Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-24
CLOSING IN ON CLUVERIUS
DISAPPEARANCEO OF HIS CHARM
CHAIN WHEN ARRESTED.

AAAAAAN W AAASAN
His Suspicious Contradiction at the Po-
lice Station-Scratches on His Hands
Which lie Claimed TO Have Received
While Boarding IA TrAin-rhe Drown
ing Girls Last Cry.
RICHMOND May 23.-At the opening Of
the Cuverius murder trial to-day Judge
Atkins r.Iled that the torn note found in
the waste basket at the American Hotel
directed in the handwriting of Lillian
Madison to T. j. Cluverlus could not be
received as evidence.
Abraham Watkins (colored) testified
that he lived near the reservoir. Just be-
fore he went to bed on the night of March
l3 he heard two 'squeals." The second
one WAS, "Oh, Lordw but the first he did
not make out. The cries came from the
direction of the reservoir. He went out
in the direction of the sounds, but after
going some little distance and not hearing
anything further he returned. This oc-
CURED between 10:30 aud II O'Clock. He
had not been drinking that night. He was
not before the Coroner.
SCARS ON CLUvERIUs' HANDS.
DR.. James Beale, the physician of the
city jail, testified that on March ~ he saw
on the prisoners right hand three umbili-
Gated sears. They were circular in form.
He also saw two other scars, which he
described. On the prisoners left hand
also there was an abrasion.
DIR. j. q. Cobett. President of the Board
OF Health, testified that he had examined
the same scars and did not differ with DR..
Beale. Any kind of "scooped' instru-
ment would have made such wounds.
Charles ii. Epps, Captain OF police,
was next sworn. He testified to gong to
King and Queen county on March Is
armed with warrant for the arrest Of II.
j. Cluverius. He arrived at Mrs. Tun-
stalls that night, found the prisoner, and
told him that he had a warrant for his ar
rest. Cluverius exclaimed: "What, for
meW He entered the house and there
found two ladies and the prisoners 3
brother.
THE WATCH CHARM CHAIN.
While in the house he observed that the
prisoner had charm chain hanging from
his watch chain, and that there was some
thing hanging from it. subsequently the
witness called the attention of Mr. Rob
bins, his fellow officer, TO it. The wit
ness went to the prisoners room, where
the latter changed his clothing. Mrs.
Tunstall and the prisoners brother. when
the warrant was read in their presence,
expressed themselves as surprised. The
prisoner said that he WAS in Richmond on
the day named March 13 }, but did not see
Lillian. Both his aunt and brother said
the same thing. Mrs. Tunstall said that
she had received a letter from Lillian
dated March IA. She read the letter be-
fore the officer. 1t informed Mrs. Tunstall
that she Lillian was going to give up
her school at MillborO and 20 to Old Point
Comfort to remain with an invalid lady.
THE CHARM CHAIN MISSED.
When the officers and prisoner reached
Richmond and the witness went to search
the prisoner in the station house the
charm chain had disappeared. The wit
ness asked the prisoner what had become
of it and he said that he had had none.
The witness insisted that be had and then
the prisoner said that he had given il to
his brother. The witness examined the
articles found in the prisoners pockets,
including the watch. He was handed the
watch key found at the reservoir ard
fitted it to the watch. In the prisoner s
pOcketbOOk was found a piece OF a poem,
"Alps for the best" by Tupper. under
the title OF which, written in pencil, were
the words: 81 believe this to be true"
While changing his clothing the pris-
Oner asked of Mr.. Robbins, "What evil
dence have you? ! would like to know
what line OF defense TO prepare"
Some time after Mrs. TunstaIl read the
letter from Lillian, dated March II, she
remarked that Lillian must have made a
mistake in dating it. The witness was
subjected TO most rigid crOss-examina-
tiOn in regard 10 what happened at Mrs
TunstalPs at the time Of his making the
arrest, during the trip TO Richmond, and
at the station house after his arrival there
with the prisoner.
ACCOUNTING FOR THE BRUISES.
James Estis, of Queen Anne county,
tcsiified that he knew the prisoner and
saw him on March IA In CentreYille. He
remembered the prisoner saying to his
the prisoners father that he was cool.
His father told him that he was looking
badly. Cluyerius' father asked the pris-
Oner how he had hurt his hand, and the
prisoner answered that he had hurt IL
getting on the train that morning.
Mr. Pierce, OF King and Queen county.
testified that he saw the prisoner three
times on March IA. One time he heard the
prisoners father ask him II he got
10 Richmond in time to see Mr..
Ballard. His father also asked him how
he had hurt his hand and he told him by
getting on the train.
Al this point Mr.. Meredith Of the
prosecution moved that the court grant
a rehearing Of the question oi the admis.
sioility OF the torn note as evidence.
The court granted the motion and the
question will be heard Monday morning