New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-03
CLIFFORD MAY KNOW
HIS FATE TONIGHT
Student Accused of Muir
der of Chauffeur EX-
poets AcquittaI.
EVIDENCE ALL IN;
TO SUM UP TO-DAY
Relatives and Friends Fill the
Albany Courtroom as Last
Witnesses Testify.
From a STAFF Correspondent OF The Tribune ]

From a stan Correspondent OF The Tribune J
Albany, July THE jury in the
Clute murder trial soon will be called
upon TO decide the fate Of Malcolm
Clifford, jr., the eghteen-ycar-old
schoolboy, Of Hudson, charged with the
murder of the chauffeur. The taking OF
testimony closed to-day and William
Trayers jerome will sum up for the
defence tomorrow. District Attorney
Alexander will speak for the people
and the case probably will be in the
jury's hands early in the afternoon
Judge Addington expects his charge
will be short.
Malcolm Clifford, father of the de-
PENDANT. expressed himself to-day as
extremely hopeful of an acquittal for
his boy. Mr.. jerome and his associate
counsel for the defence, william I
Byrne, of this city, and Samuel B.
Coffin, of Hudson, are equally conf
dent. District Attorney Alexander
only comment was that it was "a very
strong case Of circumstantial evidence
The Tribune correspondent talked
with young Clifford in the hospital ward
of the penitcntiary after court adj
journed. The prisoner displayed no
nervousness and talked calmly about
his trial.
Young Clifford Confident.
81 have nothing to fear" said Gift
ford. "The prosecution has not con
knew Clute and never hired his car
They did not show that | was in Albany
that night. | was not invited to the
dinner at the Troy Club on that night
and ate my dinner at Troy restau-
and testify. But there was nothing
more that | could explain. am sure
the jury will acquit me, and that | will
spend the Fourth at home in Hudson
Young Clifford has kept his nerve
Through all the proceedings since the
trial started last Monday, even wher
bis schoolboy friends were forced &c
testify against him. Al times he has
laughed and chattcd with his brother
and sister and friends.
Following conference last night
with members of the family, his coun
sci decided not to call Clifford as Z
witness.
The strongest evidence in Clifford.
favor was the testimony Of sevcra
witnesses that they saw the man II
Clute's car on the night Of the murder
and that this person was not the boy
on trial. The prosecution produced nc
witnesses to identify Clute's passen
ger. Pointing indirectly at the defend
ant however, was the evidence pro
duccd by the people establishing th'
finding Of Clute's pocketboOk, contain
ing his chauffeur license and a photo
graph of the dead man, hidden on the
roof of the Boardman house IN Troy
whore Clifford was guest on the nigh
Of the murder. 1t was found near the
window Of the room he occupied, &C
Cording TO the evidence. This was th'
strongest circumstance brought GU
against the boy.
Judge Rebukes Spectators.
The court was fairly crowded to-day
by relatives and friends of the GltforC
family. Many prominent men an'
women of this city, Troy and Hudson
were present. Some Of the parties anC
thru;ts between Mr.. Jerome and Mr.
Alexander proved highly amusing tC
the SPECTATORS, so much so that Judge
Arlington threatened to have the
courtroom cleared because OF th'
laughter.
The defence rested after calling two
or three witnesses. Mrs. Samuel ID
Gibson. wife of the Superintendent OF
Streets. of Troy. corrObOrated her nus
hands testimony Of the day before
Both testified that they noticed .
stalled automobile in front oil thell
bungalow in the Troy turnpike about i
o'clock on the night Of the murder arc
recognized Clutc, the chauffeur, and
r.sscnpcr trying to crank il up. They
evoro that the man with Clutc was not
Young Clifford. The District Attorney
subjected Mrs. Gibson 10 long cross
examination. but did not succeed ma
tcrialIy in discrediting her story.
Mr.. Alexander called three witnesses
in an effort to discredit Gioson,s ties
timonv. Gibson was first recalled tc
make the testimony Of the witnesses
who followed him stand out moro
strikingly. The District Attorney con
tended that Gibson had not rented tho
bungalow prior to April 10. Gibson eK
nloincd that he took possession OF tht
BUNGALOW on March 81, though he did
rot sign lease until April 10.
To Discredit Clifford Witness.
Mrs. Julia Bcnjam who leased the
bungalow to GiDSon, tesIlncu ''"' - :
talked with him a few days ago IT
front of the City Hall in Troy, when ne
,oId ber if any one asked her when he
hired the bungalow to say that 1t was
"about March 20" but not to be too
sure about the time. -.
George Boovilc, announcer at tnt
Troy railroad station. TESTIFIED INA,
Gibson asked him last Tuesday II ne
recalled whether the Troy Schenectady
trolley cars we're running during .ttfheC
Goods in the latter part of March. The
ears pass in front of the Gibson bunga-
low. Boovillc said he referred gibson
20 the conductors on the line. 49,.
Ernest Lock. conductor leSt'Ileo
hat Gibson approached him at the
49, station. "some day this week,
and asked him if he knew how many
days the cars had stopped running dur
-, q, tho 1oods