New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-28
MURDER IN OPEN COURT.
A BROTHER AvENGES HIS wRONGED SISTER

THE YOUTH WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO THE
ORIME SHOT DBAD-A FIERCE STRUGGLE
WITH THE sLAYER,-EXCITEMENT IN
THE GENERAL SESSIONS BUILDING.
Murder WAS done in dramatic style in Part
of the Court of General Sessions yesterday morn
ing. Max Clerget had just pleaded guilty 10
assaulting Sarah Owens, girl of hfteen when
bo was shot by her brother Edward. Clerget
lyod only few minutes after being wounoeo
He was related by marriage to the man VINO
killed him, his 0rotner oelhS 'he huso"hu vi
Divenes sister.
Clerpet who was a youth Of eighteen, was
brousht 10 court from the Tombs yesterday morn
ing 10 plead to the Indictment for criminal
assault After the Rev. Thomas Dixon; Jr., had
nleaded not guilty 10 the charge OF hbelllhs
Excise Commissioner Joseph Koch, Clerget was
arraigped at the bar Of the court before Judge
MARITIME. The youth pleaded guilty. In reply.
N questions by the clerk, Edward }. Hall, ne
said he was eighteen years old, lived at NO. o4o
East Fifteenth-st, and had no occupation
Judge Marines attention was distracted for
moment and Thomas +. Cherry, a lawyer, who
was standing beside the prisoner, spoke a few
words with him. Then Clerget said in broken
Epslish-being a native of France-that he wished
20 withdraw his plea Of guilty. Judge MARITIME
would not listen to anything of the kind No.
sr.r he said with decision "When prisoner
has pleaded guilty l don't propose to let him
change his mind because a lawyer whispers
few words into his ear-not unless there Is good
reaeon for it, Cherry protested that he had not
persuaded the youth to demand trial, ana
Clerget began 70 explain that he had acted from
his own volition Judge MARITIME, however, waved
them both off lie rcnanded Clerget until Thurs
day for sentence
Part I Of the Court of General Sessions is
the second floor of the building. The judges
bench IA in the south end of the room. and at
the opposite end is the prisoners pen, as IT
is called railing running across the room di-
vides 1t into two parts OF nearly equal size The
place toward the south is reserved for jurors
lawyers witnesses, etc That part Of the room
between this railing and the prisoners box is
filed with benches for the general public These
benches rise one above the other. An aisle
running north and south cuts through these
banks of seats and leads TO the PEN"
A thin-faced young man, with black hair and
not over-in,elligent features, bad a seat right
on the aisle. He the bench next to the
rear enc of the tiers on the west side Of the
room His left side was toward the aisle. Every
prisoner who was brought from the box this
man stared at Finally Clerget, sallow youth
with trace of mustache, summoned 10
the bar The man never took his eyes from
him When Judge MARITIME finally settled the
case the prisoner sent back 70 the box
half dozen court officers were stationed be-
tween the bar and the rear Of the room. to sec
that no prisoner escaped Clergct started back
watched by all the officers.
The prisoner got nearly 30 the end of the aisle
when the spectators saw the thin-faced man rlse
to his feet, draw his revolver, reach over the
railing, press the weapon almost TO Clereets 5
left breast and fire. All was done so rapidly that
the wounded man was staggering away "eioic
anv one realized what had happened. An In
slant later. however, four court officers lesped
through the cloud Of blue smoke that surrounded
the diving man and the murderer, pounccd on the
man with the revolver and srove TO wrest IL
from hi. grasp. One shot had not satisfied the
brother's vengeance however, and he fought with
the strength and fury OF mailman p'ssessed OF
ten devils
At the sound Of the report all had turned toward
the spot where it fired. The smoke sho"ei
that the noise was not due TO breaking seat OF
ANYTHING of the kind, but to the discharge OIL
81 weapon All those near the scene darted away,
fearing a second shot. Eight or ten women SAT
in the space reserved for them, and nearly al
.c.,amed One of them had seen the shooting
and she shrieked "Oh, my God, my God! It's
M, brother. They're killing my brother!' She
N
pr;soner' and sister Of Edward Owens, who had
shot him. Her young sister, the victim of the
assault was also present and her cries increased
the uproar.
Exclamations Of horror and fear were heard
on all sides, and men shouted: Take the pistol
away from him. In the crowded courtroom an
other shot would certainly have struck some one
and none could help fearing that IN the struggle
the weapon would be discharged again.
Judge MARITIME preserved his sclf-possession as
r1rfectly as if nothing wrong. His hrs'
tbonght was for the honor and dignity OF the
court and he gave a loud rap for order WIN MS
ravel The sound exactly like that OF tfe
pistol shot and all in hearing started ana Iooheo
around to see who had been the second Nicoh''
Tho first report had been heard nearly all over
the building, and hundred persons had sra, ,e'
for the courtroom At the second sound all be-
rovod that a fusjladc was being fred, and some
HING about the door before entering the room
Soon q number came in. however and crow"cd
a,,ut the mass OF struggling officers lhe Jam
was increased by those who had been III the room
all the time and were just recovering from uicii
fright .,,o
In the meantime an officer had wrenched the
pistol from Divens's grasp, and the others nao
overpowered him. Judge MARITIME raped Vieo
rousIv for order at short intervals and the cou:'
officers soon compelled all 10 he quiet ana 10 ''he
their seats. Mrs. Clergct's screams conId ho' "e
stflFa so she was pushed into the corridor Hc'
sister who was in charge of II. h. stocking asen'
Of the Gerry society, was also taken away -
court officer brought thc revolver to the c'erN
desk and reported that prisoner had been sno'
JUDGE MARITIME formally committed to the lomo'
the assailant.
As Clerset staggered on being shot, Aioer'
Walker. court officer, grabbed hin oy ,"e
sbouiders and led him to the open space uhuo,
the window. The youth pressed his right manu-
70 the wound in his left breast and mnt'crea
~Ob. nv God" These were the only conerei''
vpords be uttered after being Shot lie was iai"