The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-19
Father Asserts Son Is limo
cent Of Chauffeur's
Murder.
CALLS on HIM IN STATION
Secret Imprisonment Before In.
dictment Is Denounced
rs Outrage.


vace.president OF the Wood. Clifford Com
pany Of Hudson. came to Albany this
morning and had an interview with his
son. Malcolm Clifford. Jr.. just past his
eighteenth birthday, who was indicted yes
terday for the murder Of Frank J. Chute.
An Albany chauffeur, on April 1, 1913.
Although the boy was arrested on Tues
day afternoon. it was not until 80
o'clock yesterday afternoon that word
was sent to his parents.
When he left his son yesterday Mr..
Clifford said that his son had asked i'm
mediatey after his arrest that his parents
be notified and that. according to the
boy, District Attorney Alexander refused
to permit him to communicate with them.
In the nearly seventy-two hours that
interviewed between his arrest and his
Indictment the boy was locked up. a. ne
is now. in the detention room of the police
station. while the District Attorney waited
or the boy to explain his whereabouts at
the time of the murder
In spite of repeated questioning Gift
ford refused to answer. Finally. yester-
aay afternoon, the Grand Jury voted an
ndctment against him. the parents were
rotfed and the arrest became public.
Say. We Gave hoy u Chance.
District Attorney Alexander explains
that he took this unusual course with
~ ~ 49,. 49,
xplain away the suspicion against him.
md If he succeeded In this. that his name
night never become public in connection
With the matter.
This view of the action Of the District
>torney is not shared by his friends
md family in Hudson. They do not UNI
derstand why the youth. admittedly Of
excellent local repute should not have
Z enjoyed the usual advantages Of COM
muncatng with parents and counsel be-
fore he should be catechised.
Even as late as Thursday night po-
Ice and prosecuting officials Of Albany
county denied to reporters that an ar
rtst had been made in the Clute case
different explanation than that Of
'ered by the District Attorney was given
To-day by another of those who have had
to do with the solution Of the Clute MUIR
Ter.
His explanation was that to avoid the
'possibe inconvenience Of extraditiOn
proceedings, II was deemed advisable to
make the arrest before the young man
eft the state for his school In Massa-
chusetts, even though no indictment had
yet been found. The boy was then kept
IN secret custody for the three days that
elapsed before the Grand Jury handed
up its accusation
The news of the arrest. however. was
hol complete surprise to the elder Gif-
lord for he had been informed two weeks
ago when his son first came home for
'ne Easter vacation that private detec-
ives IN The employ of District Attorney
Alexander were searching for a connec-
ton between his son and the crime. Mr..
"'rord Immediately had a talk with the
10y about IT,
hoy Denied Guilt.
y asked him if he was guilty and II
ne wanted TO go away" the father said
yesterday. Il told him that this WAS no
ume for anything but the truth. He de-
med all knowledge of the crime and said
he ala not want to go away. He was
perfectly straightforward about II. We
@'hed the matter over several times and
ne Always said the same thing"
ihe greeting between the father and
''h IN The detention room yesterday was
matter Of fact Judge Coffin and William
- Van Loon, an Albany lawyer, who ac-
'0mpaned Mr.. clifford to the police sta
'oh' remained outside the room while
NC father had half hours talk with the
Wy
\ Ar CHORD shook hands with his sor
pe'ote the door closed. and az It opened
Ssaln he said merely;
'W'Il boy, III say good-by now"
!" reporters Mr.. Clifford repeated muci
"e sam" statement that he made to TIL
'VN last night. lie said that he was posi-
"' mat his son would be able to clea
"ns"f that he had talked over with Nal
"ih IN" ucidents of the night In question
10 that ne was satisfied that the boy
-'ib was complete.
Who're his son was and what he wa
'hS during the four hours In which tn
J '~'' contends that the young man muir
I-''el the chauffeur the father did no
'Sh 10 stat" At this time, Ills lawyer
''' 'H'iscd both him ana his son not 4
NscHSs the details Of the case.
NJ '"tiord ridculcd the theory that hi
''N had cpmmitted a murder for the pur
toHtiHUcd on Second Pare,