The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1914-11-13
NEGRO FREED ON ASSAULT
CHARGE IN RICHMOND
White and Colored Believe Him Innocent---Two
Negroes Identified Before Clements
Lawyers and Priest Defend Him

(Richnond News Leader, October 30-)
\ verdict Of not guilty was today re-
turned i'm the CASE Of John Clements. fhe
Negro tried in the Ilenrico circuit court
on an indictment charging him with a
capital crime against Miss Fannie T.
Chenault. The verdict was rendered at
ll:3O o'clock. The jury had Deen out
lS hours.
Clements recei 'ed the verdict in si-
lence. lie grippel the railing IN front
of him Wien Deputy Clerk Fletcher or
dered him tn stand mp. lie was visibly
nervous. Sitting back in his seat, he
turne.i To- Father Hannigan and his at
torneys and thanked them tor the service
they had rendered him.
Miss Chenanlt was not i'm court when
the verdict was announced. Her father,
w. W. Chenault. said he had no state
ment e make at this time. The consen-
rus Of opinion seemed to lie that the YER
dict Was just one.
Immediately after the verdict was re-
turned. Clements WAS arrested on a war
rant charging him with the theft of a
wrench from Charlir Dean. He was
trle,i in the lower court Immediately af-
ter his a~quitt~l'o 'on the serious charge.
Ills attorneys ann"nncri that i'm rase Of
cCnvicti"n they would Immediately APP
peal To the higher court
FREED rN LARCENY CHARGE.
ClementS A. acquitted 10y Magistrate
Sunday or ihe charge Of stealing the
wrench. The trial was brief but a touch
Of dramati. waS given IL by the appear
ance of Father Hannigsn and his ad-
dress to tn. court after the evidence had
been heart
Attorne, Irving May, who represented
Clements. admitted TO the court that the
Negro hal taken the wrench from Chas.
Deans farm on Mays.
lie sail, however. that the pressing OF
the larceny charge alter the Negro's life
had been i'm jeopardy Was persecution.
Dean identified the wrench and said IL
was stolen from his farm.
At the conclusion Of the evidence,
Father Hanniyan was granted leave TO
address the court. lie SAIL: "Beca.se Of
the state wide popularity Of the verdict
in the ease which has just ended in the
circnit court, where this hoy.was on trial
for his life. ] ask As a man. a citizen and
a minister of the gospel that he he liber-
ated. will take personal charge OF
him. II will -s'e that he j. fed to-day
! will purchase ticket to Norfolk for
him mi send him to his relatives. lie
has been iHca-ceratel six months and
think he has been punish a enough -
Father IIannigan stated that none Of
the three attorneys who defended Clem-
ents in the trial for his life received one
cent Of fee lie said they all felt he was
innocent and gave their services in the
csu~e of justice.
Magistrate sunday seemed inclined 70
believe with Father IIannigan. lie dis
missed the larceny charge and. Clements
left the c"urthou-e In the custody Of the
priest.
DIGGS DISAPPOINTED.
When -een this afternoon'a after the YER
dict was returned Attorney Digs who
represented the Chenault family said:
81 DO not like n criticize the verdict
Of jurleS or the deci-i"ns of courts in
ca-es in which appear a.. counsel and
do not mean TO criticize the jury in this
case. can only say that ] Was very sad
ly disappointed in the verdict.
81. 81.
Sufficient 70 Justify conviction. Miss
Chenault positively identified the Negro.
Eddie Martin saw q man following her
and Mr.. and Mr-. veitch and Conductor
slaughter positively identified this man
- the one Who was lettering in the
neighboriboOi II Pecof's switch immedi-
ateiy precefine the crime. AMI Clements
mu-t have leen tlf man Martin saw fol-
lowing Mi-- Chcnault
This testimony regarded A. sufficient
o. fix the crime ON Clements.
In =, gard % the identifcations Of
kiddick and Thompson. the man killed
by Sergeant Krenele. they were clearly
not TIN men. and think the witness
~ere mistaken in saying that Mic Che
nault positively identified them.
Mr.. Chenault = heart-broken Al the
verdict. and feel very sorry for him. n
, think. however. that the jury acquitted
clenents on tie grounds II lack of den
tificasion and not hecan~e IL dorhted the
truth or sincerity of Mi-s Chepsuit"
The Richmond Planet Made the