The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-05-19
THE DOOM OF CLUyERIUs.
No Apparent Chance tor Him to Escape the
Notwithstanding OF the Crime He Com.
mitfcd.

No Apparent Chance tor Him to Escape the
Misunderstanding OF the Crime He Com.
mitied.
The case of Thomas J. CluveriuS, con,
yicted of the murder of Fannie Lillian
Madison, has attracted widespread atten,
ton. As the facts of the case may have
passed out of recollection, a brief state
ment may now be proper. On the 18th
March, 1885, at O'clock, a. NJ, Miss
Fannie Lillian Madison arrived in Rich
mond from Bath county and went to the
American Hotel, where she registered as
s:AIiss F. L. Merton. Next morning
her dead body was found in the old city
reservoir, Il short distance west of Holly
wood cemetery. On the 18th, near
Little Plymouth, in the county of King
and Queen, her first cousin, I. j. Cluve-
nus (kla-veers), was arrested, charged
with the murder of the deceased. He
waived an examination before the Police
Justice, was indicted in April, and was
brought to trial in the Hastings Court of
Richmond at the May te1a. On the 4th
day of June the jury returned verdict
of guilty,
The case went to the Court Of Appeals,
the decision of which was adverse to the
prisoners already published.
The Richmond papers give some addi-
donal particulars of the result Of the
case in the Court Of Appeals. The judg-
ment of the lower court is sustained in
all particulars. Little or no surprise
was manifested at the decision; in fact,
public opinion had been very well settled
upon the presumption that no new hear
ing would be granted For over week
the air has been full of rrlnors that the
court stood four to one against a new
trial, and that two of the four disagreed
only as to the certain particulars, and
for once rumor was correct. How these
facts leaked out is not known, or wheth-
er it was only one Of the lucky srlrmises
Of those who are supposed to know
everything. After the reading OF the
opinion of the court, as expressed, had
been arrived at after very patient and
searching review of all the facts as set
forth at the time of the trial, and was
supported by copious quotations and
references to the most learned and COM
petent authorities. Thus is ended anoth-
er act in the great tragedy which shocked
a continent and for time made Rich
mond tnenviably famous.
Cluve1ius knew what the decision OF
the court would be at least one hour be-
fore Judge Fauntleroy finished reading
the opinion. The first few pages that
were read indicated decision unfavora-
bic to the prisoner, and about half-past
12.o'clock Mr.. McGeorge, a feed dealer,
doing business in Richmond, left the
court room and went down to the jail.
Is was he who told Cluverius how the
case would be decided, but it was after
two o'clock before the prisoner was
aware that the Supreme Court had sus-
tanned the decision of the lower court on
every point that was raised by the pris
oner's counsel.
. When the action of the court was
made known to him he never trembled
or moved amuscle, except perhapsa little
twitching of the facial muscles, and this
soon passed away, giving place to that
sternness and self-control which mas ex-
cited so much wonder, and has been
puzzle to so many. When he heard the
words, 'sThe decision is unfavorable to
you," he raised his eyes, which had
been gazing at the floor, and, in a clear
voice, said, II am surprised. y Here he
paused, and, the silence seemed as pain
full to those who saw the prisoner as it
was to- the prisoner himself. Presently
he qualified his, remarks, and in voice
more trembling than at any time hereto
fore, he remarked, II had hoped for
better results.
Sergeant Lee subsequently said: "Mr.
I viii now have to put you in
solitary confinement. Your treatment
hereafter must be somewhat different
from what it has been, and it is my duty
to have you put in solitary confinement |
and guard placed at your cell. !
), Cluverius looked up at Sergeant Lee
md replied: Sergeant, make no OBJ
ection have tried not to give trouble
% anyone in this jail and I will continue
not to do so.
The only hope now left to the prisocer
S executive clemency, for unless the
Governor interferes, Cluverius will pay
he penalty of his crime upon the scat
old.
The action of the Supreme Court will |
doubtless be certified to the Hastings
Court before the June term, and when
hat is done the prisoner viii be brought
ID to be resentenced.
Something for The 6 rs.