Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-06
THE CASE OF 7. ]. lUVERIuS.
Both Sides Ready Yesterday---The
Prisoner Pleads Not Guilty.
FIVE JURORS GOTTEN
Summers Out To-Day for 300 Men---Scenes
and Incidents In Court.

Yesterday morning, 7. j. Cluverius,
charged with the murder Of Fannic 9
Lillian Madison, was brought up from
the city jail to the Hastings Court
room by Deputy-Sergssnt Allen. He
has been in the city Jail since the 18th
Of March, but has altered very little in
appearance. He wore the very same
grey suit Of clothes that he had oil
when Captain Charles Epps and Officer
Robins brought him to Richmond on
the 18th Of March. lie looked shade
less fieshy, and the complexion was
somewhat fsirer, but in this particu-
lar he stands confinement finely,
his being Of the ruddy type.
He looked straight ahead Of him as
he walked around and took an
armchair near the centre Of the court
room and bar. He sat for quarter Of
an hour with his arms resting on the
arms Of the chair, his hands clasped in
front Of him, his head erect and held
almost motionless, while his cold, brown
eyes darted looks TO the right and left
occasionally, but were mainly directed
in their gaze towards the clerks desk,
at which Clerk Lswton sat, working
away over his books and papers. Now
and then Cluverius clencAed his teeth,
and the effort always could be known
by the wrinkle it made in his cheeks.
Occasionally he gave way to that half
sigh, half yawn, that has been marked
ly noticeable whenever he has been
brought before the gaze Of the public.
In the expression of the face those ia
miliar with reading human nature could
plainly see a ready appreciation of the
gravity of the heavy charge under
which he rested.
COURT OPENED.
Only the jurors, few lawyers, and
one or two newspaper reporters had
been admitted to the room up to III
o'clock. Promptly at this hour Judge
Thomas S. Atkins entered from his
private office, and walked up and took
his seat upon the bench. Cluverius
looked straight at the Judge, and, as if
satisfied with his looks, smiled compla-
Gently. Deputy-Sergesnt lsadore Lo-
yenstein opened the court with the usual
proclamation, after which Clerk LawtOn
read the record Of the day before. Cluve-
RUS paid earnest attention to this, but it
was evident that the interest was not
the outgrowth Of natural impulses, but
rather that Of desire to lose his iden-
tity with the surroundings.
Mr.. Samuel b. Witt at this time
was sitting in his chair, but Mr.. Charles
V. Meredith, who was to act as Com
monwealth's Attorney for Mr.. Witt,
came in at this point and Mr.. Witt
arose and offered aim the seat.
Clerk Lawton then called the names
of the following veniremen A. j. Gary,
f. A. VIM, Allen C. Maynard,
Garland II. Clarke, James Y. Blair,
William l.. White, John d. Lot
tier, James Q. Kersey, Il. c. Gray,
Jr., Robert E. Michsels, Henry
S. Kepler, A. j. Blackburn, John
II. Hampton, John S. Dodson, Luz
ther r. Reins, William II. thinner
man, c. c. Hopkins, Charles j. Phil
lips, S. T. Allen, George 7. Hicks,
Walter j. Todd, Joseph II. Estes,
Frank L. Habliston, William Mott,
William T. Sizer, John Pitt, Henry c.
Adams, George 7. Lumpkin, Joseph
p. Heath, Horton b. Rosenbaum, John
Adams, and Cary Anderson. The two
last named are colored.
As soon as the call was finished Mr..
Witt arose and introduced Colonel VIII
liam Il. Aylett, of King William coun-
ty, who had been engaged to assist in
the prosecution. Colonel Aylett took
the usual oath subscribed to by practi-
TONERS of law, and afterwards sat down
with Mr.. Meredith in the space marked
of for Commonwealth Attorney.
CURIOUS CROWD ADMITTED.
Deputy LOyenstein opened the door
on Capitol street, and instantly a rush
was made for the small space left for
lookers-on. 1t was a perfect mob that
poured in from the mass Of people that
had coDgregsted around the court
house, and there was no semblance Of
order in the pell-mell dash made for
position. Every inch Of standing-room
was filled in a minute, and then Loven-
stein opened the door through which
witnesses were admitted from the hall,
and the crowd tried to push in there.
"Move on; this door is for witnesses !;
you can't get in here shouted the
officer every second. Silence 3"
called out Sergeant Lee every now aud
then, but only a semblance Of order
was maintained. The pressure was
immense, and those in front seemed to
be flsttened against the railing.
"Get down from that stoye," said
Sergeant Lee to a tall, cadayerous
young man, who had mounted the
stove and was craning his neck to get
a look at Cluverius. The man squeezed
himself down into the crowd, and par
tial order being restored, Mr.. Meredith
arose and said: "If your Honor
please, under ordinary circumstances |
would feel called upon to make de-
tailed explanation of the reasons which
have placed me here to represent the
Commonwealth. As it is, however, |
shall simply say that | know your
Honor is familiar with the facts in the
case, and that Mr.. Samuel b. Witt has
asked me TO take charge Of it for
him, and that | have consented to do
so, fully aware Of the serious nature of
the res possibilities assumed"
THE CASE CALLED.
+" ask that the case be Called" said
Dir. Meredith shortly after taking his
seat.
81 notice that counsel for defence are