The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-12-02
THE CLINE on CLUvERIUs.
THREE OF HIS JuRYMEN wANr THE
DEATH SENTENCE oonMurrn.

DEATH SENTENCE COMMITTED,
RICHMOND, Va, Nov. 26.-The case
of Thomas ]. Cluverius, convicted of
the murder of Fannie Lillian Madison
and sentenced to be hanged on the
10th day of December, has awakened
great interest here within the past few
days, in consequence Of the fact that
Carter Harrison, one Of the jurors from
this city, has taken an active part in
the case, with view of petitioning the
Governor to commute the sentence
against the prisoner to imprisonment
for life. Harrison has got up a petit
ton in which he alleges that he did
not know that verdict could be found
other than that of guilty of murder in
the first degree or acquittal. This has
been disproved by Mr.. Harrison him
self, who, on June 5, 1885, the day of
the conviction, said, in an interview
with local paper: Referring to trial
by jury as an abstract question, want
to say that / believe such a mode of
trial to be in every essential particular
simply a repetition OF venerable
farce. When l took my seat in the
jury box,-it was with the determine
ton Of giving the prisoner the utmost
advantage of every possible, doubt.
My conscience is clear. Notwith.
standing the utter and palpable in.
credibility of many OF the Common
wealths witnesses, ] find no reasona'
BILE doubt to justify moments hest
fancy. Icannot say that / commiser
ate the fate OF the murderer's victim
but the law precribes the punishment,
and but one"
| No signatures have been obtained
here, but Mr.. Harrison has succeeded
in getting two other signers besides
himself in Alexdria, and to-day hC
again went to that city with the in
tention OF getting the name of Mr.. F
, A. Howell.
This gentleman, strange to say, wa
3 on a train coming to this city with al
q explanation, of which the following i
: a copy:
: To HIS EnceAency Ftshugh Lee, Coz
+. ernor Of Virginia;
r HoNoRED SIR We the undersigned
e members Of the case of the State VI
: Cluverius, disclaimed any authorit
e that Mr.. Harrison, member OF sal
Il jury, may claim or may have elaine
to represent us in any matter what
ever in connection with that CASE
His statement that the jury did nc
/. know that they had the power to fin
v him guilty of murder in any less tina
Y the first degree is entirely orroneou
v In accordance with the evidence tn
i jury found the prisoner guilty OF mu
70 der in the first degree, and the qustio
lie OF a lesser degree Of punishment Wa
II never discussed in the jury room
l. We do not ask or expect anything bl
ia that the law be permitted to take /
course 1t is true that it is in yo'
providence to exercise clemency in Il
case, but we do not wish any action
"A ours to influence you in that dire
h. ton.
IN The above was signed by Mr. Ho'
nj ell, who also signed for three of his CO
IN leagues from Alexandria. To-day
tn visited four Of the jurors living in tn
ic city and they signed the paper
It. brought-making eight in all. II
to remaining juror, who lives in Bal
n more, has also refused to sign any r
ofI tition for the commutation of Cluvt
of ius' sentence. The Howell paper W
%. presented to the Governor to-day,
IN 1890