New-York tribune., 1922-07-12
KllxellMer'ryas as
State Tells How
Girl Was Slain
Youth ON Trial for His Life
UnmovedWhile Mother of
Janette Lawrence Recites
Last Hours of Her Child
Parents of Both i'm Court
Defense Scores Point When
Important Grand Jury
Witness Alters Testimony

A boy with merry eyes and candid
gaze that never wavered sat before the
bar in the Morris County Court House
in Morristown, N. j., yesterday while
J. Henry Harrison, former Essex Coun-
ty Prosecutor, put witness after wit
ness or the stand in his effort TO prove
him guilty of murder in the first de-
gree.
Two mothers and two fathers
watched with varying emotions as the
scales rose and fell for sixteen-year-
old Francis Kluxen 3D., charged with
the brutal Staying of Janette Lawrence,
eleven years old, in the Kluxen woods
at Madison, N. j., last October. His
case is being tried before Supreme
Court Justice Parker.
The boys father, Francis Kluxen 3D.
sat huddled in a chair beside him.
nervously twisting his hands as at
least half dozen witnesses testified
to seeing the defendant in or near the
woods short time before Janette was
murdered. A little, worn, specialized
woman peered anxiously at her only
son as knife he is alleged to have
worn, Boy Scout fashion, on that day
was exhibited in court. Again she
leaned forward, breathless, as seven
handkerchiefs were introduced in evil
dence, while sewing expert swore
that the darnsng on FIVE taken from
the Kluxen home after the murder
was identical with that on two hand
kerchiefs found about the person of
Janette, one in her tam O shanter and
one around her neck.
Girls Parents Avoid Crowd
Far back in the courtroom, crowded
to the doors all day, sat quiet. grav
haired man, the father of Janette Be-
side him was his wife, Mrs. Rosina
Lawrence, her kindly features strained
with tear marks, her lips trembling
with emotion as the exhibits brought
their desolate reminder of the crime.
Little playmates of her daughter, bare
ly in their teens, made alert witnesses
for the prosecution.
The boy principal, and he alone, re-
mained unmoved. He is one Of the
youngest prisoners ever tried on such
a cht~ge IN this country, yet he is six
feet in height and looks more like
nineteen than his sixteen years He
is we'll built and muscular, with cer-
tain free and easy grace of carriage
far removed from the usual awkward
ness of adolescence. A receding chin
and sloping head are the only signs of
weakness in this otherwise fine-looking
soy. He wore belted tweed suit and
UNnSN oPi uSS anu HcdIIHy, IN SplCe or
his Imprisonment.
He was the first to see the humor in
she testimony of some of the Scandi-
havian witnesses. His laugh had a
careless ring. Frequently he whispered
10 his father, who looks young enough
to be brother. Now and again he
turned sympathetcally toward his
mother. Francis Sd is the only child
the Kluxens have.
The states case was given blow
when Victor Ainser, one of the chief
witnesses for the prosecution before
the grand jury, changed his testimony
late in the afternoon. Ainser, who is
employed by the youths grandmother
in her wine mandatory, testified that
shortly after o'clock on the evening
OF the murder, some one whose voice
he recognized as that of Francis Kluxen,
came to the pump and stayed just
long enough to have a drink. He
previously testified that he did not