The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-28

Max CIergett Instantly Killed By Edward
Divins.


Divins.
Ngw YoRK. June 27.-NIax Clergett. eigh-
teen years old, was shot and instantly killed
in part Of the court Of general sessions this
morning by Edward Divins. of No. 052
Washington street Clergett had been Ar.
raigned before Judge MARITIME on charge OF
raping DivIns' ftteen-ycaT-old sister Sarah on
the 18th instant. and pleaded guilty. lie was
then remanded tor sentence until Thursday.
and as he turned end walked through the
aisle 70 return % the prisoners pom young
Divins arose. and holding q self-eoeking der
ringer to Clergetts heart. fred before hand
could be outstretched TO restrain him. Clsr-
gett fell dead.
tion. Women screamed aud fed and men
swayed 10 and fro 10 get near to the murderer
and his victim.
Divins when arrested was very cool and
went out of the courtroom with two police
men. who escorted him 20 tn City Hall pollce-
station The body of Clergett was removed
soon afterwsrd. and Judge MARITIME adjourned
court for the day.
Divins' sister lived with her widowed sister
who had married Clergetts brother. and
minded the children. She was alone on the
18th instant when Clergett visited his sister
in-lawis house at 543 east Fifteenth street and
accomplished his purpose.
The bullet entered the body on the ieft sids
and passed through the heart. The negiigse
shirt worn by Clergett was scorched and
blackened with powder. Young Divins and
his sister are said 10 be mentally weak The
affair caused great excitement among those IN
attendance on the court Judge MARITIME
ordered the doors closed and personally ci-
rected the clearing out OF the courtroom.
Later Divins was arraigned before Coroner
Schultz. He gave bis age AS twenty-five years
aud his residence as 447 east Sixteenth street.
To the coroner's question as to why be killed
Clergett he made no roply He looked wild
aud glsred at those III the room IA each qucs-
tioD was asked.
When the shooting occurred there was al
most panic in the crowded courtroom. sew
eral policemen forced their way through the
crowd and threw themselves upon Diyins,
who. however. made no resistance. and, IN
fact, could not have done 80. ss he Is a Grip
pie.
When asked why be had fred the shot
Divins pointed TO the dying man and said
That fellow betrayed my sister,"
This was all he would say. and he did not
seem at all excited. He kept his eyes on his
victim and seemed 10 take satisfaction in
watching his last struggles. As he was
being hurried away he said to the officers
Don't pull my arms 50 hard. the handouts
hurt"
A few minutes before young Clergett was
been called upon 10 plead to the indictment
Of libeling Excise Commissioner Koch. and
then Clergett stepped TO tho bar 70 plead.
lie seemed 10 feel his position keenly. his
face was very white perspiration stood IN
beads on bis forehead.
The little girl whom he had ruined was in
court and began to ysoftiy as Clergett al.
mitted bis guilt. The prisoner never looked
at her =.
demanded until Tuesday for sentence"
said Judge MARITIME.
Up 70 this point the case had been con-
Quoted in the most rigid routine way aud
little or no attention was paid 20 the prisoner
as he turned his back on the Judge and
started for the prisoners pen. Young Divine
sat near the pen on an end Of one Of the
benches reserved for the public.
lie is q thin, emaciatod-looking man. As
Clergett approached him his blue eyes blazed
with fire. lie leaned partly forward. People
afterward remembered that he hold one hand
in bis Jacket pocket Clergett saw him Just
ss be neared the pen door He faltered and
raised his hand in deprecatsng ~ay toward
/ Diyins. who sprapg forward, clapped his gun
close 20 the left breast of bis sisters betrayer
and fred one shot. Ciergett fell dead on the
! broad Of his back
For an instant there was not another sound
in the room. The smoke from tho pistol
mounted quickly in the air. Diylns stood
over bis victim. look of hendish hate on his
face and bis derringer pointed down at the
motionless figure on the floor. The police
finally awoke from their lethargy and
jumped for the murderer. lie made no re-
sistanca and was led into the hall. Then hs
became hysterieal and cried aloud for his
afe