Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-01
IN OWN DEFENCE.
Molineux Takes the Stand for
the First Time.
Denies Absolutely All knowledge Of
Who Murdered Mrs. Adams.
RigidIy Gross examined by Prosecution
Makes Good Appearance.

New York, Oct. 31.-The defence
opened. today. in the trial of Roland
B. Molineux. charged with the murder
of Mrs. Katherine J. Adams, and soon
after the opening of court Former
Governor Black announced that the
first witness for the defence would be
the accused man. This marked depar-
ture from the course of Molineuxs law
yers at the first trial, when the defence
offered no evidence at all.
| The crowd which thronged the GRIM
inal courts building was probably the
largest ever seen there. The regular
police force on hand was not large
enough to control the situation and eX-
ira policemen We're sent from nearby
stations to aid in preserving order.
Men and women We're forced out of the
building in large numbers, but not
withstanding 1000 persons more than
could be seated managed to get into
the trial room and considerable confu-
sion resulted.
| When. MolineuX was brought into
court it Was found that some one had
removed his customary chair and also
that of his father, and both had to
stand until chairs were borrowed from
| another court room.
AS soon as the jury was polled, For
mer Governor Black began his opening
address. He kept the promise he made,
| yesterday and spoke for less than five
| minutes He declared the accused man
innocent of any connection with the
| crime and promised to show to the sat-
isfaction of the jury that MolineuX
never wrote any of the discriminating
letters. or the address on the poison
package When he had finished he
called out: Roland b. Molineux, take
the witness chair.
Replying to the first question of his
lawyer. Molineux gave his age as IS
years, told the date of his arrest and
the length of time he was in the Tombs
and in Sing Sing prison. He said he
took a course in chemistry in Cooper
Union after he left school. When he
was 16 years old he went to Utah ana
Mexico. He was correspondent in
divorce suit and it was thought better
that he should leave the city for awhile
He returned to New York a year later
and got employment in his fathers
II firm, Devoe Reynolds & Co, paints
and colors He continued with that
firm until he went to Newark as super
intendent of the color factory of Nor
rjs Hermann & Co. He was a member
of the Knickerbocker Athletic Club for
two wears. resigning in 1897. when he
went TO the New York Athletic Club
He was a member of the governing
board of the Knickerbocker Athletic
Club.
Molineux said he did not approve of
Cornish's management of the bath of
the gym. He complained about the
horizontal bar he had to use, but Cor
nish did not carry out his directions.
He made formal complaint about Cor
lnish because he thought Cornish had
lspoken disrespectfully about Mr.
| Weeks. the president of the New York
Athletic. Molineux said he presented
this matter to the authorities of the
| Knickerbocker Club. No official action
was taken on the complaint. Witness
spoke to Cornish directly about the
matter once or twice.
| MolineuX continuing testified that he
OBJ jectcd to a man in Cornish's position
in the club occupying room. spending
the clubs money without having to ac-
count to any one, and also to his use
of The clubs stationery to write his IN
suiting opinions and threats against an
officer of a friendly club.
Did you speak to Cornish about your
feelings:" asked Mr.. Black. He knew
I had practically said that If he did not
get ont of the club | would. The club
Thought he was in the right. Just be-
fore | resigned l met Cornish on the
stairs.
What did you say?' He called me
/ a - and said that ! had not sue
ceeda1 in getting him out. replied.
| No. you win.
Had you any feelings % bitter ani-
mostly toward him when you i"fl the
club"
| Il was very angry.
| Molineux said he talked TO RUooIpn
/ HeiIs about Cornish saying ne did not
| think Cornish was any good. There
was no trouble between the witness
and Harpster: MoIineux as a member
of the house committee was instructed
TO reprimand Harpster, but there was
nothing serious.
Mr.. Black then questioned the VIII
ness as to his movements OF Dec. Il,
1898. and MoIneux said that he went
"a Newark. as usual, to attend to bust
ness and returned to New York in the
evening.
.Did you buy the bottleholdcr?"
NO" Did you ever see it?" No.
| On Dec %. he went to Columbia
/ College and he thought ii probable that
he called at the New York office of his
firm. as was his custom to do almost
every day. In the evening he went out
to the opera. He was nearer to the
general post Office that day than Cort-
land street. which is four blocks away.
| (The poison package was mailed at
the general post office.)
did you mail the poison package!
asked Mr.. Black mo, sir"
when did you first see the address
| on the package?" Il think at the last
trial. l have never had it in my
| hands.
1 The questions of counsel were then
directed to the material used in color
mixing. Molineux said that cyanide
of mercury had never been used by
him.
Mr.. Black showed Molineux the Bar
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