Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-22
C1uvERIUs' swEETHEARr.
ntvsterious Movements of a Young
Lady at Richmond.
Richmond Cor. Commercial Gasette.


P;cAmond Cor. Commercial Gosette.
tall. closely-vailed woman has been a
daily visitor to murderer Cluverius' cell
airing the past two weeks. She was also
aoen entering the Governors mansion the
dov before Gov. Lee announced that
CInyerius must hang. The Jail officials
ord others were curious about her
ENTITY. but it was generally supposed
rat she was the murderer's sister. Now
a. has come out that she is Cluverius'
sweetheart, the girl whom he was anX-
;ous to marry at the time he laid his plans
Cor getting rid Of Fanny Lillian Madison.
she lives in King William county, Va,
and is quite wealthy, as well as
handsome. She never lost laltn IN her
lover.
Atthe announcement of his arrest for
murder, it Will be remembered, she was
frustrated and remained in a delirous
state for several weeks. 1t was supposed
OF the time that her reason was seriously
affected, but she recovered fully the use
of her faculties in short time. Ever
since. however, she has been somewhat
Of an invalid, and only recently has she
heen able to leave her home. She came to
Richmond nearly three weeks ago, and
while keeping her visit secret from
her friends, she has spent as much
Time as she could with the condemned
man. Much wonder was expressed by the
iail people at the quantity of flowers that
have been sent to Cluverius' cell and the
number of little presents he has received,
but now it Is understood that this girl was
the sender. Yesterday, after Gov. Lees
fatal decision, she came to the jail and
implored the keeper to let her remain
with the condemned man until his execu-
ton, and acted in such a wild way that it
IA feared her reason is getting unhinged
once more. No one has been able to get
good look at her face, but people who
have seen her at home say that she is
beautiful woman. At any rate
she has pretty form-tall, willowy
and graceful movement. Cluverius
himself has not acted very
saneIy the last few days. When the
Governors decision was read to him his
usually composed face grew livid and
twltched with suppressed emotion, and
since that hour be has been changed
man. He spends most of his time walk
ing TO and fro in his cell, with arms told
ed and eyes cast down. Occasionally he
stands still, clasps his hands cOnvulsivelY
and tries to repress a sob. Then he goes
to his table and writes, or rather draws
curious figures on the paper. Mutterings
which sound like curses are frequently
heard bv the keepers. Sometimes he sits
by the window, draws a card photograph
from his pocket, and gazes at it for hours
with a grimly sad smile on his face. Then
ne kisses the pasteboard passiOn&tely and
replaces 1t. All this is natural for man
IN his position, but other actions OF Gu
verius are looked upon as signs of mental
alteration. One of his emplOyments,
that seems to give him much amusement,
is the construction Of miniature gallOws
with pens and holders. When he has
built one that suits his fancy, he turns to
his keepers gleetully and asks them what
they mink Oft. At times, after a long
ana eXpressionless contemplation OF the
ceiling, he looks about in dumb sort of
way and inquiries: what is all that
about some one being hanged ~ Once he
took fancy that his iailer was the con-
demned man, and commenced to eXhort
him to prepare for death and die game.
1t is most pitiful sight to see him on
awakening. While asleep his face is as
calm as an innocent child, and no more
indicative of evil, and when the light
streams through the cell he llncloses his
eyes with almost smile. Then as ne
looks about fearful change comes over
his face, his teeth close hard, his eyes be-
come distended with horror, and he burIes
his face in the pillows. The fact is that
the iron nerve OF the man has at last given
way, and The wonderful cOmposure he
preserved throughout the trial has desert
ed him.
Those who are watching constantly are
confident that he will make full confess
sion before January 10-the day fixed for
his execution, Some broken expressions
that fall from his lips dnring his fits Of alb
straction confirm this impression, AS yet
the murderer has shown no indication OF
religious feeling. The very name OF
minister or church makes him scoWl,
and never once has he knelt down to say
a prayer. Several ministers have within
three days past asked TO see him, but he
has angrily refused admittance to any of
them.