The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-12
MOLINEUX IS OUT
OF DEATHS SHADOW
Not Guilty, is the Verdict of
the Jury.
DECIDE IN IS MINUTES
After Two Trials, -Four Years Spent in Prison,
and Being Once Condemned to Death,
kOIneN Again Breathes the
Air of Freedom,
DECIDE IN 10 MINUTES
(By the Associated Press)

New York. Nov. 11.-Roland B. Molin-
eux was set at liberty today after spend
ing nearly four years in prison and be-
ing once condemned to death and twice
placed on trial for his life for the muir
| der of Mrs. Katharine ]. Adams.
| But thirteen minutes suffced for the
jury to reach a verdict of acquittaI at
the close of trial that has lasted four
weeks, the first trial which resulted in
| MolineuX's conviction and sentence hav-
ing been prolonged for about three
months,
The verdict which was confidently an
| ticipated, was greeted with an instantly
suppressed outbreak of applause Justice
| Lambert having delivered a stern admo-
milton that no demonstration would be
| permitted.
Molineux, who was brought into court
| as soon as it was known that the Jury
had agreed. was apparently as uncon-
! cerned as he has been throughout the
| trial and gave no evidence of emotion
| when the words that established his in
| nocence were pronounced. His aged faith
| er, General Molineux. was deeply affected
| and could, with difficulty, respond to the
| greetings of friends who pressed for
ward to offer their congratulations.
Immediately after the rendering of the
/ verdict the prisoner was formally dis
| charged from custody and left the court
| room with his father and counsel. On
passing out of the building the three
| were cheered by a great crowd that gath
| cred in anticipation of the acquittal Af-
| ter removing his effects from the Tombs
| Ntolineux went to his fathers home IN
| Brooklyn where he was again cheered by
a large crowd.
More than a thousand men and women
| and there were more women than men
| crowded the corridors of the Criminal
Court building before nine o'clock this
| morning and fought for admission to the
| court room After the usual prelimf-
| narfes, Assistant District Attorney Os-
| borne resumed his summing up He
was talking Of Barnet letters, when he
was interrupted by an objection, which
| the court sustained.
This defendant and Barnet" Mr.. Os
borne continued, were friends, living
rear 20 each other on the same floor o.
| the Knickerbocker Athletic Club They
were paying attention to the same lady.
She rejected Molineux Barnet died and
eight days later Molineux bought fol
the woman an engagement ring. The
wedding was very sudden"
Mr.. Osborne in his peroration pointed
out again the circumstances upon whicl
ne relied for a conviction, turning ar
| each mention of Molineuxs name to point
his finger at the defendant Molineux
sat unmoved at the arraignment but at
| tentive to every word of it. Not so With
his father The old General was visibIy
affected by the words of the prosecuting
officer and Cecil Molineux, the prisoners
| brother was very nervous.
Judge Lambert in his charge summed
up the admitted facts in the case, the
sending of the package from the general
postoffice, it's receipt at the Knicker.
| booker Athletic Club and it's adrninistra-
tion to Mrs. Adams by Cornish, who re-
ccived it at the club.
| 1T is necessary" he said "for the
State TO prove that the defendant sent
| this package, that it was received by
| Cornish and innocently administered to
| Mrs. Adams before you can find this de-
| fendant guilty. 1t is for you to say if
| the necessary evidence has been submit
| ted.
| 'Orc of the most important efforts OF
| the prosecution has been to connect this
defendant with the address on that poison
| package The State has attempted to do
that by witnesses from banks and by
witnesses presented to you as handwrit-
| ing experts. 1t is cOntended by the prose
cution that the defendant wrote that ad-
| dress Unless that is proved the de-
fendant cannot be convicted of any crime.
So You see that is the central portion
Of the evidence that is a fact the State
Is compelled to prove"
Justice Lambert recited the evidence
of the handwriting experts on both sides
and said
IL shall not discuss any Of that tes-
timony. The law places the burden OF
that discussion upon you. The opinion
| Of the experts are not controlling upor
you If the peoples case stood on the
question of handwriting it should be dis
| missed. But, if the contention of tn,
| prosecution is sustained in other re-
| spccts you may consider the handwrit-
ing
Did the defendant obtain the Tiffany
box from Tiffany & Company? There is
no evidence here that he did. but evil
dencc has been submitted that he had an
| account there. The most that can be said
on that point is that he had the oppor.
| tUnity.
Did the defendant have the bottle Of
bromo seltzer? He says he did not
There is no evidence here to contradict
it but it was in the box he had the op-
portunity to obtain"
Coming to the consideration of the bot
tie holder in which the DOieon was cent
Justice Lambert said that Miss Miller