Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-06-24
From the State of Friday, June 1871
DOOMED TO DEATH.
THOS. ]. CLUvERIUS SENTENCED
TO BE HANGED.

TO BE HANGED.
The Twentieth Day of November is the
Time Fixed for the Execution.
THE PRISONER IN FEW WORDS ASSERTS
HIS INNOCENCE.
A carriage wheeled away from the city
Jail this morning at ten minutes after ten,
and in five minutes afterwards it stopped
at the little alley-way that leads from
Tenth street into the City Hall. A hand
touched the handle, the carriage door flew
open and Deputy -Sergeants Lovenstein
and Allen, who had in their custody
Thomas j. Cluverius, the convicted muir
derer of the poor unfortunate Lillian Mad
ison, stepped out upon the pavement and
hurriedly walked into the courtroom.
As soon as the carriage reached the top
of the Broad street hill, coming up from
the Jail, dozen voices in the crowd near
the courthouse simultaneously exclaimed,
''There they Gomez These persons
crowded around the carriage when it stopped
at the little alley, and there was an intense
desire expressed by each individual to get
look at Cluverius. Each man and wo-
man in the crowd eyed the prisoner as close
ly as possible, and he in turn glanced first
to the right and then to the left, neither
bowling nor speaking to single individual.
The courtroom was soon reached,
AND IN HE WALKED,
with quick and steady step to his accus-
toned seat inside the bar. For awhile he
sat alone, but soon Mr.. A. Browne Evans
one of his counsel, the first to be retained
by the prisoner, walked in and took seat
next to him. The usual handshaking fol-
lowed, and afterwards the two engaged in
low conversation regarding the case.
There was no change in the prisoners ap-
pearance. He bore that same stern look
which has attracted the attention and
evoked the wonderment of so many per-
sons who have closely noticed him during
the long and tedious hours of his trial.
His eyes wandered about the courtroom,
and he glanced first at one person and then
at another His left elbow rested upon
the arm of his chair, and his clear-cut chin
hid itself in the palm of soft, white hand,
| while his fingers stroked clean shaved
lip. Close to him we're lawyers, reporters,
preachers and policemen, and
BEYOND THE RAILING
cosmopolitan crowd leaned forward to
get a slance at the celebrated criminal.
The Judge assembled the bench, and the
Sergeant cried out, sOrder in the court.
Not man in that crowd must say a
word.''
Order was restored. The almost inaudi-
BILE whisperings of the crowd we're heard,
but they did not amount to confusion and
q 1ad fn
command silence, until a moment or two
before the adjournment of court.
Judge Crump, the prisoners senior coun-
| sci, asked further continuation of the
motion for arrest Of judgment until to-
| morrow.
Mr.. Meredith objected because he did
not see wherein the prisoner could be bene-
fitted.
Mr.. Evans followed Mr.. Meredith, and
| in the course of his remarks said that if
the bills of exception are not ready to be
| signed tomorrow, the court could proceed
| to pronounce the sentence
| Judge Atkins agreed with Mr.. Meredith.
THE PRISONER STANDS UP.
A deep silence followed the decision of
the court. and after this pause the Clerk,
| William P. Lawton, said:
"Thomas j. Cluverius, stand up. You
have been indicted, tried, and now stand
convicted of murder in the first degree
Have you anything to say why the court
should not now proceed to pronounce SEN
tence of death upon you, according to
law?''
| The prisoner arose and leaned lightly
against the railing in front of the bar.
Every ear in the courtroom was turned to
catch whatever he might say. Some ex-
pected that he would speak out and tell
what he knows about the murder of his
cousin Lillian. At first be hesitated, and
seemed a little confused. His face flushed
little, and contortions of the facial mus
cles, lasting only moment, were percep-
tible to those who sat within several feet
of him. In clear voice, not loud enough
to be heard all over the court,
| CLUvERIUs SAID:
81 will say, sir, that you are pronounc-
ing sentence on an innocent man. That is
all have to say, SIR
| He did not call Lillian's name nor have
one word to say about his relationship with
her. The diary of that day on which Lii
liam was murdured was not read by the
prisoner. He advanced no theory, nor did
he attempt to account for those s'fatai
hours" as Col. Aylett called them, 'be-
tween and IL O'clock"
THE DEATH SENTENCE.
''Thomas J. Cluverius," said Judge
Atkins, ''you have been indicted for the
wilful, deliberate, and premeditated muir
der of Fannie Lillian Madison, your COM
panion and cousin, whom you had, betray-
| ing her confidence, treacherously seduced.
Twelve of your fellow-men, selected for
their intelligence and impartiality, have
| patiently and attentively listened to the
evidence in this cause. Witness after wit
ness has been examined, and day after day
been consumed in an endeavor to arrive at
| the truth, the whole truth and nothing but
the truth, of this charge. Exceedingly
able counsel have done all that learning,
eloquence, skill and experience could &C
complish in your behalf; you have fair,
and, | may say, liberal, trial; and finally,
| the jury in faithful discharge of their duty
have pronounced you guilty, and that YER
dict has been approved by the Court.
[ shall not harrow your feelings by refer
ring at length to the enormity of your
| crime, every step in the preparation of
which must be deeply engraved upon your
memory. To man of your intelligence
no good could be accomplished by doing
SO. l commend you to the suggestions of
youi oWu UCtt0A IuOuSu bS. MOT Is IL uoC-
| essary to comment upon it in the interests
Of society; the public press fully lnculcates
| upon the people the lessons to be drawn
| from such events.
do not deem it my duty, therefore, to
do more than to pronounce upon you the
sentence which the law affixes to the crime
of murder Of which you stand convicted,
which sentence is, that you, Thomas j.
C!uverius, shall be taken hence to the Jail
of this city, and there securely kept until
THE GOTH DAY OF NOVEMBER NEXT,
on which day, between the hours of in
the morning and 6 in the evening, you
shall be taken to some convenient place
of execution at or near said Jail, and in
the presence only of such officers of the
law as may be necessary to see that this
sentence is properly carried into effect, be
there hanged by the neck until you are
dead
And may God in His infinite goodness
have mercy on your SOUL
The prisoner looked Judge Atkins
squarely in the face. His eyes sparkled.
his lips were firmly pressed together, and