The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-31
TELLS HIS STORY.
Roland b. Molineux on Trial
for Murder of Mrs. Adams.
Goes Upon Witness Stand in
His Own Defense.
DENIES EVERYTHING.
Relates Some History of His
Early Life.
Co. Respondent in Divorce Suit
at the Age of Is.

! 1neux, charged with the murder of Mrs
Katherine J. Adams, and soon after the
opening of court former Governor
rank S. Black announced that the first
witness for the defense would be the ac-
cused man. This marked a departure
from the course of Moineauxs lawyers
at the first trial when the defense Of
fered no evidence at all.
The crowd which thrOnged the crlmi-
nal court building today was probably
the largest ever seen there. The regl-
lar police force on hand was not large
enough to control the situation and eX-
ira policemen were sent from nearby
stations to aid in preserving order. Men
and women were forced out of the
building in large mum bers, but nOtwith-
standing 200 persons more than could be
seated managed to get into the trial
room and cOnsidera bic confusion result
ed. 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 anoth-
er court room.
AS soon as the jury was Dolled former
| Governor Black began his opening ad-
dress. He kept the promise ne made
yesterday and spoke for less than I'VE
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 Mollneaux
never wrote any of the Matchmaking
letters or the address on the poison
package.
When he had finished he called out:
Roland B. Mohneux, take the witness
chair"
Replying to the first question Of his
LAWYER Molineux gave his age as 80
years, told the date of ais arrest, ana
the length of time he was in the tomps
and in Sing Sing prison. He said he to3k
a course in chemistry in Cooper Union
after he left school. When he was II
years old he went to Utah and MeNico.
He was correspondent in a divorce SUI
and it was thought better That ne inoulo
leave the city for a while. He returned
to New York a year later and got en-
ploymen in his fathers firm, Dev2e,
Reynolds & Co, paints and colors. ~l7e'
continued with that firm until he vert
to Newark as superintendent II the
4 color factory of Morris, Hermann q
Co He was a member of the knscktI-
booker Athletic club for two years. re
signing in 1897 when he went TO the
New York Athletic club. He was
member of the governing board OF the
KnicSerboker Athletic club.
Molineux said he did not approve OF
Cornish's management Of the Datn OF
tbe0 gymnasium. He complained about
! he horizontal bars he had to uses nut
Cornish did not carry out his directions
He made formal complaint about Cor
nish because he thought Cornish hau
spolven disrespectfully about Mr. Weeks.
the president of the New YORK Atoletlc
club Molineux said he presented the
matter to the authorities of the Knicker-
booker club, but no official action was
taken on this COMPLAINT. The witness
} spoke to Cornish directly about the
matter once or twice.
Nclineux continuing. testified that he
objected to a man in Cornfshss position
2 in the club occupying room, spending
= the clubs money without having to &C
count to any one, and also to the use or
= the clubs stationery to write his insult
: ing opinions and threats against an Of
5 f1cer of a friendly club.
5 did you speak to Cornish about your
? feelings?" asked Mr.. Black.
He knew that I had practically said
that If he did not get out of the club,
t l would" replied Molineux.
THEY HAD SOME WORDS.
1.-The club thought he was in the right,
and just before [ resigned I met Cornish
on the stairs.
What did you say?"
He called me a and said
I had not succeeded in getting him out.
I replied, No, you win.
Had you any feelings of bitter ami
mostly toward him when you left the
ciub?'
I was very angry
Molineux said Re had tailed to Ru-
dOlDh Hiles about Cornish, saying he
a did not think Cornish was any good.
> There was no trouble between the wit
= ness and Harpster; Molineux as a mem
2 Der CT the house committee was in
Il structed to reprimand Harpster, but
G there was nothing serious. MI Black
h then questioned the defendant as to his
:, movements on December 81, 1898, and
:, Molineux said that he went to Newark
= as usual. that day to attend business
and returned to New York in the even
ing
Did you buy the bottle holder?" ask
ed Mr. Black.
mo" replied Molineux.
v did you ever see it?''
on december % he went to Columbia
Q college and he thought it probable he
: called at tie New York office of his
. firm. as was his custom to do almost
| every day.
/ In the evening he went to the opera
. He was not nearer to the general post
4 Office that day than Cortlandt street
G which is four blocks away. The poison
: package was mailed at the general post
Y office.
t Did you mail the poison package?'
t asked Mr.. Black.
2 NO, sir
t When did you see the address on the
g PACKAGE"
e MIXING tCOLORs
0 The questions of counsel were theT
directed to the material used in colol
mixing.
MoIineux said that cyanide of mer-
curry had never been used by Rim.
o Mr.. Black showed Molineux the Bar
: nett and Cornish letters and the poison
< package wrapper and asked: Did yo1
u write that address ?"
: Il did not"
Il did YOU ever see it befOre2''
l. Not before this trial was begun
I The whole list of disputed writing wai
( shown one at time and Molineux sait
e he had never seen the letters before o.
: the Photographic reproductions. He hat
never used broTno settler and had neve
bought any. The poison bottle wa
shown and AIolineux said it was tn
# first time he had seen it.
- THE BURNS LETTER
~
r. MI black thel pfoouceu the reuter- VIII
# ten to DIR. Burns applying for 4 certai
= raate1at r,nadic.rla and enclosing = cents i