Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-04
he helped to deceive her in March for

he helped to deceive her In March for a
similsr purposcy .,
Third. A few days before she received
the Curtis letter the prisoner mailed her
leitsT. The letter he mailed her wa In
white envelope. The Curtis letter came In
a white enyelope. The letter he mailed her
was rather "ihlck" one. The letter she
received contained, besides the Curtis let
ter, a note.
Fourth. The letter asked her to be in
Richmond on the 18th Of March. The pri.
sOntr WAS here on the 18th. She missed
the train On the illh. and failed TO get here
on The 18th. Bur she left Bath county on
the 18th and reached here about . A. NJ. on
the l3b. The prisoner remained over, and
was al,o here on the 18Th.
Fifth. She registered at the American
Hotel as Miss Merton. After she had been
in The hotel only few hours, and before
sbe had left ber room, she received note.
How could any ONE have known thai sue
was there, since she reached the cltv late IN
the night. registered under an assumed
name, aud bad not left her room. No one
could have known OF her being there, un'
less he had been advised OF her coming
The party who was so advised was the one
who remaiied to her the Curtis letter. The
evidence showed that The party who was
so advised of her coming and sent her
the note was the party who got Eer
here in January by a falsehood; was tue
party who knew that she used the name
"Merton" IN January; was he party who
had himself used the same false name was
the prisoner.
Fifth. The evidence showed that in the
talk the prisoner had with Tyler on the
night OF the 18th be disclosed the fact that
he was cognizant OF the scheme and sub.
stance of the Curtis letter. Tyler narrated
that conversation before the letter ever
reached Richmond.
In the light OF the above evidence Judge
Hinton was mistaken when he made the
allegation above quoted.
But over and above all. II is sufficient to
say that four out Of five judges ruled upon
this question OF law that the evidence was
admissible. take il for granted that that
decision settles the question.
Judge Hinton next turns his attention TO
the corpus deiicti," and asserts that no
crime was proved. With proper respect
for Judge Hutton, am justified in saying
that his opinion is strong proof OF the ire
sisiible force Of the evidence in proving
murder. When q Judge OF the Court Of
Aprcais, after having all the light that
could be shed upon the case by the argu.
mcnts Of the prisoners four able COUP
sel-ai;cr seven months OF dellbera.
tiOn-is unable To present any stronger
argument for suicide than Judge Hinton
does, all may rest satisfe that murder was
clearly proved II would be useless for
me TO weary YOU by gong into the details
Of his opinion. am forced TO say that il
is far from a full presentation OF the proofs
in the cause.
There l. one suggestion In the opinion
that ] think it is proper to notice for its
startling novelty. The Judge gravely sug-
gesis that "the mere appearance OF a
scufile may have been partly made by one
attempting TO ,cithhOtd the deceased from
drowning herself"
OF course such suggestion presents a
very amusing side, but II should not be
misunderstood. II was not intended as
Joke. II has been somewhat mo9ted
question in the discussions OF this case
whether woman Of her height and IN her
condition could have climbed over the
picket fence. But | have never heard the
most earnest advocate Of the prisoner init
mate that she would be able 10 do so when
wrapped in the strong arms OF a resisting
man. And | submit that il j. a suggestion
lildi j. ibpit DhtiN W luguiN lhau NtithSbp'h
the theory Of suicide. II brings out with
VIVID effect the strength OF the proofs OF
murder.
fear ihat this reply to your wish is
longer than you anticipated. But | have
written IT, believing it 10 be my duty To
give you all the light could aS 10 this case.
Fully convinced Of the prisoners guilt,
asked Of The Jury conviction OF murder
in the first degree. | have seen nothing
since to weaken that conviction. ] am
therefore forced TO say that can see no
reason why hls sentence should be com-
nutcd.
am very truly, c. V. MEREDITH.
December ,. 1856.
sho Statement.
Cluyerius continued at work on his state
mcut yesterday, and TO facilitate his opera
lions in that respect atahle was brouSh.
into hi, room, aud on it he did his wriiiur
Les than week now remains before the
arrival Of the day December l0lh) ap.
pointed fer hIs death, and he keeps as com.
roiCd as usual.
Two AIcsHndrfa Jurors ,IRiSe AGida-
Mis-.