New-York tribune., 1902-10-22
HARPSTER LETTER OUT.
BARRED FOR PRESENT-FAST
WORK IN MOLLNEUX CASE.
EX-GOVERNOR BLACK MAKES CORNISH
TELL OF UNPLEASANT CIRCUM-
STANCES OF HIS LIFE.

Record breaking haste made yesterday in
the trial of Roland r. MOlineux before Justice
Lambert and jury in the Criminal Branch of
the Supreme Court. Justice Lambert's admoni-
tions to Assistant District Attorney Osborne and
TO Ex-Governor Black. leading lawyers for the
prosecution and defence, not to waste time had
the effect to hurry the taking of testimony.
Thirteen witnesses for the prosecution were ex-
amined. and the testimony Of a witness at the
former trial who is dead was read If Justice
Lambert confines the testimony Of the hand
writing experts TO facts and prevents theOrtz-
ing as is expected IT is within the bounds OF
possibility that Molineux's second trial will end
in about two weeks.
a feature of the trial yesterday the Sc
we're ss-examination by Ex-Governor Black
of the prosecutions main witness Harry S. Cor
nsh indicating that detectives for the defence
have been watching Cornish's movements close
" for some time Early in the day Mr.. Osborne
drew from Cornish the familiar story of the bot
tie supposed at first TO contain hromo seltzer.
but really containing poisoned Kutnow's pow
der. which he said mailed to him; his ex-
hibition Of II at the Knlckersocker Athletic
Club. and the death of Mrs. Adams after taking
some OF the poison at her home where the wit
ness then lived. Cornish identified letter known
as the Harpster letter. and said il in Moli-
neux's handwriting.
This tier was written I'm Cornish's name TO
Frederick Stern e Co. Of Detroit. asking about
Harpster. who formerly worked for that firm.
The letter said falsely that Harpster had ap-
piled TO the writer for position a collector.
Mr.. Osborne's argument is that the letter shows
the hostility of the writer to Harpster. who.
like Cornish was in the employ of the Knicker-
booker Athletic Club. The hostility he argues,
was due 10 the friendship between Cornish and
Harpster. Stern asked TO send reply TO
the letter box at No. 1920 Broadway. which
the prosecution declares was hired by the de-
fendant in Cornsh's name.
Mr.. Black objected TO the introduction OF the
Harpster letter and other letters which Mr.. Os-
borne showed to Cornish and which the witness
said were in the handwriting OF Molineux.
The objection is sustained for the present"
said Justice Lambert. The letters are excluded
until it is shown they competent That has
not been shown yet"
The ruling Of Justice Lambert seemed to shock
Mr. Osborne. while counsel for Moneux looked
as if they thought they had won an important
point
At the beginning of Cornishs cross-examina-
tion an objection by Mr.. Osborne shut off ex-
Governor Blacks questions TO Cornishs
married life and the trouble with his wife about
which he testified at the last trial. The cross
examination continued in part:
Q-Did you know Mrs. Small in Boston? A
Q-Did you visit her often? Al called upon
Q-she was married woman? A--Yes.
Q.-And you were married man? A.-Yes.
Q.-You went to Chicago from Boston. didn't
o.-Did Mrs. Small go with you? A-she came
Q,"MTss Small went to the hospital in Chicago
Q.~Yo1 bought the burial lot in which she was
buried? Al helped to bury her.
BRINGING OUT CORNIsH's PAST.
To further questions along the same lines
Cornish said he could not remember a Mabel
Wallace but he sure II was not after a
quarrel with her that he went to live with Mrs
Adams.
why did your wife get a divorce from you?"
Ex-Governor Black asked.
Justice Lambert Overruled the objection Of
Mr. Osborn when counsel explained that he
was attacking the credibility of the witness.
and Cornish replied: THE usual grounds"
9,-Your adultery? " Al ~. suppose 50.
lace? Al don't know. l wasn't there
Cornish said he first came TO Newyork in
January. 1896. He met Mrs. Rogers. Mrs
Adams's daughter. almost Immediately after
ward. He went to live with them. first in
Eighty-sixth-st, then In Park-ave. and Sixty
sixth-st.. and later in the fiat where Mrs
Adams died.
Q.-You were married then? A.-Divorced
Q.-Mrs Rogers was married? A-She was not
living with her husband.
Q.-Have you visited Mrs Rogers since her
mother died? A-Yes. That's an absurd question
Until six. weeks ago. Cornish said, he lived in
the same fat with Mrs Rogers and her brother
Her husband had divorced her since her moth
er's death.
do you know a Mr.. and Mrs. Link" counsel
asked.
II know great many people Cornish be-
gan.
Well. take one at time" the Court inter
rupted sharply, "and answer the questions"
Cornish said he had met the Links
QUESTIONS ABOUT MRS ROGERS.
Does Mrs. Rogers divide her earnings with
you?"
Cornish laughed derisively.
Continued second par.
NEW WORK TO-DAY-CHICAcnu no