New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-17
But Rheumatism Is only
Thing Worrying Him.
Says Counsel.
ATTACKED IN PAPER
BY VICTIMS FATHER
Newman Threatens He'll Shoot
Slayer if Jury Frees Him on
Drink Mad" Plea.
lBy Telegraph 90 The Tribune

New CITY. \. Y, Dec. lo.--lhe trlsi
of William V. Clesry, slayer OF Eugene
N. Newman, his eighteen-yesr-old SON
in.law. will be opened here tomorrow
morning. The indictment charges nrSt
degree murder.
Clearv. who was City Clerk Of Hav-
erstraw and Democratic boss OF the
town until ne committed the crime
fred four bullets into young Newman
on July 90. when the BOY weht 70
Cleary's office in the Town han 10 zen
the Civ Clerk that five days before ne
and Anna Maria Cleary. twen'y-ohe,
Cleary's only child, had been married
70 save the girls reputation.
The few hours before he IS 70 go on
trial for his life find Cleary SUFFERING
moro physical than mental torture. FOR
three days he has been in the throes OF
rheumatism. 1t was to this that ne
gave most thought to-day.
"Cleary," said his chief counsel
Frank Comesky, tonight, rs less per
turbed than any of you would De were
YOU in his position"
Victims Widow to Attend.
The widowed daughter will attend
the trial. She and her mother, VINO VINO
are living in the Graylene Court OH
West 152d St. will leave on the 8:0o
o'clock train from Weehawken to-mol-
row morning. III,
To escape station oilers. they VIII
90 20 Congers, where they will take
an automobile 20 New City. This VIII
he the first time the girl has SHOWN
herself openly since her youthful nus
band was slain.
The legal principals in the case ex-
pect a short trial.
Supreme Court Justice Morschauser'
who will preside, hopes oy continuing
The sessions into the night to WIND up
the trial by Friday night OF next week
District Attorney Thomas Gagan fg-
ures on nineteen witnesses for tne
pros ecution. Mr.. Comesky says ne
| will probably call about the same num-
! Der. Whether Cleary and young Mrs.
| Newman are to testify he would not
| say. The prospects are that Cleary
/ will not take the stand.
( The belief that this trial will be
/ Fitted out Of the realms of the ordi-
rary was shattered tonight by the an
! rouncement that alienists are to be
| called. One will say that Cleary was
I insane when he shot Newman and IS
not now. The other will swear. OF
course, that Clcary was not insane then
and is not now.
Though Cleary is we'll known
/ throughout Rockland County, the Sc
/ lection of the Jury is counted on TO be
! finished by Thursday night. That
Clearv's influence extends beyond
| Heverstraw is disputed by his friends.
They say they fear that because he was
a politician his chance of acouittal is
lessened.
Juries Against Politicians.
Consider cases in which politicians
have been defendants in this county,
they say, "in almost every one the man
was convicted. The farmers on juries
up here love to put it over politi-
cian."
/ Mrs. Cleary called on her husband
/ this afternoon and remained with him
for about two hours, returning TO New
York this evening. One or two of his
friends motored down from Haverstraw
to express their belief that he will be
acquitted.
District Attorney Gagan said he can
not see how a jury can return any
verdict but that Of guilty in the first
degree.
Mr. Comesky said he hopes for ac-
/ quittal He also wanted it known that
+ the story printed in New York morn
/ ing newspaper recently contained a
: faxed interview with Cleary's daugh
tel.
"She has made no statement for
/ publication to any one" he said. "Nor
has any one given statement out IN
her behalf"
Frederick +. Newman, father OF
Cleary's victim, discussed the case
warmly to-day. and, with threatening
gestures, exclaimed:
"If jury turns Cleary out on the
defence that he was insane from drink,
is there anything TO prevent me from
shooting him?
Referring TO Clesry as the BOSS
Barroom Politician" Newman wrote in
to-day's issue of "The Rockland Mes
senger," Of which he is part owner:
Calls Him "Cowardlr Assassin"
Temporary insanity. caused by rum
is petty excuse for premeditated
murder. Il was nothing new for Cleary
to get drunk, for he has been in state
o. intoxication time and time again
during the last fourteen years and
j 1 Ain AsAnnAC |