Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-20
CLUVERIUS SENTENCED.
Judgment Of The Court that He be
Hanged November ooh.
AN APPEAL TAKEN.
Supreme Court TO Pass Upon that at
Its Fall Session.

A
Thomas Judson Cluverius, convicted
of the murder OF Fannie Lillian Madi-
son at the Old reservoir March the
18th, was in his regular seat at the bar
of the Hastings Court yesterday morn
ing. Dressed in his new suit of gray
serge, cleanly shaved, calm, but pale
and thin, he yesterday morning about
10 o'clock left his cell; was by the
officers, at the jail-door, put in
carriage, for which he pays; was un-
der their custody driven away from
staring crowd there to meet another
staring crowd at the City Hall entered
the building by the alley-way from
Tenth street, and was soon safe and
quiet in the courtroom. Here there was,
as there has always been since he became
a prominent figure atthis court, a multi
tude of people to gaze upon him--peo-
pie in the jury-box, at the bar, around
the Clerks desk, in the space al
lotted for spectators, at the win
dows; people of all conditions
divines, lawyers, doctors, merchants,
capitalists, reporters, oliice-holders, &c.
The unprepossessing little courtroom
was jammed, but the crowd was quiet.
There was no excitement, as there often
was during the trial but interest and
expectation were high. They wanted
to hear what the prisoner had TO say
for himself; they wanted to hear what
day would be named for his execution
they wanted to hear any sort of news
soever about this case. which has so
enthralled public attention for three
months.
THE CONVICTED MAN.
The prisoner was not looking well.
lie seemed as if he had passed through
q recent illness; but his nerves ap-
peared to be as strong as ever. lie
took the gaze Of the crowd quietly. 1t
did not seem to annoy him. Probably
it is disagrceable; but, if so, he has
gotten used to it.
When Mr.. Brown Evans came mp and
took q seat beside him the prisoner cx-
tended his hand and gave this gentle
man a cordial smile of welcome. lie
seems to be very fond Of Mr.. Evans.
After Judge Crump and Mr.. Beverley
Crump were seated, and Judge Atkins
had taken the bench, Judge Crump (of
counsel for the defence) announced that
the bills ofexception were now all ready
| and only needed to be read over and
signed by his Honor. lie proposed that
his Honor take the bills now and defer
further action "until tomorrow" to-
day.l
WHAT GOOD WILL 1T DO PRISONER:
Mr.. Meredith, representing the Com
monwealth, said that really if the delay
Of one day asked for could do the spri-
soner any good, he would not object.
But what was TO be accomplished?
Nothing that he could see. On the
other hand, there are possible dangers.
Tomorrow [tO-dayl is the last day Of
the term. Suppose your Honor should
be taken sick and be unable 10 sign the
bills? So he would have to insist on
immediate action.
His Honor said that he was satisfied
no damage could be done the prisoner
by passing judgment on the pending
motion. The bills were very long, and
it would take all of "to-morrow " to-
dayl and late into the night to read and
sign them. They could as well be
signed after sentence as before. To
Judge Crump: Do you wish to say
anything on the motion for arrest of
judgment:
Judge Crump: No, sir.
Mr.. Evans urged the Court to take
the bills Of exception in hand now and
let the motion 60 over one day. Mr..
Meredith had said that he would be
willing to have it so if it would do the
prisoner any good. On that point the
counsel for defence were perhaps the
best judges ; besides, the course they
asked to be taken was the natural order
Of things.
MOTION 0VERRULED.
Mr.. Meredith Your Honor, need |
say anything:
The Judge: No, sir; am satisfied
that the bills of exception will take me
late into the saturday. night.
overrule the motion in arrest Of
judgment.
Clerk w. P. Lawton: Thomas }.
Cluverius (Kla>yeers), stand up.
Prisoner rose quickly. His face
flushed slightly; he stood leaning a
trihc to one side; his heal was
easily poised; his eyes were fixed
in the direction of the judge and
clerk one hand he rested on the bar,
steadying himself. His face looked
care-worR but the indomitable spirit
which sustains him was present in un-
abated force. No moisture about the
eyes; no trembling hands no quiyer-
ing knees. His attitude was that Of
listener when the clerk said:
Have you anything TO say why the
sentence of the Court should not now
be pronounced?
The Prisoner CluveriuS | would
say, sir, that you will pronounce sem
tence upon an innocent man. That is
all ! have to say, sir.
Here the prisoner seemed to hesitate,
and Judge Atkins inquired: Anything
more 10 say?
The prisoner; No, sir.
The words above were spoken almost
in whisper. He was evidently afraid
TO trust or unable to summon his voice.
He did not send out his speech in full,
round, strong, natural tones. The con-
sequence was that not more than one or
two dozen people in the courtroom
heard him. Luckily, the reporters, ex-
pecting Tor rather to be prepared for)
lengthy speech, had dragged their tables
up to within three feet Of him.
THE SENTENCE OF DEATH.
Cluyerius having answered Judge
Atkins that he had nothing more to
say; having presented no reason at all
why sentence should not be pronunced
having failed TO show where he was on
the night of the murder. having made