The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-12-21
CLEARY IS
NOT GUILTY
Is Acquitted by Jury of the
Charge of Muir
der
KILLED HIS
SON-IN-LAW
The Jury Was Impressed by
Mans Love for His
Daughter

New City, n. Y, Dec. Gl.-Wiliam V,
Cleary, town clerk of Haverstraw and
Democratic leader in Rockand county
was acquitted by jury in the supreme
court here Saturday night of the charge
of murder in the first degree, on which
he was tried for the killing of Eugene
NJ. Newman, his son-in-law. Announce
II ent of the verdict was the signal for a
demonstration by Cleary's friends, who
lad remained in the courtroom while the
jury was celebrating.
When the jury sent word that it had
agreed, Cleary was brought in from the
Jail, adjoining the courthouse. His APP
pearance showed the effects of the strain
he had been under after the jury's re-
tirement.
Mrs. Cleary, who was in court when
the announcement came, was overcome
by nervous attack Her extreme pale
ness and evident state of deep agitation
attracted District Attorney Gagan's at
tention. He requested that she be tax
en- from the room and she was escorted
out by Cleary's brother, Ambrose.
When the jury filed in it was appsr
emit what the verdict would be. Foreman
Frank Heddy, when asked what the jury
had found, almost shouted the words,
Not guilty"
Cheers and applause followed the an
ncuncement. Cleary seemed dazed at
first and unable to comprehend the sig
nificance of the jury's finding. When he
finally collected himself he asked for
permission to thank the jury. II was
granted and he shook hands with each
one of the IL men, saying; Gentlemen,
| thank you for your merciful and right
eous verdict"
Cleary Immediately afterward hurried |
out of the courtroom and joined his wife, |
VINO already had been apprised of the |
verdict. They embraced and each wept |
silently for a moment.
1t was learned that at no time during
the jury's deliberations were more than
four votes cast for Cleary's conviction
on any ballot. The jury's vote stood
s to for acquittal until the last ballot
One of the jurors, as he was leaving
the courthouse, gave an indication of
what had influenced the jury, at least in
part, in its finding. The scene between
father and daughter in the courtroom
Friday had affected them greatly, he
said, impressing them with a belief in
his sincere and overpowerful love for the
girl.
District Attorney Gagan commented
only briefly on the outcome, expressing
with the verdict.
Cleary and his wife left Immediately
for his mothers home in Haverstraw to
spend the night. The acquitted mans
mother, who is IS years old, had not .
been informed of her sons plight.
His daughter, Anna, of whose hus. .
bands murder Cleary was accused, is in
New York City with a friend Cleary
will go South for recuperation and then .
Expects to resume his clarkship of the /,
own OF Haverstraw, where he is Demo.
ratio leader.
Newman was shot on July % last
while he was in Cleary's office in Havel
traw, waiting TO tell the town clerk that (:
lie had married his daughter II was
1eary's claim in the testimony offered ,
i the trial that, although he had learned !:
hat his daughter was 20 become moth 4
r, he did not know that Newman had
married her :,
The town clerk declared that. driven
out OF his mind by his 4
aughter's plight, he had no recollection :;
events Immediately preceding the =
hooting or Of the tragedy itself.
The jury. after hearing summing up Of !
ounsel and the judges charge. retired ,
portly after , O'Clock Saturday after L
Don and deliberated six hours and four =
inutes IN reaching a verdict.