The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-24
CLEMENTS HELD
FOR GRAND JURY
PROBABLE CAUSE FOUND IN PRE-
LIMINARY HEARING OF CHE
NAULT ASSAULT CASE.
ARGUE ONLY IDENTITY
COUNSEL AGREE TO SUBMIT CASE
WITHOUT SPEECHES EXCEPT
AS TO QUESTION OF
s,}

The preliminary trial of John
Clements, the negro charged with
having committed a capital crime
against Miss Fannie Chenault on the
night of May 8, was brought to a
close yester day morning, when. after
arguments of opposing attorneys in
regards to the jurisdiction of the
for the grand jury by Magistrate III.
S. Sunday. presiding.
Magistrate r. A. Smith. who was
asked by Magistrate Sunday to sit, In
the case in an advisory capacity
stated shortly after the adjournment
of court that he disagreed with Mr.
Sunday. and felt that the negro should
have been released.
The difference OF opinion OF the two
nagistrates has been evident since the
trial commenced. and the statement
by Magistrate Smith that he dis
agreed with the opinion handed down
~ Mr.. Sunday did not come'as sur
prise.
Another icng-drawn-eut battle !.
expected when the case comes UP In
the trial court. as It Is a foregone con-
clueton that the negro VIII be indicted
by the grand fury. which convenes on
Julv 6.
Crcatns Sensation.
fance Miss Ct.enRu.. entered her
home Saturday night, May 8. about
O'Clock. with her hair streaming down
her back. and her dresses soiled, tell
ing her parent OF having been KEPT
: secluded In the bushes for over foui
hours by = negro. the case has at
tracted wtde attention.
Tho young lady attended Sunday
school the next morning and is alleged
70 have Identified three negroes ssncs
the crime vvas committed. as the men
who made the assault upon her.
A negro has been shot by a dstee-
Eve of the Richmond poffce--force,
when he resisted the officers efforts
70 take him In charge on suspicion oil
having been the young lady's as
sailiant.
A ssatcenent Of the actions OF the
negro. IN making his brutal attempt
has been made by the young lady
This was made in the presence Of
Deputy sheriff Webb Sydnor. of Hen
rico, and Captain McMahon. of the
Richmond police department who
was cailedsfnto the case by the county
authorities, after they had acknowl
edged the case too deep a mystery ff
solve. Charges have been made thai
CAPTAIN Mcmahon used vulgar word:
IN writing out the statement that Miss
.ssrw-rst,ls DID .se; axe la telling or The
crime This was denied by the de-
tectiye.
Changed only Ono Word,
Deputy Sheriff Webb Sydnor arose
yerterday shortly after court was con
vened by Magistrate Sunday ana
sad that he desired to make a state
u1ent He said that Captain Me
Mahen did no, change but one word
in the statement and this was done &c
modify the remark made by Miss che
r1aYIt in describing the scene.
Clements claimed that he spent the
night when the crime was supposed
Ia have been committed IN reRor'
run ny Amy Robinson. negress.
Several inmates OF the house~sstasec
that Clements did spend the night
There. Policeman Bertuccs. who raid
ed the resort that night and con,
fseated an ounce Of cocaine. TESTIFIED
that he was in the room and stood al
me foot OF the bed in which Clements
said he siept He did not see him
there.
Magistrate Sunday. IN bringing
court to order Yesterday morning
stated that attorneys for the defense
and prosecution had agreed to sum
NIT the case without argument, excep'
In regards to the identification Of the
accused.
Attorneys Pollock. May and Had
dnn- for the defense. argued that They
had proved an alibf for Clements and
owing to the fact tsat Miss Chenau''
had Identified two others as the mer
who committed tsa assault, they fell
that the negro sh Ia be released.
Priest Regular Attendant
Attorneys Hobson and DiRgs. for the
rrosecution. stated that the persons
nxea nv the defense TO establish ar
alihi did not bear a good reputation
ana their evidence had been disap'
proved By the testimony of officei
Bertucci
Magistrate Sunday ruled thai
..There is sufficient cause TO believe
that there In a probability of this
mans guilt, and therefore cause FOL
sending him on to the grand jury
and I order the case sent on TO the
higher court
one of the most interesting feature.
~ the rather sensational trial ma
been the regular attendance at all o.
the hearings of Father Hannigan,
Catholic priest. 1t has been said tina
h. was responsible for the appearance
IN the case of one of the attorneys fol
the defense A peculiar circumstan CT
connected with his attendance was0hs
fact that when Miss Chenault wa
called 10 the stand Father Hannigar
WIS asked from the room at the re-
ouest Of Miss Chenault He Is said II
have stated at the time that he wa:
onlv there to see that ''justice was
done"