New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-01
Boys Reluctantly Give
Evidence That Aids
the Prosecution.
WOMEN BESIEGE
MURDER TRIAL ROOM
State Witnesses. Eager to Help
Defendant, pliable in Je.
rome'S Hands.

rr-~.r- a STAR ,.r.-reeporlIeut or Tho Tribune. J
Albany. June 50. Out Of the mouths
Of his boy companions DistrioS-Attor-
nov Alexander pieced out a web Of cir
cumstantial evidence to-day in the case
Of Malcolm Clifford. jr.. of Hudson. VINO
ie on trial i'm the County Court before
Judge George Addington for the MUIR
der Of Frank J. Clutc, chauffeur on
tho TROY turnpike on the night OF
April /. 1919. Young Giford's school
how friends testified reluctantly. but
they gave the most damaging evidence
so far adduccd against him.
The appearance OF Mrs. Robert D..
Cluet,. ir.. who is prominent in Troy
society; Henry +. Boardman, OF tne
Same city. At whose home young Glt-
ford was guest on the night OF the
murder. together with Gifford's chums'
all Of whom testified aganst him. Al
rcrdcd strong sensational element IN
.o-davs proceeding. Many society
women Of this city and Troy were
among the spectators. and most OF
them had to struggle with the surging
crowd which bcsieccd the doors OF the
courtroom long before the opening OF
the morning and afternoon sessions.
Many women we're turned away Ior
lack Of seats.
Clifford a Pathetic Figure.
Young Clifford made a pathetic pct
ure as he was led into court at the
opening Of each session handcufed 20
Sheriff Pcasley As soon as the irons
were removed he kissed his mother
and sister and grasped the hands OF ms
father and younger brother. Benjamin.
who preceded him to court. lie was
nervous and chagrined while his com
panions were on the witness stand. lie
seldom let his glance rest upon any OF
them. and they respected his embar-
rassment bv keeping their eyes to the
front.
They appeared eager to help him
when they could, and proved to De
more pliable witnesses in the hands o1
William Travers Jerome, counsel Ior
the defence. On cross-eXamination Mr'
Jerome succeeded in turning the ad-
missions of the young witnesses INTO
less serious lines. and brought out
some telling points for the defence'
They admitted that they all were nay
ing a mellow" time at the boardnlan
house in Troy and at the dinner AM
dance at the Troy Club on the night
of the murder. Mr.. and Mrs. Board
man were in Europe. Young Clifford
was not invited to the dinner preced-
ing the dance. ard the impression was
created that he might have been o1
by himself about town IN
p peevish state of mind during the
three hours he was missing from MS
companions.
Young Roardman's Testimony.
II fell TO Derrick l.. Boardman, Gif-
ford's host on the night IN question
and a Young man about his own age, 20
rive the most damaging testimony
against his companion. Young Board
man testified that he saw Clifford on
tho roar extension roof of the hoard
man house the morning after the mur-
dor near the spot where Clute'5 pocket
hook. containing his chaufTcurs license.
was found. A short time before he
had been in Giiford's room, he said,
and noticed that the latter had small,
dark pocketbook, which the District
Attorney showed him, but he admitted
il Cooked like" the one ne saw in Gift
ford's hand.
Howard T. Rainey and John S. De
Lamater. of Hudson. and Joseph NJ.
Continued on page 3. column