The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-29
ROLAND n. MOLrNEUx.

OF the many New York murder ,
there is none more interest
ing or peculiar than that in which
Roland b, Molneux figured as prin-
cipal,
1t was a complicated affair which
began over a petty quarrel at the
Knickerbocker Athletic club and near
" ended in the electric chair.
The Knickerbocker Athletic club in
1895 was one of the newest clubs OF
its kind in the city Prominent among
its members WAS Molineux. Equally
prominent was Henry Crossman Bar
net, q rich yachtsman, and the physi-
cal instructor of the club. Harry Cor |
nish.
During preparations for an amateur |
circus in 1896 Molineux and Cornish.
grew to be bitter enemies. Molineux
withdrew from the club because OF the
Quarrel and joined the New York Attn
letic club, where he was elected TO the
board Of governors.
Cornish about the same time by
reason Of a change Of club policy was
! not allowed the use Of the clubhouse
| for living purposes and went TO live
In the apartments Of Mrs. Katherine j
Adams Mrs. Adams was an elderly
woman who was distantly related TO
Cornish,
With Mrs. Adams lived her daugh~
ter. Mrs Laura Rogers, who had Sc
cured a divorce from her husband At
no time was any scandal connected
with either of these two women
The next character necessary 10 the
advancement of the plot was Blanche
Chesbrough, vivactous, pretty
| blonde Of twenty-five.
Molineux at the time was general
chemist for a large paint manufac-
turer in New Jersey and considered
fairly wealthy.
Both Molineux and Barnet were ar
dent suitors of Miss Chesbrough. On
Thanksgiving day, 1897. Molineux
proposed marriage TO her. She did
not then accept him. Barnet, as TAR
as is known, never made any oner
of marriage. but seemed 10 De the
favored sutton,
. On June, 80, 1898, Barnet was taken
violently III A doctor was called and
discovered that he apparently was
suffering from an advanced case OF
, dfphtheria The previous day he had
apparently been we'll.
. When questioned Barnet said the
only drug which he had taken was a
l patent medicine sent him by mail.
. The medicine apparently was harm
8 less preparation. but the patient
showed unmistakabie evidences or
i mercury poisoning.
= Examination OF the supposed 'medt-
! cine" disclosed the presence OF mer-
! curry In great quantity Barnet died
I and the real facts did not come out
! for some time.
\ Soon after Barnet's death Molfneux
9 and Miss Cheshrough were married,
on Christmas Eve, 1889. Harry Cor
! nish received present by mail 1t
I was a silver medicine bottle holder
md In N reposed "a bottle of hrOmO
: settler
l Corniah did not md out who sent
the present, hut concluding that It
, was from some one of the club mem .
! hers. took 1t home He mentioned the
incident to both Mrs. Adams and her
daughter and they admired the holder
and remarked 1t was useful present.
Two or three days later Mrs. Ad-
ans had severe headache, Her
: daughter requested the promo settler
: that had been sent Cornish IN the sill
yer holder,
Cornish opened the bottle and mixed
up a dose. for Mrs Adams She re-
!, marked that it tasted queer, but he
u assured her it was all right and she
drank it
Three minutes later Mrs Adams
called TO Cornish from the dining
room to come and help her. He
rushed to her aid and IN very few
minutes she was dead The supposed
bromo settler consisted OF only halt
OF that remedy and the balance was
cyanide of mercury. :
9 The obvious clue to follow was the
: silver holder An enterprising news
paper reporter discovered that the
: initials on it were the private mark
Of a Arm of Newark, ~ u jewelers.