Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-04-01
The Lillian Madison Murder.
THE MYSTERY STILL. uNsoLvED.

'SiA AZ AaiOAHoHu, Tcmdlus as muCu d my
terry as ever. 1t has some strange features
which illustrate the truth of the saying
that ''truth is stranger than fiction 1t
seems that the letters which she claimed to
have received from lady in Richmond
requesting her to go in her place with a
sick aunt to Old Point, were written by
Lillian Madison herself, as is shown by a
comparison of the handwriting with letters
she had previously written to that lady in
Richmond, who'll been a schoolmate OF
hers at Burlington School. These letters
were mailed in Richmond and received by
Lillian Madison at Millboro' Springs, where
they were read to Mrs. j. 3. Dickinson in
whose family she was governess. 1t seems,
also, that she had gone to Richmond on
the 9th of January, on the pretense that
she had gone there to see sick aunt. She
did not wish her father family to know of
this visit, and requestt d relative in Bath
not to let them know that she had gone to
Richmond, assigning as the reason, that
they would be displeased if she did not go
to see them. On that visit she put up at
the Exchange Hotel and registered as F
L. Merton, as she did at the American Ho-
tel on her last visit to Richmond. At that
time T. ]. Cluverius was guest at the
Davis House as on the last occasion, aud
visited her at the Exchange Hotel. She
was seen and recognized and spoken to on
the 7th of January in the E change Hotel
by Mr.. Clagett Jones of King and Queen
county. MIR. Archer, chief clerk at the
Exchange Hotel, went to the prison to see
I. J. Cluverius, and is positive that he is
the man who called to see Lillian Madison
during her stay there which was from the
evening of January the 9Th to the morn
ing of January the 18th. Soon after she
had been recognized by Mr.. Jones she dis
appeared from the Hotel. Cluverius told
Archer that he had never seen him before
his visit to him in prison. Archer told him
that he was clerk at the Exchange Hotel
and that Cluverius had seen him there be-
tween the 9Th and It'll of January. Arch
er told him that at that time he (Cluverius)
had light mustache. Cluverins said he
never wore mustache, and could prove it
by hundred persons. Archer is posaire
that he saw Cluverius at the Hotel at that
time. Cuverius is reported to appear to
be cheerful and to exhibit the bearing Of
innocence. If he is guilty, he must be a
very hardened criminal to act as he does
If he be innocent, he is the greatest victim
of confederation Of adverse circumstan-
ces we ever knew. The colored boy who
FRIED the noie to the American Hotel for
Lillian Merton (allas Madisun) has not been
found. 1t will be remembered that the
note in reply to it by Lillian was in an en-
velope addressed to L. J. Cluverius.
The old man, who appeared on the steps
with Lillian on Friday. and who so mystic
riously disappeared. has not yet been
found.
The wrist satchel which Lillian had,
has not yet been found. The water was
drawn off che reservoir, and search made
for it there, but it was not found.
On Monday morning last, Cluverius was
taken from the jail to the police court for
trial. Great crowds Of people assembled
| there, anxious TO get look at the prisoner.
He seemed to be more disconnected than
at any time since his arrest. When the
case was called, Commonwealth Attorney
Witt stated the reason why ne declined to
prosecute, which, as heretofore stated. was
because of relationship to the prisoner,
and that he had requested Mr.. Meredith to
represent the Commonwealth.
As Justice Richardson would be wit
ness in the case, he had requested Senior
Justice Holmes to preside.
The witnesses for the Commonwealth,
numbering about fifteen, were then called
and sworn, and when Acting Common
wealth s-Attorney Meredith announced
that he was ready to proceed with the pre-
liminary examination. DIr. Evans, Of coun-
sci for defence, stated the reasons why the
counsel for the defense had deter mined to
waive this examination and submit to the
consequences of having the prisoner sent
on to the Hastings Court.
To this sir. Meredith, as the representa-
tive of the Common wealth, agreed.
When the prisoner was being returned
to the jail, the streets were blocked with
persons eager to get look at the prisoner.
The carriage bearing the prisoner was
driven rapidly, and hundreds ran after it
to see the prisoner. The State says
''The curiosity of some were satisfied,
but more than one thousand were dsap-
appointed. The Jail was soon reached,
and ere he (the prisoner) stepped inside he
yard Jail alley was packed with upwards OF
fifteen hundred persons
GEN. GRAHAM's ADvANCE.-The latest
advices state that Gen. Wolseley, after
making an inspection of the military sta
tions from Dongoia to Cairo, will go to
Suakim. 1t is now certain that the adj
| vance of Gen. Graham's army to Tamai
will be made on Wednesday, to-day sufi-
cient water stores at Gen. McNeill's zereba
having been completed Saturday.
The New South Wales col tingert ar