Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-12
Danger. OF Circumstantiai Evidence
The Baltimore Sun Of yesterday pub.

Danzers or CircuEnstHnttai evidence.
The Baltimore Sun OF yesterday plb'
HsE,d the following:
Or. Joseph ;. Baldwin writes TO the Sun
from Eklo, Baltimore county, IA relation TO
The CluVeTius case, n follows !: " Fac suns
closing comment in reference % the ca'e II
Tnomas j. CiuYeTius, convicted IN the
Musings Court Oi Richmond, Va, ot t.c
murder OF his cousin. Miss Fannie L'Ilim
Madison. = II is to be hoped that The JUICE,
iury, and Governor haye made no mistake
recall, TO nv mind all authentic cl,e
which occurred IN Richmond, Va, many
wears sco, and i one Of the most
remarkable in TIE criminal Annals
II our country. and establishes con-
clusively the great uncertainty as 10 purely
circ,n stauJial evidence bclng alFaVS proof
81 guilt. The ease | refer TO i rs follows
A broker Of Richmond ard his brOther-in-
law had n personal difficulty in regard 70
some pecunisTy affairs. A few days sub
seQuenl 10 the quarrel the broker was seen
to enter Belle island, at that time great re-
sort for hunting wild fowl. A few hours
afterwards his broiher-in-law was known TO
have gone upon the island for the purpose
of hunting from different point. The next
day the broker was found murdered with
bullet in bis brain. The brother-in-law was
AZ once arrested for his murder. The bu-
let YVES !ourd 10 be Of the exact size Of the
bullets used by his brotber.in.'aw in his
rife, aud the rife was found unl0a1ed.
Upon this very strong clrcumStaliial evil
dence the man was convicted and executed.
Msny wears afterwards gambler UPON his
deaih-bed confessed that he had murdered
the broker; had seen him enter the island
a l. - H.w -
shot him and fed West. At the time be
fred the fatal shot some one lthe bfother.in-
law had fired simultaneously at some
Wild game. To assert that all innocent
men can establish beyond a doubt their
innocence when accused Of crime i an
inhuman doctrine, suitable only to the day,
Of witchcWii. II Cluyerius is guilty OF the
horrible crime OF which be is accused he
richly deserves The extreme penalty Of the
lsw; but ! fully concur in the dissenting
opinion of Judge Hinton, OF the Court Of
Appeals Of Virginia, who saws the theory
Of the suicide Of Miss Madison is not incOn.
siSeni With the facts Of the case, and the
cITcImsiantial evidence did not Justify the
verdict OF murder in the first degree. You
very wisely and justly say. 1T j. to be
hoped heiudges. jury, aud Governor have
made no mistake"
\ reprts, NATIVE Of the Dispatch c,iled
on several gentlemen in this civ aud Man
chester 20 ascertain II anything could be
learned concerning the alleged murder,
who the parties to il were, &c but 10 no
avail. An interview with Judge :. Bi,sctt
French, o. Manchester, WHO was Common
wesllh's attorney for Chesterfield county a
number OF years AGO, was sought, bu. that
gentleman was not found. ne having gone
10 Welt his daughter In Prince George
county.
Mr.. r. A. Lamb. Tho was raised on Belle
Isle, was found At his residence, corner Of
Thirteenth and semmes streets. Manehes-
ter. he said that bis father. who Is about
eighty years old, and who still lives on the
island, has been residing there for about
forty years, aud he has never heard
bin speak Of the marder. He himself
WIS raised on the island, aud never
beard anything concerning the s6air.
Nr. Lsmb said, further. thai the only Kill
ng be ever knew to take place On tho