Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-06-28
HER WRONGS
Avenged by Her Brother in Crowded Court Room
the Man Who Plead Guilty to Assault Shot
Dead By His Victims Brother-A SenSa-
tonal Tragedy in New York.

NEW YORK, June 27.-Max Clerget,
aged Is, who had just pleaded guilty OF
criminal assault upon Sarah Devin, was
shot and killed in the General Sessions
Court this morning, by the girls broth
err, Edwin Devn. The murderer was
promptly arrested.
Sarah Devin was Clerget's sister-in-
law. The outrage was committed June
Is, at 543 East Fifteenth street Cler-
get was arrested the same day.
Judge MARITIME was trying another
case when Clerget was brought TO the
bar to plead 10 the indictment against
him. The prisoner pleaded guilty and
was being led away when Devin shot
him dead.
A few minutes before young Clergett
was shot 10 death, the Rev. Thomas
Dixon had been called upon TO plead TO
the indictment of libelling excise com
missioner Koch, and then Clergett step
ped 10 the bar TO plead. His face was
very white and perspiration stood IN
beads on his forehead. The little girl
whom he had ruined was in Court, and
began to cry softly as Clergett admitted
his guilt. The prisoner never looked
at her. demanded until Thursday
for sentence, said Judge MARITIME.
Up to this point the case had been
conducted in the most rigid routine
way, and little or no attention was paid
to the prisoner as he turned his back on
the Judge and started for the prisoners
pen, Young Diven sat near the pen on
the end of one of the benches reserved
for the public.
He is a thin, emanCiated looking man.
As Clergett approached him his dark
eyes lighted. He leaned partially for
ward. People afterward remembered
that he held one hand in his jacket
pocket. CIergett saw him just as he
neared the pen door. He faltered and
raised his hand in Il depreCating way TO
ward of Diven, who Sprang forward,
clasped his pistol close 10 the left breast
Of his sisters betrayer, and fired one
shot. Clergett fell on the broad Of his
back dead
For an instant there was not another
sound in the room. The smoke from
the pistol mounted in the air Owen
stood over his victim, look OF hate on
his face and his derringer pointed down
at the motionless figure on the floor.
The police awoke first from their leth-
argy and jumped for the murderer. He
made No resistance and was led Into the
hall. Then he became hySterical and
cried aloud for his sister. He was
taken before a coroner who committed
him at once He refused 10 make any
statement but on the way to prison he
continued 10 call for sarah, Sarah, y
the dead mans victim.
Clergett'S body was taken to the
morgue where an autopsy was made.
The bullet cut clean through his heart.
Death was instantaneous. General
sympathy is expressed for Devin, whose
brain is thought TO have been turned by
the ruin of his sister, who was his pet
and favorite. He has always been
sickiy and paralytic, the muscles OF his
right side being seriously affected. He
gave his ageaas twenty-five years, lie
was born hefe, and Clergett In Paris.
Hardly had the excitement caused by
Clergett'S murder subsidized when anoth-
er scene Interrupted a trial in part of
same building. John HE'D was on trial
charged with having assaulted eight
year-old Rose LObebr on March S, 1891.
The case had just been closed when a
well dressed man sitting among the
spectators sprang suddenly TO his feet
aud yelled who's got rope? Who's
got a rope?" He was quickly pOunced
upon by several court officers and hust-
led ont of the building, he was not
arrested. He explained that mis- little
daughter has charge Of similar char
acter pending against a man and that
his feelings were aroused by the sum
ming up of the District Attorney.