The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-07-30
SAW CLEARLY STAY
HIS S0N-|N-LAW
Plea He Did Not Know El0plng
Couple Were Married
STORIES OF EYEWITkESSES
Fire Head, Supervisor and Policeman
Saw Town Clerk Shoot Newman
Without Warning as He Sat in
Offce-Insanity is Defense.

HaVerStraW, n. Y.-W1lllam V.
Cleary, for fourteen years the town
clerk Of this place and one of the
Democratic leaders Of Rockland coun-
ty, is in the county jail at New City
for killing his eighteen-year-old SON
in-law of scarcely week, Eugene NJ.
Newman, because he believed the
boy had wronged his daughter, Anna
Cleary, two years his senior, and
brought disgrace to the family.
Cleary was committed to the county
jail after several hours delay because
for time no one would believe that
he had killed Newman. He waived
examination and was sent to New
City on the complaint of Newman's
father, Frederick NJ. Newman, part
owner of the Rockland County Mes
senger, who has long been Cleary's
close friend.
The two fathers told the story Of
the tragedy which resulted in the
death by shooting of an eighteen-year-
old bridegroom:
Il shot him because he ruined my
daughter said William V. Cleary.
They tell me he had married her.
l did not now it, else l would not
have fired. From worriment and
drink, l did not know what I was
doing"
whatever my boy might have done
that was wrong in the eyes OF
Cleary's family, though l do not know
that he did anything, he had his badge
of honor" said Fred Newman, father
~, Jo;- y 4 L.
The girl was his wife. He had his
marriage certificate in his pocket to
show Cleary. But he was killed be-
fore he could produce it. No political
influence must ever allow BIZ Cieary
friend Of mine though he always
has been-to go free of punishment
for this crime while my boy Les up
here in the cemetery"
Evidence at a preliminary inquest
showed that the youth, with his wed.
ding lines ready to show, had nc
his fate.
The inquest by Coroner Patrick ]
Leonard was a persunctory hearing
but the complete details Of the shoot
ing were told by eyewitnesses. Cleary
was not present, but Bernard Fox
chief of police, and his political ally
Josiah Felter, chairmen of the town
Board of Supervisors, and Policeman
Sheridan who were in Cleary's office
described the tragedy.
The scene in the office was de
scribed by Felter, Fox and Sheridan
Fox had met Cleary at the train. Or
| his way to his Office he picked w
Sheridan. There, Felter said Clear,
called him on the telephone and asked
him to come to the Office
ION official business?" Felter was
asked.
"All he said was Come to my of
flee right away" replied Felter.
Fox also said that Cleary asked hin
to come to his office. Sheridan, Fo,
and Felter were there when Eugene
rage. Sheridan was just going GU
into the office when Newman asket
if Cleary was in. Newman went il
and Cleary told him to sit down. Hi.
/ chair was by Felter's, near the once
safe.
'"What did Cleary say to Newman?
District Attorney Gagan asked Felter
"He said: You thought you go
the best Of me again, didn't you
But I've got you now Cleary ha.
just leaned over as though to ge
something out Of the safe, and tn
next thing we knew he had fired
revolver at Newman, who sat in tn
chair, without a word
Four bullets entered the boys body
two near the heart, one in the lef
arm and the fourth hit him in tn,
base Of the skull. Fox grabbe;
Cleary before he could fire again.
That is a brief outline of what ap
parently are the facts in as dramati
a tragedy as New York State ha,
ever experienced. AS to future deve
opments in it, they are likely to b.
these:
Cleary, backed by powerful an,
wealthy political friends, will make
double defense. First, that he wa
so beside himself with drink an
brooding over his daughters suppos
ed trouble that he was not in mol
NAL mental condition and was not re
sponsible for the murder. Second
that he was justified, under the ter
cts OF the "unwritten law" in STAY
ing the betrayer of his daughter.
Unlimited money, it was said, woul
be placed at Cleary's disposal to say
him from the electric chair.