Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-21
ATHE BEG-pEDDLER.'
- = srrIr A IssuI n ru CASE Of
CLuvy1Ivs.
A Appalling Letter from TIE srs'As'
ana Psrss y II the Prisoner 70
the Jurors, Ae.
rne solloviur /. irom the washington

tim among the other eleven members ask
,ne the Governor TO commute the sentenc'
q the culprit to imprisonment Tor i'ie.
The petition seems 10 be based on th'
following letter, which the parents ant
family Of Cluyerius have drawn no ant
sent 10 each Of the jurors:
To Msssrs. John Kepisr, Wniidm VI: Par
ker, john r., Heata, Wm,dn ~. iri ny
forffr Harrison, y. u. Udris, n. w
french. \, r. Sherwood, W Z. Herrocki
n. A. Ho,rsH, q. Il. French, ana w. "a
y. BsrkIey, Jurors in The Case Of tn
Commonseolfh Us. Thomas y. Cnauerius
Gentlemen, Actuated by the most pain,
full soiicitude for our unfortunate son ano
brother, Thomas Judson Cluverius, ana I'm
PEELED by parental and frsternai love, we
appeal 10 you and to each one OF youto com,
10 our relief In this dark hour OF our trial and
suffering.
We have no word Of Teproach to utter
against Won for the manner IN which you
discharged your sworn duty as jurors IN
his trial. although we never believed that
he who bad borne so biameless life, and
who was so well known and dearly loved
by us. committed the foul crime imputed To
him.
We bad no power TO resist the almost
overwhelming tide Of public prejudice that
sct against him from the time OF his arrest,
and that was Exhibited so strongly In va.
rlous ways TO and after the conclusion oil
his trial.
The voice OF our unfortunate loved one
wal busbed by the law a. IL existed during
his trial, and could not be heard In ans wer
IN the unjust demand on him TO prove his
innocence.
Even now, after the lapse OF two years,
mystery and doubt ovcrhang the move
ments and conduct OF the unfortunate de-
ceased girl. There is total ignorance as to
the name OF o man who Is described as a
afeg-peddler," and no explanation OF his
being IN company with the deceased girl
about the hour Of her last appearance at the
hotel. There Is still an eager but unsatis-
fed demand Oh the part 81 the public 10
know more OF this case In very many par.
ttculars. Until this mystery Is removed
and these reasonable demands for informa.
tiop are met, we beg for forbearance and
energy. Aud now, after tue stern ana
painful duties that the law imposed on you
have been discharged, we appeal TO you TO
unite with us In our last effort to save the
Nfe OF our dear son and brother, who has
been sentenced TO death, but who still
avows his innocence.
We do not ask you TO review or reverse
your verdict or TO violate anv sworn duty as
Jurors; but since, In your judgment, the re-
quiremenis OF the law have been performed
by you, we appeal TO yen In the name OF
mercy for the prisoner, and to every sympa-
thetic feeling Of your hearts for father,
mother, and brother, who are Ia the deep.
est sgony Of grief, to unite with us in petit
tioning the Governor Of Virginia TO exer-
else the clemency with which the law has
clothed him, either to pardon or commute
the punishment which has been pronounced
agsinst him. With the anxious hope that
you will favor us witbthe influence OF your
names 10 such q petition as we have in
dicaied, We remain very respectfully yours.
WILLIE Il. CLUvERIUs AND PARENTS.
THE PROSPECTS,.
The SIX Jurors who hive in Alexandra
and Washington have been seen, the Post
continues. with the following result;
X. w. French, of French & Sons, Alex
apdris, "would have no objection to sign.
ing the petition for Communication TO i'm
prisonment for life on account OF sympathy
for the unfortunate prisoner"
+. A. Howell. yardmaster Baltimore and
Potomac, this city, has "great sympathy
for the prisoner, out could not sign petit
ton for Communication of sentence"
c. L. French, Alexandria, "would not
sign any petition under any circumstance"
W. ii. +. Berkeley, clerk in Lansburghs.
said: 81 cannot sign the petition after
having rendered verdict. IL is like ask
ing man to take back what he has con-
scientiollsIy done"
Mr.. Joseph Il. Sherwood was seen at his
home on Queen street, Alexandria, and
stated that he would sign petition for
the communication OF the sentence 10 i'm.
prisonment for life, out OF sympathy for
the accused. At the time the verdict was
rendered he did not know that 1t was ycr-
dict Ct murder in the first degree. He
thought that IL must be either verdict OF
murder in the first degree or acquittal.
MIR. w. T. Herr0ck was seen NJ his place
Of business, on King street. When asked
II no had changed his determination TO re-
fuse to sign petition for the communication
OF sentence he stated that he had been ask.
ed by Mr.. Carter Harrison TO sign the petit
ton, but that he would not do so. He
was Of The same opinion now as at the time
he gave his consent to the verdict. He
was Of the opinion that the man was guilty,
and that hanging was too good for him. He
had been asked II he would Hgn petition
with the other jurors, but he had reached
his determination, and nothing could alter
II.
All the Jurors in Richmond have been
interviewed by the Dispatch and state
positively that they would not sign petit
tion asking for clemency.
VIEWS OF MR.. HARRISON.
- T. L..
rison, who Is circulating the petition.
"TbeIe are two reasons, "she said. "why
/ favor communication Of Cluverius's sem
tence. One Is that am opposed TO capt.
tai punisbment-that is | don't believe il
Is required for the government OF society
in this age OF the world.
"The second j. that IL was not proved
that he was guilty OF deliberate murder. IL
seemed TO be shown that he Killed his
cousin. under circumstances Of horror, aud
/ still believe he did; but deliberation be-
fore the crime was not proved. 1t was not
shown that he planned it, and think he
committed the act In q BIT OF passion and
desperate anger. The law says that pre-
meditation Is necessary TO constitute MUIR
der, and don't believe there was five min
uies' deliberatiOn in this case. II the ju-
done, perhaps, that the prisoner could have
been found guilty OF murder In various de
gYtes, verdict to hang him would never
have been obtained"
Judge Hinton will Gle his dissenting
opiuion in the ease In q few DAYS. 1t will
not change the present status OF affairs. II
II rumoTed that Cluyerlus will be able to
produce the affidavit OF well.kuown gen.
tiemau that he saw Cluyerius at Mozart
Hall on the night Of the murder.
Letters Pre- and Con.
Governor Lee Is still In receipt daily OF
numerous letters about Cluvcrius, some
pleading for pardon or communication; 9th.
efs asking that the law be allowed TO take
lie course. OF the latter class he yesterday
received q lengthy paper, signed by citi-
zsns Of the Valley. A petition from Page
county was also received, praying for par
don or communication.
FRUIT yoR TUE CONDEMNED NAN.
Friday evening an express-wagon drove
ND 70 the door OF the city Jail and the driver
delivered 10 the jsilcr large box mar ked
Thomas j. Cluverins. In accordance with
custom Deputy.Sergeant J. NJ. Macon open.
Cd the box and inspected its contents, which
proved to be u quantity OF oranges, baua-
mas, grapes, aud other fruits. The box had
been sent from New Orleans by a sympa-
tbixing friend Of the condemned man.
The writing Of the address indicated
that the box was sent by a lady, who re-
Gently wrote the Governor aud the prisoner
each letter on the subject Of Executive
clenency. The lady knows nothing OF the
prisoner and next TO nothing OF the crime
~ Lteh hs III As Ls.a