Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-28


Yes, / DO, for I consider imprisonment
for life worse than hanging, but stil' some
other Governor might come In ana PARDON
him.
C.E. French was found at his book store,
on King street. He told the correspondent
that he did not himself sign the petition
[rrotes.I Of November Dad. nor authorize
any one TO sign for him, but Mr.. howe'i
and be agreed as 10 the matter. ana tne
paper was now presented to him ne wou'd
sign II.
HIS brother, r. w. French, who was
busy In the same store, SAID that ne was
still OF the same mind as when he signed
the petition for communication.
Mr. j. T. Sherwood was found NJ bis
office. on Queen street He had, ne stated,
nothing to say beyond what he bad told the
Z" Dispatch reporter" on his former visit
here. He was still OF the opinion that the
only question before the jury was Tor or
aqaiosf a conviction OF murder In the first
degree, but he bad willingly signed for a
communication, and mad no desire to alter IT,
ON application at Mr.. Berkley's house,
on King street, Il was ascertained that he
was absent from town, as was Mr.. Howell.
Mrs. Howell regretted that her husband
had been mixed up in the matter.
The subject OF the pardon Is much can
yassed here, and great contraIietv OF opin-
ion developed itself. Angry controversies
on the subject are not unusual.
PetersbupgersO ON the Case.
Correspondence ofthe Richmond Dispatch
PETERSBURG, November q. 1856.
The fact that Petersburg has never been
heard from through the columns OF the
dispatch In the matter OF Thomas j. Gu
yerlus, and the active movement In pro-
sress to secure Executive clemeney In his
behalf, should not create the impression OF
any lack OF interest in the case here. On
The contrary, when first the theory OF muir
der was started, after the finding OF the
body Of Lillian Madison, interest was
aroused, only TO be increased AZ the mys.
terIes surrounding the case were cleared
up. The evidence brought out during the
trial was read day by day by our people
with the same degrec OF interest as though
the event bad happened and the trial were
in progress in our own community, and
opinions were formed and expressed rs TO
the "guilt or innocence Of the accused,
and the Justice or injustice OF the verdict
of the jury. Everything that has been
published in reference TO the case from time
10 time has been read with avidty, and
especially may il be said that the move
ment 10 obtain pardon OF communication OF
sentence after the case has gone through
the courts Is watched with the liye!lest in
terest, and this excites almost as much
comment here as did the trial.
VIEWS ABOUT THE CASE.
Your correspondent, with a view to as
certainng the sentiment OF some OF the
educated citizens in reference TO the case,
requested the views OF a number OF repre-
sentative men to-day. Some had no opin-
ions TO express, though they bad formed
very decided ones; others had not made up
their minds on so grave a subject, because
tbey had not critically studied the evidence.
Some were very positive OF guilt, and others
were doubtful that it had been proved be-
yond doubt
Judge ID. A. Hinton, OF the Supreme
Court, OF course very properly declined TO
saw ANYTHING, His peculiar relations to the
ease preyent the expression OF any views.
In his opinion. dissenting from the judg-
ment OF his associates on the Supreme
bench. which he has been busily engaged
in preparing all this week, he will give full
expression to everything he has to say and
in terms which cannot be misunderstood.
The Judge Is an able lawyer, and his opin-
ion will be an able document, and rendered
historic in view Of the celebrity OF the case
of which It treats. He has given it the
mos, thorough study and attention Of a pro-
found and ANALYTICAL mind. Its understood
that his opinion will be completed to-day.
Ex-Governor Cameron evinced no dis
a.. lan VI
IN substance that the matter OF guilt or in
noccnce was one altogether for the jury
men who had heard all the evidence and
argument, and upon whom, under their
oath, the responsibility rested. As to
whether the conviction was proper IN point
Of law the supreme Court had decided. In
reply to question The Governor also said
that he saw no middle ground between the
beinous guilt or entire innocence OF the &C.
cused; he should be hung or pardoned.
General Stith Boiling, our late postmas-
Ter, said: Willie do not believe Cluyerius
do not think the evidence iu>ti-
fed the verdict in his case.
Mr.. Freeman Jones, one OF our repre-
sentative merchants, said While believe
Cluyerlus guilty Of the crime charged
against him, do not consider the evidence
conclusive enough 10 justify the verdict
rendered 10y the jury.
Another merchant Of prominence de-
rlared am Of opinion. from the news.
paper reports, that the commonwealth ala
moi TroNe murder: but am also 81 the
opinion that Cluyeriu> T. guilty and should
bc hung.
\ rcr'lemsn Who iorm- very decided
.1i.f .l.uf r,r.,fhlrr ir Fhilh De
.,ls a. ,trTc.i said: read ,ni,,H,.t
md erin ly everything connected WIN
he case, and have never hai bHt one
.:.!..!. Z - that hane iDg Do To .o1n fir
him. lie j. douh'c-dycd villain ana an
scamp, mean a. IN mp
~ the ipicrral regions, aud seemingly a.
cool q, the seed OF a cucumber. would
not say that he put the woman IN the re-
ryoir, but be- was present, IN my opinion,
and IA his conduct and threat 10 desert her,
after having been the instrument Of her
ruin. she may have iumlcd into the rcscr-
Voir. There l. guilt in all his movements
guilt from the onset, and fearful most
damnablc guilt ut The ending. Hang him
Yes: 30 high that four thousand men could
not ace where he was suspended. am a
woman's man, This gentleman desires
that hls name be Withheld, solely FOR The
reason that be- does moi like notOriety. lie
has no sympathy with the petitions Tor cN-
ecuiiVc clcmency.
Major j. \. johnson, tho city scryc'ut.
who. by reason Of his Otic Al position, ht'
been long familiar with cTm nal iri1., and
legal evidence, said A fai ~ | have read
the evidence, the conviction upon my mind
Is that Cluyerius l. glnly--cither A. prlnci-
nal or accessory having either committed
the deed himself, or planned aud had the
murder committed 10y another. The evil
dcnce in the case points 60 him as possess
ing the grratcst incentive 10 rid himself II
her claims upon him, and his inability %
account for himself durinc the night Of The
murder furnishes strong cireumstantiil
proof 81 his participation In The accom-
pIishmeni ~ her death. While all the sur
roundings point 10 him a, aforementioned.
had been on the jury, do not think |
could have been persuaded to bring In a
verdict Of guilty Of murder in the first De.
gree, but rather Of murder In the second
degree, and Imprisonment for life.
Captain J. &. Griffin, prominent real
estate agent. thinks that Cluyerius had a
lair and an exhaustive trial, aud that the
verdict was Just; consequently that he
should be hanged. Further he believes
the people generally VIII breathe more
freely when lac l. hanged.
a ~cllknown legal gentleman Of The city
thinks there was no justification in law for
the verdict Of the jury; that the Common
wealth failed TO prove guilt, and that there
should have been no conviction. lie added,
moreover that not for all the money in
Richmond would he De In the shoe, OF the
men who aided IN framing public opinion
against the accused, and thus assisted in
pressing the theory OF murder 10 conyic-
ton aud sentence u death.
4 gentleman Of Ligh official position and
fl.uV l a