Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-06-12
THE COURTROOM AGAIN.


customary crowd there anxious to see
him, but the excitement that marked the
last days of the trial, and which had be-
come painfully intense as the end closely
neared, was gone.
The verdict undoubtedly gives popular
satisfaction.
Thursday the evidence for the defence
turned out to be much weaker than was
anticipated. After all their talk; after
all their berating and belittling the news
paper publications; after all that they
pro missed, what was the outcome?
The prisoner did not expect to he in
Jail a week. So he said. such was the
air of confidence exhibited by him that
of his guilt had doubts raised.
WEAKNESS OF THE DEFENC E.
After Mr.. Joel had brought into the
courtroom his tools to open the key and
defence objected; after it was seen that
defence offered neither evidence or argu-
ment to account for the presence of Lii
lian's clothes-bag getting into the James
river; after it was seen they did not pro-
pose to offer any substantial explanation
of where the prisoner was from to IL
o'clock on Friday night, March the 18th
then his guilt stared all the public in
the face.
No man was found to predict acquittal
People generally thought that it would
be ''a hung jury;" a minority confidently
expecting the result achieved.
The prisoner was brought up from jail
Friday morning about half-past 10 CLOCK
in the custody of Deputy Sergeant Allen
and Policeman Lamkin. He got out of
the carriage on TepJh street and quickly
walked through the alley which leads to
the courtroom. There were few inside
the courtroom when the prisoner arrived,
and as he took his accustomed seat inside
the bar every eye in the room was turned
upon him. He sat motionless for a while,
and seemed to be in deep thought, but
soon that look changed to give place to
that expression of cOuntenance which has
characterized the prisoner throughout,
and of which so much has been said. He
had on the suit that he has worn since his
arrest, and his neck was encircled with a
high standing collar, partly hid by neat
black cravat. He had not been seated
long before Juror Kepler walked over to
where the prisoner was, and in pleasant
manner said: Il hope you do not think
I was actuated by any malice in arriving
at my opinion.' The prisoner smiled,
but did not make any reply.
Subsequently Juror Harrison went up
to the prisoner aud remarked: "Cluve-
RUS. in the name of humanity want to
extend to you my sincere sympathy. 1
trust that you believe that was actuated
by stern sense of duty. The law COM
PEELED me to take certain action if 1 be-
lieved certain evidence, The evidence
was conclusive. and there was no way In
which could avoid it."
To this the prisoner replied: Certain
IN cir T ho1invo Won Mr. Harrison Oop6
smiled as he uttered these words.
Juror Berkeley, of Alexandria, also
spoke to the prisoner, stating that he had
calmly and fairly tried the matter as one
between himself, his God and the priso-
ner.
The reply of Cluverius. as understood
by Mr.. Berkeley, was Il submit" It was
made in an undertOne.
MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL.
Judge Crump moved for new trial !;
but be said he didn't propose to dis
cuss the question, lnasmuch as it depend
ed upon matters of fact that already have
passed under review of his Honors own
eyes. Inasmuch as his Honor had already
taken judicial view of these questions.
they simply submitted the motion for his
Honor's decision. Judge Crump called
attention to the fact that there are sever
al bills of exceptions. and time is necessa-
~ to prepare them. He thought it could
be done in the next ten days, and his idea
seemed to be that the Court might mean
time consider the motion.
Mr.. Meredith. of the prosecution, said
that his physical condition was such that
he could make no argument even if he
wished; but it was not their desire to
spend any time arguing against new
nj J III hnx r,oio rod I,ot
trial should be had,'' and no doubt his
Honor wished TO take little time, for in
the event that the motion is overruled
there are certain things that your Honor
will have to fix in connection with the
case that will require some consideration.
They would, therefore, submit the whole
matter to the Court.
Colonel Aylett concurred in these
views, His Honor said that he didn't
care to hear any argument; that he would
reserve his decision until Monday morn
ing. ION Monday the court met, over
ruled the motion for new trial. and fixed
on Tuesday, June 18th, to hear exec ptlons
to go up to the Court of Appeals, in the
meantime deferring sentence upon the
THE GALLONS.
Now the thing that his Honor will have
w LA 10 GuO udUO VI UuO CACCuUiuu VI
the prisoner. e., pronounce the DEATH
sentence. The prisoner is a lawyer. He,
Of course, knew what they were talking
about, though Mr.. Meredith WIS very
in the choice of his words,
but prisoners face never colored; he
showed no feeling, no emotion-nothing.
Comment on the action of some of the
Jury in making explanation of their yer.
dict to the prisoner was widespread. Such |
/ thing. it was alleged, had never been |
heard of before. 1t was, perhaps, an ad- {
vanced step in civilization, and may in |
The future be regarded as the turning |
point in the customs of the world. Who
znOwss
A juror in the great case has at once |
become historical. The children point |
hem out; the ladies. who, by chance, see
me of them pass, remark the fact at the
lext meal. Some ladies hang over their
ront gates and talk to juryman, if they
Happen to know him, about the "hard
lime they had," sc.
Comments of tho Press.
The jury in the Cluverius murder case
q Richmond, Va, yesterday returned
'erdiet of guilty after a elaboration Of