The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-18
SCH00LB0Y, SON
OF RICH MAN, is
HELDASSLAYER
Arrested After a Years Hunt
for the Man Who MUIR
dered Chauffeur.
MALCOLM CLIFFORD. JR..
INDICTED IN ALBANY
Drivers Papers Said to Have
Been Found Near Where
Youth Visited.
OFFERS OTHER EVIDENCE
Shooting Near Albany Long a
Battling Crime-RObbery
Thought Motive.
OFFERS OTHER EVIDENCE


| Alexander of Albany county believes to-
| night that he has solved murder myst, ry
that has defied solution for a year by the
arrest of Malcolm clifford, Jr.. the eigh.
teen year-oid son OF wealthy Hudson
manufacturer and prize scholar OF the
senior class at willis,on Academy. Willis.
ton. Mass.
The Grand Jury returned a first de-
gree murder indictment tonight against
the prisoner. charging him with shooting
to death Frank J. Clute, an Albany chauf-
feur. on the night OF April l. 1913. for the
purpose of robbery.
The boy was arrested on Tuesday night
at Chatham on his way back to the
academy after spending the Easter hol-
days with his parents
RE was brought to Albany and kept a
secret prisoner until this afternoon, when
the authorities notified his father. Mr..
Clifford. who Is vice-president OF the Gif-
ford Wood Manufacturing Company. Hud
sons principal industry. at once employed
lawyers to defend his son and sent worn
that he would be in Albany tomorrow
morning.
Robbery IL Theory.
The county detectives. who have been
working on the case for a year. say that
clifford. who was visiting at the home OF
Henry Boardman. a Troy lawyer. at the
time OF the murder. killed the chauffeur
with the idea of selling his car and getting
money to free him from financial troubles.
While clifford was prisoner In the
Albany county penitentiary awaiting
Grand Jury action his family believed
him to be at school. Mr.. clifford was
not notified OF his sons arrest until this
afternoon. He expressed confidence In
the boys innocence and severely criticised
the authorities for their course.
His SchOOlmates Testify.
The reason for the delay in the indict-
ment was that the District Attorney had
difficulty In getting witnesses he wanted
before the Grand Jury. Among these
witnesses was Derrick Boardman. son
OF the lawyer and schoolmate of Gif-
ford. Other school friends gave testi-
The search for the murderer Jagged
until recently. although several persons
were arrested on suspicion. until Il work
man repairing the roof OF the Board
man home found under the tin roof and
In reach of the window Of the room
young clifford had occupied Clute's
chauffeur's license and letters with his
name on them
This material was at once turned over
20 the District Attorney and machinery
was set in motion which resulted In the
arrest.
The direct allegations against Clifford,
based on the testimony of his school
friends before the Grand Jury to-day.
and on evidence gathered by the District
Attorneys men, are these
That he was visiting at the home OF
Henry Boardman the night Of the murder.
That he left the house about I 80
o'clock that evening saying he would be
back later and that he returned at IL 30.
That his clothes were In disorder, which
he explained had resulted fro a fall.
That he subsequently exhibited an auto
matte revolver to classmates at the acad-
envy. saying. II suppose you don't know
that / used that once"
That on the night OF the murder n
stranger who was clothed az he Is said
to have been hired Clute to drive him
from the Circle in Albany to Troy, six
miles away.
That the chauffeur's license and papers
were hidden by him after the murder.
That he shot Clute through the head
several times and then. finding he could
not run the car dragged the body into
field.
That he took Ciute's scarf pin. other
small pieces OF jewelry and the chauf-
feur's pocketbook. containing small
amount OF money.
That the Clute automobile showed that
an attempt to run 1t had been made by
some one who didn't know how.
Girl In the Case.
1t is also charged that robbery was
not the only motive. The police think
that Clifford wanted revenge on Clute for
taking out for n ride n girl with whom
the schoolboy was acquainted.
The District Attorneys men say that
Clifford was not In good standing at
school and that his supply OF funds had
been cut OF by his father
over the telephone tonight DR.. Farrier.
head OF Williston Academy. said that Gif-
ford had been there only three months,
coming from "A school at Hoosack Falls.
that he was an excellent student stand
ing at the head Of the senior class and