The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1914-07-30
SAW LEARY STAY
HIS SON-IN-LAW
Plea He Did Not Know EIopiHg
Couple Were Married
STORIES OF EYEWlTNEssEs
Fire Head, supervisor and Policeman
Saw Town Clerk Shoot Newman
Without Warning AZ He Sat in
office-Insanity 10 Defense.


office-Insanity 10 Defense.
N. Y-William 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-oid SON
in-law Of scarcely week. Eugene M.
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 a 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 Cfeary'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:
81 shot him because he ruined my
daughter" said William v. Cleary.
''They tell me he had married her.
I did not now it, else ] would not
have fred. From. worriment and
drink, did not know what was
doing"
Whatever my boy might have done
that was wrong in the eyes OF
Cleary,s family, though do not know
that he did anything. he had his badge
OF honor" said Fred Newman, father
of the slain boy. He had made good.
The girl was his wife. He had his
marriage certificate In his pocket to
show Clearly 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 Lief up
here in the cemetery"
Evidence at a preliminary inquest
showed that the youth, with his we'd
ding lines ready to show, had no
chance to utter a word before he met
his fate.
The inquest by Coroner Patrick J.
Leonard was a perfunctory 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 On
his way to his Office he picked up
There, Fe1ter said, Cleary
called him on the telephone and asked
him to come to the office.
"on official business?" Felter was
asked.
"All he said was Come to my of
fee right away" replied Felter.
Fox also said that Cleary asked him
to come to his office. Sheridan, Fox
and Felter were there when Eugene
Newman arrived to tell of the mar
rage. Sheridan was just going out
il Cleary was In. Newman went In
and Cleary told him to sit down. His
chair was by Fe1ter's. near the once
safe.
'.What did Cleary say to Newman ?"
District Attorney, Gagan asked Felter.
He said: You thought you got
the best of me again, didn't youf
But I've got you now Cleary had
just leaned over as though to get
something out of the safe, and the
next thing we knew he had fred q
revolver at Newman, who sat in the
chair, without q word"
-Four bullets entered the boys body,
two near the heart, one In the left
arm and the fourth hit him In the
base OF the skull. Fox grabbed
Cleary before he< could fire again.
That is brief outline of what ap-
parently are the facts in as dramatic
a tragedy as New York State had
ever experienced. As to future deyel.
opments in it, they are likely to be
these:
Cleary. backed by powerful and
wealthy political friends, will make a
double defense. First, that he was
SO beside himself with drink and
brooding over his daughters suppos-
ed trouble that he was not In nor
NAL mental condition and was not re-
sponsihle for the murder. Second.
that he was justified, under the ten
cts of the "unwritten law, in slay.
Ing the betrayer Of his daughfer.
Unlimited money, It was said. would
oe placed at C1eary's disposal to savs
him from the eIectrie chasr.