Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-20
|CLEARY IS ACQUITTED
OF S0N-|N-LAW'S MURDER
Verdict Of Jury Greeted With Cheers
by Crowd In Court
room.
TAKES SIX HOURS TO DEC1Ds,
Prisoner TrcmbIes Visibly and AL
most Loses Control of Himself
When He Hears Words That Give
Him Freedom.
Especial to The T,mcs-Dispatch.l

!
NEW CITY. n. V. December 10
! of the murder OF Eugene Newman. his
son in law, by a jury In Justice Nor
schausers court tonight.
The verdict was n clean-cut triumph
for the "unwritten law" 1t justified
Anna Cleary Ncwman's sacrifice of her
own honor and the memory of her boy
husband. II established in this county
at least. the right Of father to kill
F, in defense of his daughter.
1t took just six hours, almost TO the
minute, for the twelve men to decide
TO free Cleary. Departing from the
courtroom with the judges injunction
that they must not be Swayed by Scnti-
ment ringing in their ears. the jurymen
began their balloting at few minutes
after o'clock They filed back into
court at six minutes past ..
There had not been n moment OF the
| Intervening time when the Jurymcu
had been able to free their minds from
two pictures presented before them in
court last night. One was the view OF
a little girl, slender and shrinking and
hardly out OF short dresses, barring on
tile witness stand the story of her life
The other was the spectacle of her
father, n giant of a man, sitting in the
same chair and Eulping down his sohs
as he told of the visitation OF his home
by the only sorrow that is worse
IMAM death, and OF the total wreck
OF his mentality.
They accepted as gospel truth. APP
parently. Cleary's earnest declaration
that when he shot Eugene Newman he
had not known the boy had made what
amend he could. They believed him
when he said that news broken 20 him
by DIR. Schultz had brought the world
crashing about his ears, till all was
chaos in his mind. And they agreed
with the contention of the defense that
with the death of Anna Cleary'e hus-
band, the fog had cleared from her
with remorse, perhaps, but again as
sane az ever.
TRENiBLES VISIBLY
WHILE AWAITING JURY
Justice Motreschauser took his place
on the bench and Cleary was sent for
after the jury had announced that it
wished to report. The defendant came
in through the little green door at tho
back of the court, accompanied by his
wife and brother. Ambrose Cleary. Mrs
Cleary's eyes were red with weeping
ana she shook ms If with ngue. Cleary
also was trembling visibly.
Ambrose Cleary patted Mrs Cleary
and he led her from the room. AS the
door swung behind her. she uttered
wailing cry. and had to be assisted TO
the Sheriff's room downstairs.
The jury filed In. Their faces were
devoid of expression\and as he faced
them. practically alone, Cleary turned
pale
Gentlemen have you agreed upon
your verdict?' asked tho white haired
old clerk.
I'VE have" answered several in uni
son.
Who speaks for you"
Il do" answered Frank Heddy, juror
No. 1.
What is your vertictr
Not guilty"
Cleary almost lost his footing. He
rallied hmm ediately, and, after shaking
hands Imply with his lawyer, walked
unsteadily over to the jury box and
wrung each mans hand.
THANK you, gentlemen, for your
just and righteous verdict" he said
The prisoner Is discharged" said
Justice Morschauscr In response to n
motion by Mr.. Comesky, Clearys coun-
sci. Cleary, with Comesky and a group
of friends. walked from the room with
the cheers Of the crowd ringing in
their ears.
Downstairs Cleary almost collapsed
into the arms Of his wife, who scrooned
over him like mother over n child