The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-11-20
MOLINEUX FREED
From the Accusation Of Numbering
Mrs. Adams.
JURY REACHED A SPEEDY TERDlcT
After Deliberating Thirteen Minutes
The Conclusion Was That Woman
Was Not Poisoned By MoIineux.

New York, Special.-Roland B. Mol-
neux was set at liberty Tuesday AFTER
spending four years in prison n De-
ing once condemned to death and twice
placed on trial for his life for the muir
der OF Mrs Katherine ]. Adams. But
thirteen minutes suffjced for the jury
to reach a verdict Of acQuittal at the
close Of a trial that has lasted four
weeks, the first trial which resulted in
Mol!neux's conviction and sentence
having been prolonged for about three
months.
The verdict, which was confidently
anticipated, was greeted with an In
seantly suppressed outbreak Of ap-
plause, Justice Lambert having deliver
ed a stern admonition that no demon
stration would be permitted. MollneuI,
who was brought into court as soon Is
1t was known the jury had agreed, was
apparently as unconcerpee az he mas
been throughout the trial and gave no
evidence OF emotion, when the words
that established his innocence were
pronounced. His aged father, General
MolineuI. was deeply affected, n
could with difficulty respond to the
greetings Of friend swho pressed for
ward to offer their congratulations.
Immediately after the rendering OF
the verdict the prisoner was formally
discharged from custody and left the
court room with his father and coun-
sci. On passing out Of the building,
they were cheered by a great crowd
that gathered in anticipation Of the ac-
quittal. After removing his effects from
the Tombs, Molineux went to his
fathers home in Brooklyn where he
was again cheered by a large crowd.
More than a thousand men and wo-
men, and there were more women than
men, crowded the corridors Of the
Criminal Court building before 9
o'clock this morning and fought for
admission to the court room. After the
usual prelimlnaries, Assistant District
Attorney Osborne resumed his sum-
ming up. He was talking Of the Bar
nett letters when he was interrupted
by an objection which the court sus-
tanned.
This defendant and Barnett" Mr..
Osborne continued, were friends liv-
Ing heal to each other on the same
floor OF the Knickerbocker Athletic
Club. They were paying attention to
the same lady. She rejected Molineux.
Barnett died and eight days later Moli-
neux bought for the woman an engage
rent ring. The wedding was very sud-
den" Mr.. Osborne in his peroration
pointed out again the circumstances
upon which he relied for a conviction,
turning at each mention Of Molineux's
name to point his finger at the defend
ant. Molineux sat unmoyed at the ar
raignment, but attentive to every word
Of 1t. Not 80 with his father. The old
gentleman was visibly affected by the
words OF the prosecuting officer, and
Cecil Molineux, the prisoners brother,
was very nervous.
Judge Lambert in his charge, sum-
med up the admitted facts in the case.
the sending Of the package from the
general p~ostoffice until it's receipt at
the Kn~ickerbocker Athletic Club and
its administration to Mrs Adams by
Cornish who received it at the club. 1T
Is necessary" he said, for the State to
prove that the defendant sent this
package and that it was received by
CoTL.sh and innocently administered to
Mrs. Adams before you can find this
defendant guilty. 1t is for you to say ii
the necessary evidence has been SUBJ
mitted. One Of the most important eff
forts 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 handwriting experts. 1t Is con
tended by the prosecution that the de-
PENDANT wrote that address. Unless
that Is proved that defendant cannot be
convicted Of any crime. So you see that
is the central portion Of the evidence.
That is a fact that the State is COM
PEELED to prove"
Justice Lambert recited the evi.
dence of the handwriting experts on
both sides and said: 81 shall not dis
cuss any Of that testimony. The law
places the burden Of that discussion
upon you. The opinion Of the experts
are not controlling upon you. II the
peoples case stood on the question of
handwriting, 1t should be dismissed.
Dul, IL Tue COuLeullOu VI ue pIOoeCu-
ton is sustained in other respects,
you may consider the handwriting.
Did the defendant obtain the Taffany
box from Tiffany & Co? There Is no
evidence that he did, but evidence has
been submitted that he had an &C.
count there. me most that car be said
of that point is that he had the op.
portunity. Did the defendant have the
bottle Of bromo? He says he did not.
There is no evidence here to contra
dict it, but If 1t was in the box he had
the opportunity to obtain it." Com
ing to the consideration Of the bottle
holder, In which the poison was sent
Justice Lambert said Miss Miller and
Huff agreed that Molineux was not
the purchaser. But" he said, ut Is
my duty to tell you that no evidence
has been presented here to connect
this defendant with the holder. Now
the question is. Did the defendant pro-
cure the poison? The defendant tod
you he never made the poison. Upon
the theory that he did not send the
poison package, that is reasonable
enough, but If you find further facts
that he did send the package then you
may take into consideration the fact
of the facility with which he could