Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-11-26
OPINIONS OF THE .CLUVERIUs JURY
ABOUT EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY
TO HIM.


The Richmond Dispatch has had ten Of
the jurymen who convicted Cluverus, in
terviewed about their views of executive
clemency towards the condemned man
with the following result:
THE RICHMOND JURORS.
Mr.. W. D Trice was the first one cate
chised. "Has any petition asking the
Governor to pardon or comm ute the SEN
tence of Cluverius been presented to you
for slgnature?"
NO." answered Mr.. Trice. ''No petl
tion has been presented to me-"
''If presented would you sign it?"
II would not.'
$50 you are now of the same opinion
that you were when in the jury box?"
Exactly the same"
No. was Mr.. w. II. Parker, clerk al
Feurqurean, Price & Co.'s. This gentle
man also said no petition had been pre-
sented to him, but letter signed by NV
B. Cluverius and family. :" had been shown
him by Mr.. Carter Harrison, another jury
man. This letter was addressed 10 thu
jury" and was an appeal on behalf O.
the prisoner. He had not time to read il
when first shown him, so Mr.. Harrison
left it With him. When he called for it
the letter was still unread by Mr.. Parker
but he glanced over it hurriedly and band
ed it back. saying that he would not sign
whereupon Mr.. Harrison left.
Have you the same opinion about thu
case that you held when it was tried?"
"Yes, sir"
Mr.. Samuel J. Davis, of Davis Brothers
Broad street between Fifth and Sixth, wa
next encountered. at first be seemed
loath to talk about the case, but afte
awhile he admitted that letter had beer
shown him by Mr.. Carter Harrison.
"What did the letter contain?"
swell, don't remember exactly, but i
asked the jury to do the best they coul'
| for Cluverius.
sDic you sign it?"
"No."
"Would you sign petition asking Elk
ecutive clemency tor Cluyerius?"
81 would not.'
Mr.. John P. Heath, clerk at Herman G
Boschen's shoe store, was next questioned
He also had been shown the letter by Mr.
Carter Harrison, but lad refused to sigl
| it. Mr.. Heath says that Mr. Harrison
| then told him that he had better thinl
about 1t. In reply to this Mr.. Heath tolt
Mr.. Harrison that it would be useless t,
think about it, for he was convinced tn
prisoner was guilty. and therefore though
1t improper to interfere with the sentence
of the courts.
Further, Mr.. Heath said he had neve
seen more unanimous body of men thai
the jury. When they retired from th
court room after all the evidence had beer
concluded only one call was made, ant
every man answered in favor of verdic
of murder in the first degreee. sit was
clear case, and we could not get out o
| bringing in such a. verdict. We saw n,
loop-hole-the evidence was so positiv
| against Inc prisoner.
'.And your convictions ars as fixed nov
regarding the prisoners guilt as the
were them"
Eyes, Sir"
THE ALEXANDRIA JURORS.
Mr.. R. W. French, of George E, Frenc
& Sons, booksellers and stationers, wa
first sought and found at his place of bus
ness on King street, Alexandria.
The Dispatch" man introduced himsel
and asked: ''Mr. French, have you signe
Cluverius g petition?"
I have not been asked to sign it. hav
not seen it, answered Mr.. French.
If you were asked would you sign 1t ?
l would have no objection to signing
for Communication of sentence to imprison
ment for life in the penltentiary.
Have you any objection to stating th
grounds on which you would act in doin
SO? Why do you think the Governo
should interfere with the judgment of th
court?
Well, this visit is SO unexpected that
hardly know what answer to give.
not want to say anything that would stu
tify myself, and if did sign for commute
tion, it would simply be for the sYmpath
that + feel for the unfortunate prisoner
Confinement for lifein the penitentiary
hard labor, you know, is a great punish
ment to be inflicted upon any one.
William T. Herrock (saddler ed hal
ness maker) was next seen, a92 was al
preached with. ''Good morning NJ. Hel
rock, / see you recognize me. 49,