Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-12
MOL|NEUX ACQUITTED
Took Jury Only Thirteen
Minutes to Decide.
CHEERED
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS MUIR.
DER CASES IN HISTORY.
Condemned to Death at First Trial
Aged Father Spent Fortune to
Gain His Freedom.

After spending nearly four years'in prison
and being once condemned to death and
twice placed on trial for his life for the
murder of Mrs. Katharine J. Adams Roland
B. Molineux was yesterday set at liberty
by New York court.
Thirteen minutes sufficed for the jury to
reach a verdict of acquittal at the close of
a trial that lasted four weeks. The first
trial, which resulted in Molineux's convic-
ton and sentence was prolonged for about
three months.
The verdict, which was confidently antici-
pated, was greeted with an instantly sup
pressed outbreak of applause, Justice Lam
bert having delivered stern admonition
that no demonstration would be permitted.
Prisoner Unconcerned.
Molineux, who was brought into court as
soon as it was known that the jury had
agreed, was apparently as unconcerned as
he has been throughout the trial, and gave
no evidence of emotion when the words that
established his innocence were pronounced.
His aged father. Gen. MolineuX, was
deeply affected, and could with difficulty
respond to the greetings of friends who
pressed forward to offer their congratula-
tions.
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 great crowd that gath
cred in anticipation of the acquittal. After
removing his effects from the Tombs Moli-
neux went to his fathers home in Brook
lyn where he was again cheered by large
crowd.
History of Famous Case.
From the very beginning the murder of
A 10, Of he
most remarkable mysteries in criminal an
nails. She died on December IS, 1898. at
81 West Seth street, having been given
poison alleged to have been received by
Harry S. Cornish at the Knickerbocker
Athletic Club on December "a in an anony-
nous package.
The entire police force of New York, led
by the detective bureau under Capt Nc
Clusky, set to work upon the mystery at
once. On January 2, 1899, a newspaper ac-
cused Molineux of the crime. The police,
however. refused to arrest MolineuX,- al
though they Swallowed him from that time
onward. 1t was suggested about this same
time that Harry c. Barnets death at the
Knickerbocker Athletic Club was very
much like that of Mrs. Adams. Barnets
body was exhumed on February y, more
than two months after his death, and his
stomach was found to contain cyanide of
mercury-the poison used in this case.
The Coroner's Inquest.
The coroner's inquest began on February
also. The jury found that Mrs. Adams
death was caused by Roland B. Molineux,
and on the night of February %, at the
conclusion of the inquest under Coroner
Hart. Molineux was arrested and lodged in
the TombS.
Then began a phenomenal legal battle to
have the prisoner released. The defendant
was indicted on March 7. but Barlow S.
Weeks Of counsel for the defendant imme-
diately secured permission to inspect the
minutes of the grand jury. The case was
placed on the calendar of the supreme
court and on April 13 the Indictment was
dismissed by Justice Williams.
The case next went to the May grand
jury. Of which William c. Church was fore
man. This jury refused to indict, and
Judge Mcmahon discharged the defendant
on May 10. But Molineux was Immediately
rearrested upon a warrant charging him
with assault upon Cornish
The case went to the grand jury again on
May II, but there was no indictment.