New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-20
Congratulations by Many
Friends When Verdict
Is Announced.
PROSECUTORS WORDS
HELPED ACCUSED
Fathers Desire to Avenge
Daughter Won During De-
bate of Jurors.
Is. 80 corrcspondsnt q Thc rrIbune. ]

By q Stsf Correspondent Of The Tribune. ]
New City, Dec. 19.-William V.
Clesry was acquitted at 9:04 O'Clock
tonight Of the murder of Eugene NJ
Newman, his young son-in-lsw, on
July 2S. The verdict stunned Cleary.
he had expected either disagreement
or conviction in a minor degree.
The jury was out five hours and
hfty-fve minutes.
The courtroom bell indicating that
the jury was ready to report sounded
At s;o4 o'clock. Justice Morschauser
was summoned and he came to the
bench three minutes later. District At
.orney Gagan, smiling nervously,
stepped 81 quickly. He sat first in one
counsel chair. then another, and finally
moved 10 his regular place in front Of
tao Judge.
Only four or five spectators, exclu-
sive of reporters, were in the court
room. but the feet of scores of other
psgsons, warned by the courthouse
SELL could be heard scurrying across
The icy lawn through the rain.
Csary was brought in and his wife
~ss directly behind him. The slayer
had his lips firmly together, but a
slight flush was in MS cheeks. As he
sat down Mrs. Cleary placed herself
behind him, but she was so agitated
that she could not control herself and
rsa out Of the room through the rear
exit and downstairs to the sheriff's
room. -..
Search for Clesry's Counsel.
Robert NJ. Moore, Of counsel for the
defence, entered. The court asked that
Frank Comesky, Clesry's chief attor-
ney, be summoned. He could not be
found by the first squad Of searchers,
so the courthouse bell was again
sounded He came in.
Bring in the jury" said Justice
Morschauser.
They were led in. The formality Of
Defendant, look upon the jury" etc,
was dispensed with.
Gentlemen, have you agreed upon a
verdict?" asked Cyrus Crum, acting
County Clerk.
eve have" said Frank Heddy, the
foreman.
In reply 70 what is it?" Heddy said
"We find the defendant not guilty"
Cleary remained in his chair, looking
steadily at Heddy. He was very quiet
and had himself we'll in hand.
Comesky moved Clery's discharge
Cleary then rose and, evading his con-
gratulating friends, with kindly
glances. walked over to Heddy, shook
his hand, and said:
81 thank you for your just and merci-
ful verdict"
Heddy mumDled something, and
Clesry walked to the other jurors and
thanked them.
But not a sign Of the real emotion
that must have gripped him showed in
his face or voice
While the jury was being discharged
Cleery hurried down stairs to his over
wrought wife.
Mr. and Mrs. Cleary, after a few
minutes together, emerged crying and
stepped into an automobile, which took
them TO the home Of Cleary's mother
IN Hayerstrsw. They will go soon on a
trip 10 the tropics.
Jury Get Thanks.
81 DO not approve of this verdict" :"
SAID District Attorney Gagan. He hac
nothing more TO say. The attorneys
ior Cieary crowded 10 the jurors and
fnenknA 1oI
was z brief demonstration. A few
friends Of Cleary cheered, but though
me court did not order the noise
checked IL did not continue long.
The jury took several ballots, the
nrst vote showing eight for acOuittal
and four for conviction. No degree
was discussed then, and though fur
ther ballots showed the same situa-
ron discussion of the degree was
not taken up. Cleary's act was eN-
eused on the ground that he sought to
avenge the violation. Of honor of his
nome and also on the ground that he
Sld not know what he was doing wher
ne shot Newman.
=. Cleary had no statement to make
neither did Mrs. Cleary earlier in the
rlght. She said everything in the do
nestle relation was harmonious. ard
mat there had not been any discord
since Cleary shot Newman.
FRED Z. Newman, father of the dead
Ooy' was not in court. He could not be
reached.
Cleary will not 60 away to the South
Ihtii late next week, it is said. His
laughter will accompany him and his
SSiie' When he returns from this trip
ne wiu resume his duties of town clerk
Il haverstraw, a position held by his
brother Ambrose since his arrest for
Prosecution Aids Cleary.
%, The jury left the courtroom for de-
liberation at 3:09 o'clock D. m. six
~. etes after the Judge had finished
le1ulng his charge. In charge of two
aeputy sheriffs the jurors were taken
70 small room across the narrow hall
ron the courtroom entrance.
Cieary remained less than five mil,
qtes in the room after the Jury retired
ne dld not want TO sit around and he
stared at by the spectators who were
Continued ON page 4, column A