Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-28
POINTS FOR THE PRISONER
HIS BROTHER DENIES RECOG-
NIZING THE FAMOUS KEY.

RICHMOND, VA, May 27.-After IS
days Of trial of the Cluverius mur-
der case in the contracted court
room OF the Hastings Court, Col.
Evans, counsel for the defense, moved
this morning that the place of holding the
court be changed. He was satisfied that
such change could be made, aud iC neces-
sary an affidavit as to its desirability
could be given. The Governor had sgni-
fed his Willingness to permit tho use of
the Hall Of Delegates, and the counsel
hoped that the court would order the
change. No objection was made by the
prosecution to such a change, and the
court said 1t would look into the law
during the day and decide.
b. w. Henly, of King William county,
was the first witness. He said that be
was in Richmond on March l3, and saw
the prisoner on Main street several times,
but saw no lady with him.
A written statement Of Miss Brae was
read to the effect that she and the pris-
oner had been engaged for two years pre-
vious to his arrest, that Lillian Madison
knew of such engagement up to June,
1884, and that she had received two letters
from her since that time, but in neither OF
them did she mention 1t.
STORY OF THE PRISONERS BROTHER.
William b. Cluverius, brother of the
prisoner, was sworn. He testified that
he lives at Little Plymouth with his
aunt, Mrs. Tunstall. He knew that his
brother had left home on March -. He
knew that he had business in Richmond
with regard to some land in litigation.
To the question, do you know or not
if the prisoner expressed a desire to have
il Fri
Rchmondg the prosecution objected,
and the jury was sent out while the ques-
tion of admitting this part OF the evidence
was argued. After hearing the counsel,
the court ruled that the question was an
improper one. and the defense excepted.
The witness, continuing. said that he
had never known the prisoner to wear
mouGtache. He frequently wore the wit
ness clothes. The witness had a revers-
lille OvercOat which he wore at a funeral on
March II. the dag the prisoner came to
Richmond. He had never seen his brother
wear any gold watch key but the one
given him by his aunt.
CLUVERIUS' KEY IN HIS POSSESSION.
The witness got that key from his aunt's
room and brought 1T To Richmond after
his brothers. arrest, having seen that
watch key bad been found at the reser-
voir. He also brought a piece Of the
He described the visit OF the officers
to Mrs. TurstalPs. The prisoner he said,
made no effort TO conceal the piece Of
chain which he took from his watch
| cham and placed on a table. The witness
was shown the key found at the reservoir,
and he said that he had never seen that
kew or one like it. He had never seen the
prisoner wear watch kew on the gold
chain of his watch. He offered TO give
! tnI az nnfanGa
both the piece of cham and the key before
he the witness) came to Richmond at
the time of his brothers. arrest. There
had never been any effort to conceal the
overcoat and hat found by the officers
when the search warrant was executed
at his house.
CLUVERIUs' GOOD REPUTATION.
William S. Courtney, OF King and
Queen county, had known the prisoner
intimately for ten years. His reputation
was first-class. The prisoner had asked
the witness to come to Richmond with
him on March u. lie did not know if the
prisoner came TO Richmond to attend to
legal business. He bad been in the habit
of seeing the prisoner almost every day.
He never knew him to wear m0ustache.
He never saw him take a drink The
prisoner did not have the reputation of
being fond Of the girls. He had never
Oh any frOlics with him.
Police Justice Richardson was recalled,
and shown a number Of letters and en-
yelopes taken from Lillian's trunk, all OF
which he identified.
THE CURTIS FORGERY.
In his examination Of the trunk he found
an unfinished draft Of a letter similar TO
that known as the Curtis letter, alleged
TO have been written by Miss Laura urtis
TO Lillian, but which Miss Curtis testified
was not written by her. The letter was
read 10 the jury. The witness also identi-
fed number Of photographs and other
letters found in the trunk, and they were
shown 10 the jury.
A recess was then taken, and at 4:25
the court resumed its session.
John B. HARRINGTON. Of King and Queen
county, testified that he had known the
prisoner about ten years. His reputation,
as far as the witness knew, was spOtless.
and he considered him one Of the most
correct and straightforward young men
he ever knew.
Dr. James 6. Bland testified that he
lived near Little Plymouth, in King aud
Queen county. He bad know the prisoner
since 1875. He was "A practising physi-
clan i'm the Tunstall family. He knew
the prisoner well. The prisoner had
always borne n good character and was
know anything Of his college life.
NEVER SAW A MOUsTAcnE.
He had never seen him with NOUS
tache. The witness came t1 Richmond
the day after Cluverlus' arrest in com
pany with the prisoners brother md Mr.
Evans, Of the counsel for the defense. He
was at the station house where the
prisoner was at first taken. He remem-
bered that while there he heard the
prisoner remark 20 Capt. Epps that his
brother had brought the pierre Of chain
that Capt. Epps had asked for, and the
witness thought that the piece Of chain
was passed 10 Capt. Epps. The witness
did not remember that anything was said
by Capt. Epps about having seen the
chain at King and Queen Court House.
Drs. w. T. Bland and A. &. Gruhbs, Of
King and Queen county, testified 10 the
general good character OF the prisoner.
They said that they had never seen him
with a mOustache.
Claggct Jones, n lawyer, was recalled.
IIc said that be knew the prisoner we'll.
He bore as good a reputation as any
young man he knew. He never saw bin
with the sprig OF beard on his face. lie
never knew Of the prisoner dissipating.
NEVER SAW HIN GIVE JOEL ANY WORK.
j. Il. Bland, n merchant OF King and
Queen county, knew Herman joel lie