The Detroit times., 1911-04-22
CleminsOn Says he Kept
Secret to Save Woman


Anita Schmidt left st. Louis last
night To come to Chicago, according
to ST. Louis advices, in an effort TO
save DR.. Haldane Cleminson. she can
not be located today. She had not
visited Cleminson, his parents or his
attorneys.
Cleminson was tried for murder,
the state asked for the death penalty,
but the jury recommended mercy and
the physician was sentenced to a life
Imprisonment In the state penitenti-
airy at Joliet The state supreme
court upheld the verdict OF the lower
courts
Former Judge UT, who has known
Cleminson for "a years, said today
he had in his possession aftidavits
which he thought would clear Glenn
inson.
Il have an affidavit from Mrs.
Schmidt in which she admits that by
appointment she went TO DR.. Clemin-
sons office at o'clock on the night
OF the murder" he said. DIR. Hervey
who had an office with Cleminson,
was there when Cleminson came In
at $3.50. Hervey left them there.
Cleminson was drinking at the time.
Both Mrs. Schmidt and Hervey have
taken AFFIDAVIT that Cleminson and
Mrs. Schmidt were still in the office
at 8 o'clock when Hervey returned.
They left the Office, Hervey thinks,
at 4:3O in the morning. Mrs. Schmidt
saws DR.. Cleminson then took her
home and boarded an elevated train
at Larabee-st for his home in Rogers
Park. I have an affidavit from an Il
conductor who saw Cleminson leave
the train at AIS the morning OF the
murder.
These facts prove to my mind that
Cleminson could not possibly have
committed the murder but that Mrs.
Cleminson killed herself and the doc
tor preferred death to involving the
other woman"
\" The states attorneys office gives
little credence TO the woman's story.
/ ut cannot save Cleminson," said
Assistant States Attorney Northrup,
"even IL II is true. WHICH ! doubt. II
looks like a frame up TO me. There
have been numerous cases OF this
kind before in the courts but / do
not recall a single instance where
they have saved the prisoners"
Despite the attitude taken by the
states attorneys Office, Cleminson In
the Cook county jail, today declared
he was sure the woman's testimony
would clear him of the charge OF Kill,
ing his wife.
Mrs. Schmidt's story" he said
choosing his words carefully, was un'
fortunately true. But | should neve:
have unsealed my lips; | felt 1t was
the part OF an honorable man to re-
main silent. AS to the details OF the
night. Mrs. Schmidt will tell them
When she does, the world will not
condemn her nor be so harsh in its
Judgment as IL now Is. She Is not
guilty OF anything SO criminal as her
own story would indicate.
at never was guilty of the crime
charged, and relied upon the weight
of nv own innocence to save me and
convince the Jury and public that
was innocent. The state showed that
I had been guilty of intrigues with
women and IL was prejudice, not evi
dence. that convicted me. | expected
TO be acquitted, but | was resolved
tnat, no HlhlltT WHAT NhV OOhSN
ouences would be, never would have
sacrificed Mrs. Schmidts reputation
I perjured myself like man, l think;
not even death would have unsealed
my lips"
Cleminson's attorneys will make an
immediate effort TO secure new
trial
on the morning OF May 20, 1909, DR.
Haldane Cleminson. a prominent and
prosperous north side physician. tele
phoned 10 the Rogers Park police sta.
ton that burglars had entered his
home and that his wife was dead
from the effects OF chloroform admin
istered by the intruders. DR.. Clemin
sons actions aroused suspicion from
the start He declared he, too. had
been chloroformed and that when ne
recovered from the effects OF the
drug, he found his dead wife beside
him.
Even after being arrested he held
to the burglar story for several days
then admitted, he said. that his wife
had killed herself and that he con
cocted the burglar story TO avert dis
grace from her name.
OPTION vIoLAToR SENT UP.