Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-04-02

trial and sentenced to death. After
being confined in Sing Sings death
house for more than two years he OBJ
tained another trial, solely through the
ceaseless efforts Of his aged father,
Gen. Molineux, who had the general
sympathy Of all hands. Hugh William
Osborne was then the New York pros
ecutor, and he made the effort Of his
life to convict Molineux the second
time. But Molineux had the crafty
and profound ex-Gov. Frank Black for
a lawyer this time, and, besides, he
had learned a lot about the law busi-
ness himself while awaiting electro
cution in Sing Sing.
I did not report his first trial, but
covered" the second one. and l shall
never forget the amazing skill with
which the slight, pallid Moline'lx
fenced with the bull-voice and re-
sourceful Osborne during that long
siege. Molineux went on the stand
himself during the second trial, and,
although Mr. Black had been Of unex-
ampled assistance to him In the early
stages, he clearly won the case Tor
himself by his way Of utterly bathing
and routing Osborne. 1t was sheerly
impossible for Osborne to tangle Moi-
neux up at any stage Of the game.
although the evidence against the de-
fendant was strong, and, 1t might be
said, generally convincing. Osborne
would ask and reask question TWO OF
three times, endeavoring to put words
in Molineux's mouth.
But those are your words, Mr.. U.s.
borne" Molineux would reply every
time with the greatest imaginable
courtesy, and never once throughout
the tremendous ordeal Of days was ne
tripped.
The Patrick case next sped along
Albert Patrick, accused, in conjunction
with the valet Jones, Of numbering
by the use of chloroform, the aged
Texas millionaire Rice. This was
very sinister business. and hardly any
body who went through the case ever
believed that Patrick got a square deal.
Jones, the valet of the victim, was the
man directly accused Of the crime
with Patrick the instigator and acces-
sory before and after the fact. Valet
Jones "peached" upon being promised
immunity by the prosecutors. Inc
story he told may or may not nave
been true but 1t has always seemed
an extraordinary thing that Patrick
should have been convicted solely up
on his evidence after the valet mao
been promised his freedom as the
price of his testimony.
The public is familiar with the long
fight Patrick has been making ever
since to have the verdict against him
reversed. The late Gov. Higgins OF
New York refused to grant his appear
for a new trial only few months ago.
and Patrick is now working out MS
.lifer." to which his sentence Of death
was commuted in Sing Sing. 1t Is not
beyond the bounds Of possibility, how
ever, that Patrick will yet be a free
man, for, in addition to being an ex-
traordinarily astute lawyer himself ne
has powerful interests arrayed on MS
side, and the general impression that
he has received the worst OF the deal
from the first may at some future
time, operate in his favor.
Then followed the trial OF Florence
Burns, the pretty Brooklyn girl accus-
ed Of having shot her lover. Walter
Brooks, to death in a New York hotel.
The evidence against this pompadour-
ed, peachy- skinned young woman OF
perfect poise and self-control appear
ed to be overwhelming, but evidence
has got to be more than that, 1t would
seem, to get jury to convict pretty
woman Of a capital crime involving
execution in this country. Florence
was sketched and photographed al
most as much as Evelyn Thaw. But
the underlying opinion Of the commu-
nifty, and especially Of those who were
present throughout her trial, was that
she was guilty. A week or so after
her acquittal she had the hardihood to
Join a comic opera company. On her
first appearance she was roundly hiss
ed by the audience, and then the other
chorus girls resolutely refused to ap-
pear with her, dress with her or have
anything to do with her. Thereupon
Florence Burns dropped out Of sight.
Following her case came the Nan
Patterson cause ceiebre, the unpleas-
ant details of which are still fresh IN
the public mind, and then the case OF
the pretty Italian girl who slaughtered
her uncle and aunt for reasons which
assuredly received a sufficient exploit