Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-05-27
TRIAL OF CLUVER1US.

In the Cluverius murder trial yesterday
the defence opened their case by lntroduc'
ing Mrs. Jane F. Tunstall as their first wit
ness She was shown the key found at the
reservoir, and said she had never seen it be-
fore, nor one like it. Lillian and the prls-
oner had correspouded, although forbidden
to do SO by Lillian's father. Witness mao
received three letters from Lillian shortly
before her death. The last one was dated
March IA. 1t was evidently misdated, as 1t
was one day after Lillian's death. Thlslet-
ter was read aloud. In it Lillian informed
Mrs. Tunstall that she was about to go 10
Old Point Comfort with lady friend, as
companion. The other letters were read
aloud. but contained nothing bearing on the
case. Witness stated that she always an
swered Lillian's letters, and the prisoner al
most always directed them Tor Der, as sne
did not write very well. Witness thong Mt
T,illisp knew it was reported that the pris-
ouer was engaged to Miss Brae. An undat-
cd letter. which witness said was written to
her by Lillian two years ago, when her par
ents refused to let her 20 to school another
session, speaks of her lLillian's) great sui
feripg. her despair and anguish, aud her
nrsver for death. In it she said; If su!clde
we're not sin, how soon the lingering spark
of nv life would vanish. But | will walt
| Gods own time. | know He is just, ana
will see that you and I, too, shall be rlghted.. ,
| Witness stated that the prisoner had
borne good reputation in the nelghnor
bood so far as she knew. 1t did not occur
to witness that the education given Lillian
fitted her for q higher station in life, and
was calculated to make her dissatisfied with
her humble home. She had heard Lillian
talk about suicide, and had advised her not
| to talk so.
| A number of letters were shown witness
which she identified as written by her to
Lillian, but not all addressed by her.
Rev. John w. Ryland of Middlesex coun'
tv. testified that, so far as he knew, the prs,
oner was Young man Of spotless character
and he bore that reputation in the commu
nity in which he lived. Witness baptized
the prisoner, who was member OF his
church.
James J. Adkins, living in King and
Queen co., testified that he saw the prisoner
March 18th in his witness blacksmith
shop; was positive he had no moustsche
had been constantly in association with HIM
and never saw him with moustache; bis
reputation was always good, so far Is wit
ness knew.
Thomas Mildly testified that he keeps {
store at Centreville; was at his store or
the 14lh Of March both the prisoner and hi
father were there on that day; did not re
member hearing o conversation between tht
two about scars on the prisoners hand saw
the prisoner several times that day, but OBJ
served nothing unusual in his appearance
Joseph Dodson, clelk at the American Ho
tel, was recalled by the defense to show tina
he had said that be never saw the man, ant
: only saw the woman when she came to th'
hotel A boy came to the hotel with not'
for her, which witness took to her, and i
was at once answered. The lady went GU
almost Immediately afterward. She cam
back to dinner between 100 and 2 o'clock
The note was first brought to the hotel by
boy at 10 o'clock. He took the answer away
but returned in five minutes and gave thu
note to witness, saying he could not find TIL
man. She left the hotel, and the next da.
WHOM he found she was gone and had no
p patd he. her ble be qpssRHf thPewn pieces it
the waste basket.
George W. Minter, who acted as clerk O.
the coroner's jury, testified to the accuracy
of his report of Hunts evidence. In tina
report Hunt is quoted as saying that the
key shown him by the coroner was exactly
like the one he saw on the bureau in room
No. 81 On this trial Hunt testified thai
he was not certain he saw key on The
bureau.
Emmett Richardson repeated his testi
mony about coming to Richmond on March
18th in company with the prisoner; wen,
with him to barber shot, and he got
shaved; he had no moustache; saw him nc
more after that until recently; had seen him
wear an old fashioned gold watchkey, and
had wound up his own watch with it. The
key found ut the reservoir was shown to
witness, and he stated that he had never
seen the prisoner wear one like it; had an
engagement to meet the prisoner at seven
O'Clock on the evening of the 10Th of March
but did not meet him.