Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-29
CHURCH GUSTS MILLIONAIRE
ASHE FIGHTSF POOR BOY,
SUSPECTED OF KILLING GIRL
Although Acquitted Once,
Youth Faces Another Trial
in New Jersey, While Bank
er Prepares to Adopt Him
BY ROBERT T. SMALL
IeaSed Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1928.

(CopyflgnI 1870.
CONVENT, n. j., Dec. 27.-Not
only is the church Of his benefactor
closed against him, but it was said
here today that the schools Of this
vicinity unquestionably would bar
the attendance of siXteen-yearold
Francis Kluxen III, who was &C
cused and acquitted of the murder
of eleven-year -old Janet Lawrence,
the schoolgirl found dead in Klux-
ems woods some two years ago with
thirty-five stab wounds in her frail
and partly denuded little body.
The bitterness of the feeling
against young Kluxen in Morris
county knows no bounds. And evil
dence of this is the statement Of
Prosecutor James H. Bolitho that
he will attempt to have young
Kluxen tried again despite the con-
stitutional provision that no mans
life shall be placed in jeopardy twice
for the same offense. To many per-
sons the Bolitho threat is regarded
merely as a political maneuVer, but
that the prosecutor should seek ia
vor by making such an unheard- of
move against the Kluxen boy is sig
nificant of the temper Of the county
and of the people of Madison viii
lage.
The Bolitho threat has stirred
northern New Jersey again and
there is a belief in the household
Of Mcneil Sayre, the wealthy bach
elor who has befriended the boy and
will adopt him on January 4, that
further attempts will be made on
Francis life. There was no move
made to take the lad to Christmas
services at Grace Episcopal church
in Madison where Mr.. Sayre is a YES
tryman and where he has been
warned never to bring the boy again
The rector of the church has denied
that he instigated the move gainst
the KluXen boy and says that it is
entirely up to the Vestrymen to de-
eide who shall and who shall not at
tend the church. 1t is admitted at
the church, however, that Mr.. Sayre
has been told that Francis would be
forcibly elected if he attempted to
attend further services.
English Tutor Hired
The Kluxen lad is a Roman Catho-
lie and Mr.. Sayre says it is for this
reason alone that he does not press
the issue in his own church. Accord
ing to Mr.. Sayre, Francis will be
brought up in his own faith but he
has made no move as yet to send
the boy alone to services in any Cath
Ole parish.
Mr.. Sayre is bringing tutor from
England to prepare young kluxen
for college. He went abroad in No
Vember to make arrangements to
this end and took Francis with him.
Mr.. Sayre has felt it would be I'M
safe to send the boy to any school
authorities. He has felt that attempts
surely would be made on the lads
life if he were not constantly pro-
tected.
When the boy is ready for college
it is probable he will be sent to Eng
land and given a thorough universe
ty training. No decision will be made
until then as to where his future life
shall be spent.
There is no question but that the
statement of Prosecutor Bolitho that
he will seek retrial of Francis has
added a vast amount Of timber to
the flames of hatred running against
the lad in this section of the state,
and it may be necessary yet for his
patron to take him away. Mr.. Sayre
says, however, he will remain right
here and he will fight all the boys
"traducers and prosecutor" to the
bitter end. He calls attention to the
fact that a private detective who
criticized the conduct of the case
against Francis and his acquittal
was promptly tried for criminal libel
and sentenced to a year in jail.
Attorneys consulted by Mr.. Sayre
make light of the prosecutors threat
and regard it as an unwise and in
flammatory move to make at this
| time. The prosecutor says young
Kluxen was tried by foreign jury
of talemen selected from another
county. He says therefore that his
trial was not legal in any way and
therefore his life was not in jeop-
ardy.
1t is claimed that the jurymen
! from another county did not con-
stitute a body of the boys peers.
Lawyers who discussed the case to-
day say the prosecutors position is
entirely untenable and they further
say that Mr.. BOlltho hlmseH doeS
not expect anything really to come
from his move. That is why they
are particularly critical Of it. If it
is up to anyone to make a complaint
of the jury it is the defendant, it is
stated. The rights of the state could
not be contravend no matter from
what part of the state the jury might
be summoned. The move by Mr..
Bolitho will fail, according to the
lawyers who have looked up the pre-.
cedents.
Francis and Mr.. Sayre listened to
church services yesterday over a
new radio set received as a Christ.
mas present The boy was fairly
buried in presents. But he sits today
unsecurely in a community that is
|