Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-12-10

aeon him with it. Upon tiio hoy eheY IoSt
the charge that your petitioner was at the
reservoir.
p,sh.., : ar Exceilency. The conflicting
and cor trajectory statements, seen there
in of ths witnesses for the Common wealth,
ara too oi,.in to need comment. Your Pc
titioner only asks careful reading OF The
70 rhat members Of the jury have
.i,.oa ,ha trial stated that they were acting
mia a misunderstanding of the law, and
| n y.ars at least declaring that the evidence
d. rot Justify the verdict, and that the
] net could never have been recorded
e,ad the law been understood.
. Can anything add to the simple state
ment of the factsp Can it be that any
=, one could desire the execution OF verdict
of a Jury when member of that jury not
only admits that they were nndu!y intiu-
ancad but declares that the evidence did
| not justify the uerd'ety
Ia a suit at law when property is involved
courts of ca uity would interfere to prevent
the execution of a verdict rendered under
| like circumstances.
In criminal trials the law leaves their
correction in the hands of your Excellen-
cy, to whom your petitioner appeals.
In face of the opinion of one of the
| Judges of the Court OF Appeals that q
| crime had never been proven. and the Cor
| oner's opinion as an expert, and tho
| doubts that are in the case.
In face of the fact that your petitioner
| has been tried by a jury, Que at least of
whom had formed aud expressed an Opin-
| ion against him before hearing word of
| evidence in court. and that one other, at
! least, of the jury has declared that they
! we're "unduly influeDced.' and that the
evidence of the Commonwealth did not
, justify the verdict. Three of the Jurors
acted under misunderstanding of the
! law. Can justice demand the execution of
their verdict?
Your petitioner presents to your Excel
lency this, bis petitio,, aid prays that Ex-
ecutive clemencY may be granted lin.
Respectfully submitted.
| u, THOMAS J. CLUvERIUs.
! The prisoners statements, tOgsther with
the afidavits, were accompanied by q
number of newspapers containing notices
| favorable to himself.
HIS PARENTS APPEAL.
His Ercellency Ftzhugh Lee, Governor of
Virginia:
| This appeal is made to your Excallency
/, in behalf of our dear son, Thomas j. Ciu-
| verius. one who has always been the pride
of a loving fathers and mothers heart.
No one can ever imagine the anguish OF
our bOsoms when making this appeal to
/ your Excelency for life 81 dear; one who
has been always looked upon to comfort
and cheer US in now our last years. How
can we express ourselves to your Excel
lencv, who has now 70 decide whether our
boy is to live or die? Can we beg your Ex-
cellency to save his lifel If your Excel
lency believe him guilty. punish him 9TH
| er than death. that be may live to see the
day when the world will know he is inno-
! cent-for some day, rigbt will be known
j and our dear son will have paid the debt
for an alleged crime (lf one) deserved by
another.
He Is not guilty. No. never did be the
crime of which he is charged There are
some saying, LET him die.' They forget
that every word uttered against him
| drives dagger deeper into the parents
heart. Age ls ever upon Us, and Ill health
has ever forbid our visiting our dear son.
How can we bid him farewell as the vic
tim of another g deedp We pray your Ex-
cellency to save his life; do not allow it to
be taken. Think of the great mystery
] around this sad case and the bleeding DO.
I SONS OF loving parents, brother. and aunt
along with many others. before your Ex-
/, c6lloncy says ne must Ole. wrongs C0aC
have been practiced against him are fast
coming to light, aud after it is too late
! those who are crying for his life will see
their error. No one knows that he is
guilty 1t is mere circumstantial evidence
that even causes belief. W ill it do for
life, which is so precious to US all, TO be
taken on such grounds.
We cannot say more; your Excellency is
parent and can imagine our snfferings
at this time. Leaving you to decide the
fate of o, dear son, ,oe beg you to SAGE his
| life, Your Eycellency. whom We have
the honor to serve, do not take bis life.
Praying that you will hear a fathers and
mothers plea, we subscribe ourselves,
your humble servants.
B w CLUvERIUs,
| MARY A. CLuvERIUs.
AFFIDAvITs ACCOMPANYING THE
PETITIONS.
With the petitions. there were also sent
/ to the Governor three affidsvits taken in
Alexandria and signed by R. Bell, Jr..
| John Lawler and Daniel jeff rson, IT, The
effect that F. a. Howell one of the Jurors
who convicted Cluverius, said before he
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