Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-07
THE CLUVERIUS CASE
CONNECTION WITH 1T OF THE LATE
DETECTIVE JOHN WREN.
An Allegation thnt Remorse for His Con-
nection with IL Brought About
His Death.

His Death.
The Cluverius case is ever popping up.
1t seems destined to live out this gene
ration at least.
1t goes out If sight for few weeks or
months only 10 be revived, "a some one
identified with the trial departs this life
and is referred to in the newspapers.
Such q one was Detective John Wren.
He was On important factor in the convic-
ton Of the accused. It is doubtful if he
would have been found guilty but for the
proof Mr.. Wren secured. THE torn note"
and the watch-key were lncky but not in
genious finds" The latter was brought
TO him; the former he got hold of while
the hand of Police-Justice Richardson was
almost outstretched to take it; but as
suredly he helped very much to work up
the great chain Of evidence OF which
these were strong links.
THE DETECTIVES GOOD WORK.
What is more he obtained the testimony
Of the Fifteenth-street women, who pre-
viously TO reporters) had positively denied
that Cluverius and Lillian Madison We're in
their house on the day in question. Much
more he did: good, smart detective work
it was, and his claim that without him the
Commonwealth never could have sue
ceeded-that without him Cluverius never
could have been hanged-was more than
an idle boast.
In fact, this case was the capstone of
MIR. Wren's career az q detective. but
sometimes, it is alleged. he was wrung
with remOrse for the part he had taken in
bringing Cluverius 10 the gallows.
This is said to have been true while he
was i'll and delirious in a Norfolk hospital.
The story has long been current here, too.
Probably IT was wholly untrue. Neyerthe-
less it found some believers. In the New
York Morning Journal of Wednesday its
Richmond correspondent said:
1t is now believed that Wren, tortured
by the stings of remorse brought about by
the execution of Cluyerius, drank himself
to DEATH"
STATEMENT OF THE WIDOW.
Mrs. Wren. the widow Of the deceased,
was visited at her residence on Ross street
by Dispatch reporter yesterday evening
aud questioned as to the rumor.
- was married to Mr.. Wren over year
ago" said she, and since that time he has
talked with me over and over again about
the Cluverius case. On every occasion he
Dragged about the part he took in bringing
the accused TO justice, and whenever /
spoke of the hard fate of Cluverius he
said ought to be ashamed of myself
~ remember one occasion particularly
when persisted in arguing with him that
Cluverius was no more TO blame than Lii
lian Madison (for | have always been of
that opinion) he said TO me, Shame on
you for undertaking to uphold such a
villain; he ought to have been burned
allVp No hnpnt pQrt N cOfil1 have
been too cruel for such man."
BEiTERATIoY.
Mrs. Wren stated that she had heard
Jack say this on every occasion he ever
spoke of Cluyerius and that was very Of
ten. for the subject seemed to be a source
of ine1haustible pleasure and interest to
him.
She was then asked if there was any
mental alteration at the time OF or somo
hours preceding Mr.. Wren's death, and if
he made any reference TO the trial and
showed any signs OF remorse.
TALKED OF cLUvERIUs on HIS DEATH-BED.
Mrs. Wren said her husband continued
conscious almost to the end, and that in
his last days he spoke quite frequently of
the Cluverius case, but always in the same
exultant way, as if rejoiced ut the part he
had been able TO play in bringing the
offender to justice.
For instance" said Mrs. Wren. "he
was sitting up for little while last Thurs
day, and during that time we commenced
talking about the murder which occurred
on Sixteenth and Franklin streets recently.
He remarked: 1t is something like the
Cluverius case.' and then said: | ON SC
glad the Lord has given me power TO bring
such people to Justice. Such men as Clu-
yerius ought not to be allowed to live"
NO BEMoRsE, BUT PLEASURE.
Mrs. Wren, in conclusion, most en-
phatically denied that his death was caused
by remorse, and asserted that as far az she
knew. and she was certainly III position
to find out, she said he had never ceased to
take the greatest pleasure IN the part lie
bore in this trial. 1T was always has
boast. =" she said, that he did everything
connected with his business in al honest
and truthful manner"
HIS sPREZs.
On being asked if there was any truth In
the statement that the Detectives death
was caused 10y drink, Mrs. Wren replied
Every one knows that Jack had his
sprees and that they generally lasted about
two months, after which he would be en-
tirely abstemious for six or seven months
then he would commence again. About
eight weeks ago ne went 10 New
York one Friday evening and returned
to Richmond the following Sunday, and at
that time he was drinking a good deal, but
| took him in hand before he could have a
long spree, and no was sober again by
Tuesday morning During this time be
was still attending 10 his business, and
though confined to his house con-
tinued to do so up 10 a few days
before his death. Shortly after this
spree he was taken with the grippe
which developed into pneumonia, and died
very suddenly. as he was supposed TO be
considerably bettor when the end came"
Just few hours before his death he was
making arrangements 10 send three of his
force to Franklin county to investigate the
recent fires in Rocky Mount. which were
supposed to be the work of incendiarles.
PROUD OF IT.
Mrs. Il A. WoOdall. neighbOr of Mrs
Wren, corroborated the statements of the
wife OF the deceased, and said that in the
many conversations which she had had
with Mr.. Wren upon the subject Of the
Madison murder she had never known him
10 exhibit other than deep interest and
pride in his part of the trial.
Catholic Beneficial Society.
At the annual meeting of the Catholic
Beneficial Society held at Cathedral Hall,
..~..,,~ NIL o,,J MorcbaIl cfraate tho fol