Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-05-14
Capitol Hotel.
THE VICTIM ON HER Way TO DEArH.

THE VICTIM ON HER WAY TO DEATH.
On March 10th Lillian, evidently by a
plan concerted with Cluverius at Rich
mond, received through the Bath post
office forged letter which she had writ
ten to herself and signed Laura Curtis,'
an old school mate, and which had been
mailed by Lillian to Cluverius and then
by him mailed back to her. It told her
to come to Richmond to go to Old Point
with her aunt who was sick. She Was to
go on the 18th OF March. In it Cluverlus
had made her write that she would be
met in Richmond by Harry Curtis, "
brother of Laura. He was far reaching
in all his murderous plans, and in this
prepared the way to pass for Harry Curtis
when he called for Lillian at the American
Hotel. She read the forgery to Mrs.
Dickinson and got her PERMISSION to 60.
She got on the cars at Millboro on the
evening of March 18th, but by delay OF
the train did not arrive in Richmond Till
about O'Clock that night. She went TO
the American Hotel. registered as miss
f. l.. Merton, and was assigned to room
No. 81. The next morning. Friday, she
took breakfast in her room, and while
eating it boy brought to the hotel
note for miss F. l.. Merton" Showing
that Cluyerius knew her assumed name),
| and she answered it as follows;
81 will be there as soon as possible. So do wait
| for me.''
This note she put in an envelope,
addressed it to T. j. Cluverius, and gave
ed the Office the boy who brought the
note had gone and the clerk retained the
note. 1t was this note that first led to the
suspicion Of Cluverius, who had arrived
| in Richmond on Thursday morning,
! March 18th, and registered at the Capitol
House. In a short time Lillian was out
on the street and posted a letter to Mrs.
| Tunstall, her land Cluverius' aunt, in
| King William. Though that was March
18th she dated it March fourteenth, and
| though she knew Cluverius was in Rich
mond she sent a message in it TO him,
''tell Tommie 1 will write real soon." In
| this she had evidently acted under the
advice of Cluverius without knowing his
| real motive which was to show if he got
into trouble, that the woman who Was
dead on the night Of the 18th was alive to
write a letter on thu 18th, when he could
be. and aoas, back at his home. During
that fatal Friday she was seen with him
and both were positively identified by wit
nesses-on Belle Island, at 1920; at q
house of ill fame on 18th street shortly
after; at the American Hotel at dinner at
| 1.30, each time with the red shawl and
blue jersey which she left Millboro in.-
AT Belle Island she spoke to Cluverius
and said "Why, Cousin Tommie p AT
night about $50 Cluverius positively
identif 5d) called at the American and
sent his card to the ''lady in No q, !" and
spoke of her as ''the young lady who went
to school with his sister," still carrying
out the Harry Curtis idea. AT O'Clock
he was seen to board street car in front
of the hotel with her. The car driver let
them off people dressed as they were) at
the end of the line on the street leading to
the Reservoir few minutes after
O'Clock, and the same people were met by
a doctor, walking down towards the reese
voir, the man having MS hat ss5s e.
overs'is feaasS u . oloos.{ 4
lace on the edge of the
The night was stormy and