Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-01
'MITS HIS KNOWLEDGE OF CHEMISTRY
sayS He Never Made Cyanide of Mercury
in His Life.
SEES POISON BOTTLE FOR THE FIRST TIME
Refuses to Agree That He Mailed Deadly
Dose or Ever Saw It
FIRST HEARS OF MURDER FROM REPORTER
waits for Police, 10 whom TIE Gives
Address and Telephone Number
So that They Can Find
Him Easily.

Him Easily.
NEW YORK. Oct. S1.-Roland d. Mos
lineux took the stand today to testify in
his own defense against the charge OF
numbering Mrs. Katharine ]. Adams.
In response to the questions Of his coun-
sci he declared his absolute innocence OF
any knowledge OF the crime and categor-
ically denied that he had written the Bar
net and Cornish letters, that he had ever
made cyanide OF mercury or had ever seen
the silver bottle holder in which the poi
son was sent until Il was shown In court.
He admitted having written one letter
asking for a certain patent remedy on the
famous blue interlaced crescent paper
identical with that on which the Cornish
letters were written, and said he pro-
cured the paper at the waldort-Astoria.
His bitter differences with Cornish,
which resulted in his leaving the Knlcker-
booker club, we're related without any ap-
parent reserve
The witness sustained unmoved a rigor-
GUS cross examination by Mr.. Osborne, an
Swering readily all questions as TO his past
lIfe his relations with Cornish and Barnet
and the efforts he and other members of
the club had made to discover Lny one who
had common enmity to the two named.
Gets in Excluded Testimony.
The feature Of the cross examination
was Mr.. Osbornes successful effort to
place before the Jury the substance of the
testimony given at the first trial by Mamie
Melando and Detective Farrell, but ex-
cluded by Justice Lambert.
This was accomplished by framing ques-
tions relative to statements purporting to
have been made by the witnesses outside
OF their. testimony, but practically cover
| Ing every essential feature Of IL, to which
vehement and frequent objections were
made by Mr.. Black
Throughout Molineux preserved an un-
rufiied and confident demeanor, answering
| all questions promptly and even smiling
occasionally when replying to his own
| counsel.
The announcement that a defense would
be made, none having been undertaken at
| the first trial. and that Molineux would
face hls accuBer, drew an immense crowd.
In the afternoon Il was so great that POI
lice reserves were called out to preserve
order, and Justice Lambert himself had
the utmost difnculty in forcing a passage
through the crowd into the court.
Objections to Cornish.
Molineux said he objected to a man In
Cornish's position in the club occupying
a room, spending the clubs money without
having to account to anyone and also to
the use Of the clubs stationery to write
his insulting opinions and threats against
| an officer of friendly club.
"Did you speak to Cornish about your
feelings?" asked Mr.. Black.
HE knew / had practically said that II
he did not get out of the club l would"
replied Molineux. THE club thought he
was in the right, and Just before l re-
signed met Cornish on the stairs"
what did you say?"
"He called me -, and said had not
succeeded in getting him out. 1 replied.
No. you win"
Had you any feelings of bitter animosity
toward him when you left the club?"
81 was very angry"
Ibid you buy the bottle holder?" asked
Mr.. Black.
NO" replied Molineux.
Ibid you ever see it?"
mo"
Ibid you mail the poisoned package?"
asked Mr.. Black.
mo, SIR"
when did you first see the address on
the package?"
81 think at the last trial. never had
It in my hands"
The questions Of counsel were then di.
rected to the material used in color mixing.
Molineux said that cyanide of mercury
had never been used by him.
Mr.. Black showed Molineux the Barnet
and Cornish letters and the poison package
wrapper and asked: Ibid you write that
address?'
II did not.'
"Did you ever see II before?"
mot before this trial was begun
First Told by a Reporter.
Replying to Mr.. Black, Molineux said he
first knew he was suspected OF the death
Of Mrs. Adams on January 2. 1899. when a
reporter told him the police were looking
for him. Almost at the same moment his
father. General Molineux. arrived at the
place where he was boarding with his
wife. He and his father. with the reporter
went to Captain McClusky.
; He gave the police his address and tele-
; phone call and promised TO obey any mes
sage sent to him. When detectives called
upon him in Newark he took them through
the factory, told them to make any search
they wanted to make and gave them all the
information they asked
There was some further questions along
this line. Molineux replying directly to
each. and his counsel then said: Now
MolineuT, I ask you again, do you know
anything Of this crime?'
Absolutely nothing"
Z you are not guilty of this crime?"
| II am absolutely innocent Of any part OF
! knowledge Of it,"
With this question and answer before
A the jury Ex-Governor Black announced the
close OF the direct examination.
CrOsS-E1aminatiOn Begins.
Assistant District Attorney Osborne con
Quoted the crOss-examination. MolineuS
l | said he went west when he was 16 years ole
because OF the divorce suit. He did moi
know how the suit resulted.
: Replying to the assistant district attor
ney, Molineux said he had full charge o.
J Herman & Co.'S color department. HI
told of the chemicals used and said til
n Prussian blue. English vermillion and re-
y ochre contained components OF cyanide o
T mercury. He frequently made experiments
| with colors. Although he had studied
. | oh he had naVar hard NJ cvanld,