127: The Postal Poisoner
Summary
This episode details the 1898 poisoning of Catherine Adams by Roland Molyneux, who sent cyanide disguised as hangover cure to his rival Harry Cornish. The case hinged on circumstantial evidence and a disputed death of another club member, leading to a controversial first trial where prior crimes were used as evidence. Molyneux was initially convicted but acquitted on appeal, establishing the "Molyneux Rule" in New York which prohibits using uncharged crimes to prove guilt. The hosts compare this legal precedent to UK laws regarding previous bad acts, noting how the exclusion of the second m…
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