Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-08
REID AND CLEMENTS.
Mr.. R. R. HoWison on Thtlr
Crime.
PRESIDENT rILLMoRE's ACTION.
A RccepituIntiop OF the Evidence
The Testimony of Costciio-A Nor
bid Interest Excitcd-The Fetition
for Their Pardon.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:


spected friend. MIR, j. II. Pannill. OF
Chatham. Va. He has done nothing 10
repel the criticisms justly visited upon
him for his charges that President Jeffer-
son Davis dit nj the bait and was hook
ed" into the policy OF Blair-that IS, OF
aiding the Federal armies TO drive the
French and Macmillan out OF Mexico,
and that Davis fell into a griovous blum
der in not entering into alliance with the
French empire under Louis Napoleon.
As 20 my own opihions and position, 81
IS sufficient 20 say that while always
warmly southern and Confederate. I
never desired to see monarchy cherished
by Copfederates. Democracy Is our prin-
ciple--not the futile attempt 10 let demo-
cratic assemblies exercise the actual
power Of legislation, but the democracy
which recognizes the people-demos-as
the true source Of all power in human
government In applying the word par
venu 10 Louis Napoleon the exact Ute
was given which he merited by his life
lie had all. and moro than all, Of the un-
scrupulous. vicious, inhuman ambition or
L.
lcctual power. his military genius. MS
vast faculty for administration, his In
tuitlye skill IN sounding the depths OF
human minds. Louis Napoleon, during
many years OF his life was a mere ad-
yenturer, drifting about from place 10
place in Europe and America, waiting,
like Micawber for "something 10 turn
up" His name was all Of him that was
worth anything. and that turned out to
be worth very little. He literally "waded
through slaughter 70 a throne for the
events Of the coup d'etat" set IN motion
by him caused blood 20 fiow abun6antly
in the streets Of Paris and in The French
provinces. His conduct. In seeking 70
overturu the republic Of Mexico and to
establish Prince OF the House of Aus
tria as Emperor there. was attended by
the worst forms Of fraud and yillsiny that
have ever Gissraced such attempts in
this world.
Let US devoutly thank God that the
"Confedcrate states" were saved from the
humiliatlOn-yes the desradatlon-of an
alliance with France under this scheming
adventurer. lie IS ono Of the most dis
mai failures Il al the failures that mon
archie ambition has brought to this
world.
FOR TRUTH AND RIGHT.
Now le, me say Few words to virdl
cate the cause Of truth and right, and
The honor OF q DISTINGUISHED and noble
name IN American history. These words
relate 20 these q the murtersTs Red
ana Clements. who were executed by
hanging IN the suburbs Of Richmond
about fOrty-fYe years ago. TWO state
ments about their case and execution
have lately appeared in the Dispatch.
One Of these statements openly ques-
o. fta rrfar -
on the Justice and honor Of President
Milard Fillmore. who refused 70 pardon
them. But, fortunately for the truth Of
history and the good name Of Presi-
dent Fillmore. full evidence is in exist
once proving the guilt Of the nan. ana
that their crime was one Of the foulest,
most deliberate. and most untustinabie
murders ever committed on the hish
sens The facts established upon the
trial were briefly these: That Keil ana
Clements were sailors, who had embarked
on a schooner trading between the
1-n,ted States and the West Indies; that
in one Of the West India Islands the cap
tain Of the schooner sold her cargo and
received the money. which ne carried
eb,ar,l. that IN the harbCr his suspicious
were excited by seeing Clements partly
concealed behind one OF thu masts ana
whattins several sheath knives; that II
afterwards appeared that box contain
ing several pistols and knives hH Deem
stealthily conveyed aboard, that the
schooner sailed. having aboard besides
the captain. Reid, and Clements, another
sailor named Costello, COOK, ana
sailor-passenger. who was WORKING
his way: that after the schooner was
well out 60 sea. on q bright moonlight
night. the captain was reused from MS
sleep by hearing mems footsteps on the
1ack. that the passenger was at the
rudder. and I'm q short time the captain
heard a struggle ani deep g:oans; mat
re caught up a loaded pistol ana pushed
omen the hatch-coor and saw the paSsen-
,er living on the deck. and the moonlight
gave "a Fight. OF stream OF blood run
ming from hts side. and that I'eld was
near the dying man. Further, that or,
soa,,g the captain Reid instantly nred
a large pistol at him. but missed; tnat
the coptaln returned the fire with ms pi'-
toI which was OF small calibre, but. iot-
tunatelv the bullet took effect IN heil
check and he fell 20 the deck; that lhe
,,Dtoin nv this time suspected an Or
cauiZcI attempt 20 seize the Vessel to'
,ir,,,v and drew back into the CABIN
shutting the door. The COOK was VIZ"
rim costello testified that REID soon r.
covered. and he and Clements poV,'
urged him to join them but ne refused.
M. vent 10 the ruider; the passenger
49, ~ sbort time. and Clements took
-, .ho tnife which had done the murder
ord handed Il to Reid, who received IL
ond after wiping # put 1t into his shea'h'
THE TRIAL.
,,,,,s MATTERS continued for moro than
, dav when Reid and Clements. npdlng
80 thev could not dislodge nor XVI the
ea,tain and. doubtless. fearing That the
.cbooner would be taken into custody, lel'
~ On the largest boat. CoSteHo lhihc-
ats,elv Informed the captain. who came
out with the cook, and the three haVi-
.,,ted the schooner into United sta'es
,ort. Reid and Clements made thelr way
"a The omen boat. 10 the spanish mann.
srheir accounts and movements excited
.,,sr,c,on they were taken into CUSTODY
ana surrendered 30 tho United States
Cons,l ,yho sent them TO Norfolk. The
rial was In the United States court az
pichmond IN which Judge James D.
HALLIBURTON presided. Mr.. James A. 90
warain. IN the kindest way, conferred
with me as 90 a report OF the trial. ana
aided him by suggestions 10 MS re-
porters. A report OF the evidence appear
"a in the Dispatch, but the fullest report
no, onlv OF the evidence. but Of the
questions o. law raised and their de-
clsion. was made By me. ! was then q
nractic,ng lawyer in Richmond. William
,r Joynes afterwards Judge OF the SUI
preme Court OF Appeals Of Virginia), was
the District Attorney. He courteousiy per
Initted me 20 examine all the papers, IN
Guiding the Spanish documents. relatint
70 the case. william T.. Byrd. notwith
standing his feeble health at the time
made a very earnest and able defence o'
the prisoners. The jury soon rendered. q
verdict Of guilty against Reid and Clem
,,ao -oi