y re-
of the Court Of Appeals the Barnet series
Of letters were excluded as improper as
evidence. Despite that ruling, was
willing to admit those letters as stand
ards Of comparison in handwriting. pc
cause I did not regard such admission
as a violation Of the Court OF Appeals
decision. but any further use of them
permit it.
ANOTHER ATTEMPT.
Mr.. Osborne made another attempt to
get the letters in evidence lie intro
eral post-oftice to Identify the stamps and
the cancellation marks on the poison
package wrapper. Lockwood said they
the. wrapper held was mailed at the gen
eral post-ofIice. Then Mr.. Osborne show
ed him a bundle of the Barnet letter en-
velopes and asked him to tell by. the can
mailed.
4 object put III the defence:
4 haze the right to show. MI Us
borne said. that this defendant had the
the point that they were mailed at the
hour at which I can prove he passed the
general post;-,oftiGe each day.
SAT DOWN AT WORD EXCLUDED.
Mr.. Osborne read the postmarks on the
Barnet envelopes to the witness, and
asked him what they indicated Again
sat down at the single word excluded
from the Court.
Among the other witnesses heard to-
day We're John B. Adams. who testified
concerning the trouble between MolineuN
and Cornish, and Professor Withaus, who
told of the examination of Mrs. AdaHS's
internal organs and the evidence of poi
Soning found.
Ex-Governor Black conceded most of
the evidence offered by the prosecution in
order to save time. admitting that Mrs.
Adams died Of cyanide of mercury poison
ing.
MOLINEUN'S CONTRADICTIONS.
Mr.. Osborne read, by virtue of a ruling
of the court. the statement Molineux
made in the COroner'S court that he had
never made any cyanide of mercury. Be-
fore the Coroner MoineuX also said that
he could not recall ever seeing any Of
the blue paper with the interlaced cTes-
cent crests. and had never used such
narar. During tle last trial and again
to-day MolineuXs counsel admitted that
MOnneuN owned such paper.
An adjournment was taken until to-
morrow.