New-York tribune., 1914-12-22
PASTOR RAPS
CLEARY JURY
Verdict IAN Unheard-of
Travesty on Justice,'
Says DR.. Coultes.
FREQUENT "AMENS'
GREET ATTACK
Acquitted Man, II Is Said, Will
Change Name if He Goes
10 Bahamas.

Haverstraw. Y. Y. Dec. 21.-"An un-
heard-of trayesty on justice" and "a
miscarriage If righteous law were
terms in which the Rev. DR.. Thomas /.
Coultes, pastor 9f the local Methodist
Episcopal Church. referred yesterday
TO the acquittal OF William y. Cleary.
During his sermons at both the morn
ing and evening services. IN which he
attacked the Cleary jury, frequent
"amens' broke from the congregation.
although nothing can be done IN
legal way" DR.. Coultes said, I'VE can
at least lift up our voices and cry out
against this shameful mockery OF JUS
tice and prevent, as far as possible, IT'S
awful, dcmoralizing and destructive
work in this community.
"What about the influence upon the
children, young men and young WON,
en-? Murder is bad enough, but had
the murderer received his just deserts
that demoralizing influence would have
been measurably weakened.
"The iury's verdict practically says:
Crime is q small matter. Murder is
trihe. If you want 10 do murder go
into a saloon and get dead drunk, then
you can murder any one you want TO
and no harm will come 10 you. Ot
course. we will put you in the county
iail for a few months. but your friends
will give lavish suppers in your honor
and take you for spins in their auto
mobiles
The fact that Cleary would take his
Christmas dinner at home would cause
many whose religious faith was not
well founded 10 wonder if Christmas
music was not farce and Christ lie,
DR.. Coutes said.
81 am told" he continued, chat
Cleary intends 10 return to his once
Of Town Clerk. and there, in the place
whore he committed the murder, pose
as a hsro before the ambitious youth
Of this town.
Does any one say that a minister OF
the gospel is not minding his own bust
ness when he lifts his voice in a case
like this to stay. if possible, this de-
structive blow at the morals of the
community and the safety of our chill
dren ?"
At the end Of his service Dr.. Coultes
expressed his sympathy for Rockland
County. which. ne said, was wretched-
ly misgoverned.
They have acquitted a base muir
derer, of whose guilt there can be no
question" he said.
The church was crowded with mem
bers Of other congregations, who came
10 hear the special programme OF
Christmas music. At the end of the
services they surged about DR.. Coultes
and congratulated him upon what all
said was a wonderful address.
Cleary. acquitted on the charge Of
killing Eugene NJ. Newman, will, If he
carries out his announced plan TO go
TO the Bahamas for a change Of scene,
probably assume a name that Will not
identify him with the Haverstraw kill
ing.
A woman who answered the door OF
the Cleary home in the Graylene apart
ment, at $40 West l52d St, yesterday,
said that no statement would be made
By any member of the Cleary family.
"When will the Clearys sail?' the
reporter asked.
~ can't tell you" was the reply.
and if you find the ship on which
they sail you will be remarkable per-
SON."
It was suggested that probably
Cleary and his wife did not intend TO
san, out hau shlu NHey "eic boihe "
TO cover up their movements. The
woman laughed and refused TO say
anything more.
One of the jurors in the Cleary case
said last night that he and his associ-
ates had been the objects of good
deal of criticism at the hands of their
friends for the verdict. He said that
the jury had agreed. upon reaching the
Jury room. not 20 be Influenced by the
pathetic scene between Cleary and his
daughter in court.
They stood eight for acquittal and
four for conviction of murder in the
second degree on the first ballot, he
said, and the minority were gradually
won over. being convinced chiefly by
the argument that Cleary.s mind
might have been unbalanced at the