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THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION. ATLANTA. GA.. TUESDAY JANUARY 18 t 1687
WITH A SILKEN ROPE,
■THOMAS J. CLUVEHIUSJS HUNG BY
THE NECK.
Th mil BmMM of m. Ooronwr Wot to IntorfM
—Lost Meant. of too ConOoumed Hoa-Tao
Jfsron to ik* iesffold and Uis Sprtntfac
of tae Trap-History of the Clime.
Richmond, Va., January 14.—Thom as Jud*
eon Cluverius, convicted of tho murder of
Fannie Lillian Madison, was banged in the
eitv Jail today. f
As early sail a. m. people began to gather in
tbe vicinity, and by noon every approach to
the jail wa* packed with human beings. Homo*
lope and, hillsides near the jail, from which a
TIIOMAH Jl*IrtON CLU VKRItN,
sight into the jailyard could be had, wore also
crowded. Admission to the Jail was only had
through tickets issued by City Sergeant Smith,
who,though chary in giving them out,admitted
over two hundred j»erxon*.
lira LAST NIGHT UN KARTII.
The prisoner pasoed a sleepless night, most
of the time being spent with Hovcrly Crump,
one of his counsel, who has dune everything
to save or extend his life and who remained
with him till *J a. m., and from that hour until
l> o’clock he was engaged in prayor and at in*
tervals in singing hytuns. From 0 o’clock on-
til 0 he slept soundly and then arose and ate a
breakfast of tenderloin beefsteak, mushrooms
and egg omelette.
During the morning hours there was much
speculation as to whether the governor would
further reprieve, and that question was not
Anally settled until nunc time after noon, when
Mr. Ciump, who had been to nee tho governor,
returned to tho Jail and announced that the
rxieutivo power would not l»o interposed.
Her. Dr. Wm. K. Hatcher cumo to tho Jail
about eleven o’clock, and remained with the
prisoner to tho last, administering religion,j
«ci.relation and praying with him.
tih: procession or death..
At noon a suit of new blark clothing was
brought to the jail sml tho prisoner donned
them. At two minutes to one tho death pro*
croton was formed, consisting of Sergeant
Smith, two deputies, Rev. Dr. Uatchor and the
prisoner, the latter having his hands tied In
front, and his body, from tho neck to tho auk*
)ea,enveloped in an old * fash ioued ladles' water
proof cloak. From tho cell tho march pro*
grchard along the corridor and down two (lights
of stairs to tho lower court of the jail nml then
into the yaid fronting the cells of white pris
oners, forty policqmvu being on duty to keep
back the crowd.
AM ENDING Tiff SO VITOLD.
The prisoner, though thin and pale, moved
with steady stein to tue scaffold, which he as
cended in the same quiet manner and stood on
the trap. Sergeant Smith then read tho death
w an ant or a copy of tlio judgment of the
court, which the prisoner listened to with how*
ed head and apparent closo attention. When
the sergeant had concluded ho asked tho doom-
id man if ho had anything to say. and Cluve*
riua replied: '‘No. air; nothiug at all/' his volco
being scarcely audible.
Dr. Hatcher then knelt and offered a feeling
and fervent prayer, aud when he had flulshed
ho turned to tho prisoner, who said a few words
in a low tone, aud Dr. Hatcher, turning to the
crowd in the yard, aald:
“J am requested by the prisoner to utter one
word for him, and thnt la that, in this moraont
Of death, ho carries to tho grave no fooling of
ill-will towards any man ou earth.”
Dr. Hatcher then left the scaffold. Raising
both haude as he wcut out, ho said the prisoner
had asserted his innoccnco to the last, just be
fore leaving the cell.
M'RIKUINO TIIK TRAP.
When Dr. Hatcher had gouo, Deputy Ser
geant Allen tied tho prisoner's knees togother,
nut (he rope around his neck and adjusted the
black cap and hood.
Every thing being ready, Sergeant Smith gave
the signal, and at eight minutes after oue
o'clock the trap waaspruug. A sudden "swish,”
the dang of a fallen trap door, and the next
Instant the body of Clnveriua was at the end of
tbe rope over ten feet below whore he had
been landing. The rope, which was made of
parti-colored ailk, stretched over the feet and
toes of tho liaagetl man, and nearly touched
tho brick pavement boneath. A minute of
quiet, and then there was considerable strug
gling, lasting several minutes, together with
heavy stentonoua breathing, indicating that
death was being produced by strangulation.
THE UODY CUT DOWN,
After sixteen minutes the physicians pro
nounced him dead, and twenty miuutes after
the trap was swung, the body was taken down
and placed in a plain wooden coffin and turned
over to an undertaker to bo prepared for burial,
at his former home in King and Queon county
* KNl* IN THE CELL AND JAILYAED,
During the forenoon Ckptain Frank W.
Cunningham, Richmond's sweetest tenor ring-
«T, who has tttfore vial tod tiie prisoner on sot-
r,«l occasions aud sung numerous hymns In
Ms call, again called to see Cluverius and was
***** Pleasantly by him. At his request
Ikptain Cunningham sang the hymn
ltow firm a foundation,
Ye Mima of tbe Lord.
Wbeu be had finished. Captain Cunningham
turned to Cluverius and aaked:
”Do you still say you aro innocent.'”
To which the prisoner replied:
”1 am innorent.”
And said Cnptsin Cunningham:
"Do you believe In onr Lord and Savior.
Jesus Christ, and believing in Him, vou assert
that you are innocent know ing that you have
got to answer before God?” • ——
Again Clttverios said: '■’£a~ m ' raga
“1»y that I am innocent” "***■
*“»» Sergeant Smith entered the condemn?
” w five minutes to one, and anuouuood
tWt time wm up, lluwriu* ihowv.1 no alius of
MLuUou, nod rvmarbttl.
*'l orn mdy to go with you."
It wt, on awful and nolenin moment when
< Invert no walked from tho cell lu which he
hod w loo, been routined to tho ocnflbtd upon
which he won to pay the MMity lor bio crime,
nnd tho Inn nerve which oortolncd blot
through tho trial ilung to hint to tho very loot,
nnd unfalteringly he walked to hie dta’h. Aa
■ losing down the otepe on the way to
the uoUbjd the voat crowd oatiidc the Jail
rwtht a *irht of him, and a shout wcut up
hvm a thousand throats:
"Yonder he it: yonder lie Iv"
The priooMr in ver rebel hi, .yet, but kept
lli*“ *“» “owu m though In deep thought,
oSSSL?? *"* Iwrliopa, he fully real-
raid that lie woo going to die. Aa he wended
hla war to the aeaflbld down the lou, JailvarJ,
the ejoa of over two huutlrcd perwno were
dlroetcd to buu. He never looked to tho right
•r left hot walked along without tbe lewt
«pi of wakening. None ofClareriartrriv.
Wveo werewtth him todav. HI, brother, who
bod been to devoted to him unco hio arrmt I
with him !
yoterday. Hi, fother and mother, owing to !
feeble health, did not come to the city to bid
farewell to the doomed man.
Notwithstanding the fact that Wore the
body was taken down the physicians stated
that the neck was broken, the general impres
sion ia that death was produced by strangula
tion, aa ten minutes elapsed before life
pronounced extinct.
The heavy guttcral or stertorous breathing
during that time was {siinful to listen to and
was heard by all in the prisonyard.
IILtory of the Crime*
Miss Fannie Lillian Madison and Thomas
Judson Hovering (Kla-veers) were second
cousins. She was in her twenty-second year,
he is in his twenty-fourth. Tl»cy formerly
lived in King William county, and had known
each other from childhood. They had met
under her parents’ roof; at their aunt's (Mrs.
Tunstall ’a:) at her uncle's (Mr.John Walker's,)
and elsewhere. ,
The parents of both aro living. Both fami
lies are in very moderate circumstances,
though connected by blood and marriage with
many of tho best people in King William aud
King aud Queen counties.
Lillian nnd Tommie were both largely in
debted to Mrs. Tunstall for educational ad van
tages. Mrs. Tunstall is a widow of means, and
she suit Lillian to the Bruington academy aud
him to tbe law-school of Richmond college,
whero be graduated in JH82.
LAST AT HOME.
Lillian nnd Tommie wero on good, pleasant,
cousinly terms, and she was known to lie deep
ly nttachi d to him, hut they were not generally
spoken of as lovers. If any engagement of
marriage existed it was kept quiet. In fact,
tbe neighborhood talk was that his Affections
and aims were in an altogether different direc
tion.
July the Hth, |8S|, Lillian left her parents’
home, near Matiuuin, to go to the house of her
grandparents and uncle, near by—a place whero
she was us much at homo as with her father au<I
mother. While there, through the influence of
a relative in Itath county, she secured tho poli
tic n of school-teacher at Mrs. Dickinson's,
near Millhoro’. Several times during tho sum
mer sho was visited at her undo's > Mr. Wulkcr)
by Tommie Cluverius. October the 10th, 1841,
she left King William for Itath via Richmond,
Sho was near her parents’ home, hut did not go
liack to tell them good-bye. A relative drove
her to Richmond (some twenty-live miles),and
here sho remained a few days at the residence
of an aunt.
Long afterwards it was discovered that whiio
she was in I'iriimonrl Tommie was there too.
If is surmised that they nut, but if so, where
or exactly when is not known.
HER MOUNTAIN HOME.
By the middle of October Lillian was located
at her ucw home in Hath county. She found
Mrs Dickinson living at a beautiful place on
tho Gowrasturc river, seine four or flvo miles
from Millboro.
That Lillian found in Mrs. Dickinson a kind,
motherly woman every letter that sho wrote
nn ntioning her name proves. Yet she must
have been imnicn.surrahly miserable in Bath.
A good while beforo Christmas she must havo
known that she was not only a ruined woman,
but that It was only n question of a few months
moro Itcforc she would lie shamed beforo tho
world; when, porha|«, she would hup disowned
by her relatives; when good .Mrrfr Dickinson
would refuse toknow her longer; when tho girls
With whom sho had gone to school at Bruington
would mention her name with contempt; when
new friends would ignore her aud old ones
despiso her; when sho would be a byo word
nml reproach, and, may lie, not havo a roof to
shelter her in her confinement.
She must have had tho worst fears, the most
painful opprcnsluns. By artful contrivances
she concenlcd her true condition: but sho must
have stood in momentary dread of discovery,
8bo knew her day would romo at last. She
had hut two things to hope for—marriage with
tho man who had won her confidence; or, that
failing, to find a placo of reftige, out of tho
tight of tbeso who know her, until hcrcoiillno-
merit was passed and her baby disposed of,
DOt* RLE I.IFE.
Day and night Lillian must have been haunt
ed with the shadow of coming evil. Sho was
living a double life, She had to be to Mrs.
Dieklmm a pleasant nnd sociable companion;
to tho children, an uttcutivo and agrceablo
teacher. With gay and happy yotiug lady
friends sho ha I to scour one of tlmn; to gentle
men she had to bo a sweet, innocent young
ludy.
In her own room, in tho stillness of tho
night, she taw what was beforo her. Sho had
been reared in good society; she had had excel*
lent educational advantages; sho had been
throwu with ambitious girls at Bruington; tho
was sentimental, and no doubt had romautiu
plain—and now sho was to bo an outcast!
TIIE JANUARY VISIT.
What letters, if any, alio wrote to Tommio
from Bath are in his possession or destroyed.
With his arrest the commonwealth got none.
What letters ho wroto to her wliilo stro was In
Bath, slio burnt up tho night before ahe made
her start for Richmond. A few empty envel
opes left In tho trunk prove tb.it ho did writo
to her, but whut ho wrote aliout is not known
But in January, on tho pica of going to aoo
her aunt (Mrs. Tunstall), who was said by Lil
lian to be ill, Lillian gained penniashra to leave
icbool for tome days. She came to Richmond,
but proceeded no further. She went to the
Exebango hotel January the 5th nnd registered
aa Miss F. I* Merlon, Roanoke City. At tho
sarao timo Tommie camo from down tho coun
try. Ho registered at the Davis house (near
tbo Exchange) under ills true name.
TIIK COUSINS MEET AOA1N.
Tommio is described at tho Exchauge ns hav
ing had "a light moustache.” Mr. A. W.
Archer, chief cleric at the Exchange hotel, has
been to tho Jail nnd positively identities Clu-
vfrins.
So (hr ns Is known, on this visit Lillian saw
no other person with wham sho wa* acquainted
—no other person except Tommie.
Yes. there was ono exception. She met in
tho Exchange hotel, face to (kre, Mr. Clagett
Jones, of King nnd Queen. They had a brief
conversation ou commonplace topics, and soon
thereafter Lillian left the city.
Returning to Bath, sire told Mrs. Dickiuson
that she had been met in Richmond by I'ouHln
Tommie; that he drove her to her aunt’s; that
she found her sunt much improved, and that
her sunt urged her to return to Bath, and ptid
hotel with
Cousin Tommie, and that he had given her two
hooks and some candy and oranges.
So Lillian explained that sho was back much
earlier than she had expected.
LILLIAN LEAVES BATH.
In January Lillian got to Richmond to set
Cluverius on the pretenso that sho wished to
visit her Annt Tnnstsll, who was very ill. In
llsreh she adopted a very different ruse.
On tho 10th of March little Willie Dickinson
brought from the postofflee a letter addreitod to
Lillian. I'pon reading It sho exclaimed: *‘Oh,
Willie, why did you bring me this? Why did
you not throw It In tho river?”
The letter falsely purported to he from Miss
, of Richmond—a young lady who wasnt
the Bruington academy with Lillian; who
wrote untjug Lillian to come to the city and
to with Miss—-’s aunt (“.Mrs, Herbert”) to
Old Point as a companion; promising that
Lillian should receive per day for services;
that she rhonld have the use of the writer’s
wardrobe; that tbo arrangement would be most
agree able, etc. She said that she had a letter
also from tbe (other of Miss , urging her to
acrept the Invitation.
This letter offered a prospect of a few weeks
of pleasure for Lillian, and good Mrs. Dickiuson
curser.tcd for her to go. That was the loth,
aud Lillian arranged to be here on the l .’ih.
the litter was very urgent that she must be
lure cn the l*Jth. Mrs. Dickinson lent Lillian
h» r reddish brown canvas clothes lug to carry
littO underclothing, extra pair of shoes,etc.
THE NH.HT BEI ORK THE START.
That nighOliu Ella Kinney, a young lady
near 1 Jlliansownage, a particular friend of
bets, spent with Lillian at Mrs. Dickinson’*.
To Min Kinney she said that she had a pre
monition that “something horrible would hap
pen before sho returned,” and she told Miss
Kinney that ahe had a secret to tell hen bat
they were not alone before she left, and Lillian
did not reveal it
On the war to the train, riding horseback,
she said to Willie: “I feel as if somcUaisg ter
rible will come of this trip.”
Lillian was a short and stout little woman.
She was only four feet eleven inches high, but
probably weighed one hnndred and twenty-five
pounds. Her face was round and full, and she
was said to be really pretty. Dressed for her
trip to Richmond, she had on a black alpaca
drees; over that a bine Jersey, and underneath
that a warm jacket; a round her neck a bright,
gloray, red silk handkerchief, pinned with a
black jet brooch; while on her head she wore
a hat made of black straw, turned up In front.
It had three ostrich Ups on it, and wastriimned
with twilled silk and black velvet. Around
it waa worn a veil. The most conspicuous part
of her outfit wax a red crochet shawl, some
times thrown over her shoulders, sometimes
curried on her arm, sometimes strapped on her
clothes-bag. She worea plain gold finger ring.
In one hand she had the clothes-bag; on the
wrist of the other she carried a small satchel,
wherein she kept her money. What itamount-
rd to no one knows. Mrs. Dickinson gave her
$5 when she started; how much more she had
cannot lie ascertained. At Millboro she took
out a$5 and a $1 note and paid for her ticket,
and got fifty cents in change.
LILLIAN ON TIIE TRAIN.
Mr. Wright was the conductor of this train.
Jn tho course of a conversation with her—
something having been said about fast run
ning—sho remarked to him that sho wished
tbe train would rnn off and kill her. She
told the conductor she waa Miss Madison. He
noticed her plain gold ring. Tho red shawl
site kept in her lap. At 3:*J5 a. m., the train
arrived in Richmond. The conductor escorted
Lillian to the American hotel 'bus, in which
there were two other passengers, and got in
himself and went ns far as the Exchange.
Lillian went to tho American. There, about
three a. m. Friday, March 13th, sho registered
as‘‘Miss F. L. Merton,” and was assigned to
room *J1.
LILLIAN AND TOMMIE HERB.
Cluverius arrived Thursday morning and
went to the Davis house. Lcaviug his satchel
and overshoes there, ho went to the barber
shop under the American hotel—distant some
one hundred yards—and got shaved. It lr
claimed by him that he never xvoro a inous
tnebe.
Lillian did notget to bed until after three
m., aud sho took htr breakfast in her room.
TIIE NOTE AND ANSWER.
While she was eating her breakfast a colored
servant named Hunt camo up from tho office
and In ought her a note. The note was ad
dressed to Mbs Merton. She read It, wrote an
answer at once, and gave It to Hunt, and Hunt
took it down to the office, nnd ii was given to
the “yellow boy,” who had brought the note to
Lillian.
Lillian's answer (ns afterwards ascertained)
was ns follows: “I will l>o there as soon as
)*MHihlc. Ho do wait for me.”
On the small scrap of paper upon which this
was written there was no other word; no ad
dress; no signature. It was, however, enclosed
in a small white envclopo addressed “T. J.
Cluverius.”
HIE GOEH OUT TIIE THIRD TIME.
Between (J and 7 o'clock Lillian started to go
out ugnin. She had her clothes bag with her.
Sho gave (1 rattan, servant, a postal to mail,
ami he dropped it m tho street box at the Dis
patch corner. Returning to the American ho
saw her going up Twelfth street “towards tho
St. James hotel,” which is also the direction of
the Davis house. Tyler, the colored floor ser
vant, trslifioH that sho returned about 8:30
o’clock; that an “oh! man” who had his pants
in his lioots, camo in with her aud said: “Here
is a indy 1 brought; sho wants a room,” that ho
took licr to her room (SI); that later a young
man with a light moustncho (he positively
identified Cluverius at the coroner’s inquest)
was shown to the parlor, and there met Lillian,
FANNIE LILLIAN MADISON,
and that there ho left them. Cluverius saw
“tho old man.” Coming around about 10 p. m.
Tyler found the parfor empty and put out tho
light". Lillian’s room was unoccupied that
STRKKT CAR FOR RIVER VOIR STREET.
William Tucker, n colored boy, who drives a
"tug horse” for the street car company, testi
fies that that night he stoppod a Main street
car for a man (whom ho identified as Cluve
rius), and that tho man and u woman got on
tho cur near the American hotel aud wcut up
town.
Mr. J. T. Williams, driver of a Muiuo
street car, remembers thnt ou tho lost trip he
made thnt night he had a man nnd a veiled wo
man as passengers; that they got off at tho
end of the lino, Main and Reservoir street*;
that tbe man (who “wore a light mustache”)
asked him several questions aliout the streets,
and that he carried “a satchel" in bis hand. This
wan 11:35 p. in.
OUT RESERVOIR STREET.
That same Friday night, at ft: 15, Dr. Stratton
snys he met a man ami woman at Reservoir
ami Cary streets. The man questioned him
aliout the streets and ns to the timo of night.
The man bad “a short mustache;" tho womau
had a package under'her arm and no shawl on.
Fifty itepa from where this meeting took
plate ft the residence of the Dunstun family-
king William county people and friends of
Lillian.
Mr. WUliann met Cluverius at tire coroner’s
Inquest and eyed him from head to foot for
about two or three minutes, and then declared:
“I won’t say that it Is the man; I won't *uy it
isn’t.” Dr. Stratton said tint Cluverius boro
*a general resemblance” to tho man he met.
Further than that he could not say.
TIIE DEAD RODY FOUND.
The old reservoir of Richmond is on the
western limits of the city. It is between Hol
lywood cemetery aud the open field* where the
great confederate hospital camp* Winder and
Jackson and later the union caiup Grant used
lobe. The smallpox hospital nnd grounds
(sixteen acres), popularly known as the Clarke
spring property, is tbe only thing that separate*
it fh>m Hollywood. There arc only a few peo
ple living in the vicinity, and none within 300
S ard* of the spot where, on the morning of
larch H, Mr. L. \V. Rose, keeper of the reser
voir, found the dead body of an unknown
woman.
RIVKHVOIR.
The reservoir is a ba.sin to hold about
0,000,000 gallon* of water, aud is made by rais
ing four walls—embankments of earth aliout
twenty feet higher than the surface of tho
plain. The bank sloiaw inwardly and out
wardly at about thirty-five degrees: tho iu-
wnrd nIo|«o is bricked, cemented, aud made
water tight, while the outward slope is turfed.
Ou top of the embaukment is a wide walkway
rove nd with crushed granite. To prevent tho
I v.ndnds of people who promenade there on
WHERE CAN YOU BEAT THIS?
Arc yon getting auy subscribers for The
(Vxvi m Tins during January? If not, why
dtn't you begin at once? Ono subscriber sent
in will get your name in our New Year’s box,
and may give you the oue hundred dollar
present salt did Mr. B. F. Camp, or Coviugtou,
Go., out of our ( hristmaa box. If you do not
get thi* present you may get one of the others
—$50, $25, sewing machine, gun. watch, ek*.
You ran not afford not to be in our Sen Year
box, when it costa vou nothing to get there.
Hirnply give a half hour’s work, get three or
fonr subscriber*, and in your name goes three
or (bur times. Mr. Guup took ten minntos
work, curt a few subscribers and got a hand-
red dollars. There are nearly threo weeks left
yet In which to worh daring January. Get at
IttlOttCf.
summer evening* falling into the water there
is a picket fence three or four inches high be
tween the walkway and the water, set about
fourteen inches back from the basin. Ac va
rious points steps ascend the embankment
from the grounds. Tbe whole grounds are en
closed by a fence eight feet high. All gates
are locked at night; but for many years prior
to tbe 14th of March, 1885, there had been in
the back fence, in a remote and seldom visited
locality, a hole made by taking off two piauks.
STRANDED.
During the night of March 13th the water in
this reservoir had been allowed to fall about
four feet, aud the dead body was found strand
ed on one of the sloping sides of the basin.
Taken out, it appeared to be the body of a
young woman,a German woman, many thought.
There was no sign of hat or shawl, and as, at
first, no mark of violence could bo seen,
the hasty conclusion was reached by
some that it was a case of suicide. Mr. I*. J.
Barton, of tbe Dispatch, who went out there
in the line of his profession and made a clo ;e
investigation, was probably the first to sec
marks of violence on tbe face, and to declare,
iu view of tbe surroundings, that in his opinion
the woman had been murdered.
Later in the dav, and particularly tbe fol
lowing two days, there could be seen the mark
of a heavy blow over tiie right eye; lips slight
ly bruised, and ou the forehead some little tri
fling peeks.
AUTOPSY.
Hnnday, Coroner Taylor, assisted by Dr. Pet
tux, resident physician at the almshouse, made
an autopsy. Tho marks wero measured and
sketched and the brain was examined.
The blow on the forehead—tho most scriou
hurt—bad not fractured tlio skull, or eve
broken the skin; but it had caused an effusio
of blood on the brain, and its effect was seen
on the opposite (back) side of the brain in what
was taken to be a "counter-stroke.” It might
havo been tho counter-stroke, or a second blow
given her. The skin or the lips was notbroken
but in a few days the under lips was darkened
greatly.
The autopsy also revealed tho fact that de
ceased would have become a mother in from
four to six weeks.
The conclusion of the doctors was that death
occurred in the water (there was mud clench:d
iu her hands); that it v/us impo&sibl j to toll
whether the blows were given beforo or nf(
death, but if before death they were suffi ;ioat
to render deceased iu sensible, and might pos
sibly havo resulted in death.
At a later period the jury of inquest render
ed a verdict that deceased (Fannie Lillian
Madison) camo to her death by drowning in
the old reservoir, and that T. J. Cluverius was
directly or indirectly responsible.
ARREST OF CLUVERIUS.
On Wednesday evening following tho finding
of tho dead body, Cluverius was arrested by
Captain F.ppsund Mr. Robins, of the Richmond
police, at tho residence of Mrs. Tunstall, near
Little Plymouth, King and Queen county,some
fifty miles east of Richmond. A good many
facts possessed by theso officers, particularly by
Mr. Robins, in addition to the torn note,
pointed to Cluverius as tho man.
When Kpps told Cluverius that lie was there
to arrest him, Cluverius said: "Me! It is
ridiculous.” Liter ho said: “I was in Rich
mond, but I never saw her.” His aunt nnd
brother also declared: "Ho no ver saw her
while he was in Richmond.”
Tho arrest of Cluverius caused no scene in
the bouso. It did not socm to lie u great shock
The brother took it wono than any.
The Richmond papers containing nn account
of tho identification of the body liud been re
ceived, and Mrs. Tunstall lmd ovidently adopt
ed the suicide theory. Sho asked: "Mr. Rob
ins, don't you think that Lillian committed
suicide?” To which tiie officer gave an evosivo
answer.
LETTER FROM THE DEAD.
Tlio officers yielded to earnest invitations
and nte supper with tho family. Cluverius
started off eating very briskly and nonchalant
ly, but his appetito roou (ailed. He ate very
little.
Mr*. Tunstall said that she had that day
received a letter from Lillian datod tho 14th of
March, tbo day hor dead body was found.
Subsequently Mrs. Tunstall produced this (ot
ter and read it, “to tbo effect that sho (Lillian)
was going to discontinue her school on account
of the MtrcmeJy bad weather, ami thnt sho
had nil invitation to visit Old Point to be gouo
two mouths,” etc., etc.
TIIK KEY.
Kuowing the great importance of the watch
key as a link iu tho testimouy, the officers ut
tbo earliest opportunity giuuccd at pri mucr's
watch chain. Hays the captain:
Whcu I first arrested him he had on a.watch
chain with a piece on it to which a charm Is usu illy
attached, but there was no charm ou it. Officer
KoMun and myself went up-stulrs with the prisoner
to his room. While up there I called Officer Robins's
attention to the piece of chain by nhaking my own.
• • • * • I searched the prisoner ut
the Third Mationhouro. In doing so I discovered
that the piece of chain 1 had noticed was gone. I
asked him whero tho chain was, and ho replied
that he “never had any on there.” I said: ’’Ah.
hut yon did! Don't tell mo that.” lie said: “I
f ive It to my brother last night.” After searching
Im I went Into my office in tho *taUonhtfic<c.
Borne hair hour later, upon reflection, I wcut to the
cell door and c-allcd him, and said:
“Cluverius, I saw that piece of chain ou your
watch chain last night at King and Quecu court
house, lam mre.”
He replied: “No captain; I gave it to my broth
er. Why, do yon want U?”
I raid; “Ye*, I do. t an you get It?”
“Yes, and l will get it for you.
1 Joined them. There 1 found tho prisoner, h!s
brother, J ml EC Crump, nnd A. It. Kv*n*. 1 talked
with counsel nlxHit fifteen minute*. The prisoner
and hi* brother were at thta tlmcnt»oiit tcu fe< t
from me, and a little behind me, iu couver»at!on.
proceed
i the pr1s<
r going
passing .... . -
. ou said something nh
piece of chain. My brother has it: ho will give
It to you." The hnriher put hi* hand in htapockct,
ami wa* in the act of takiug U out, when I replied
1 tht light he had better consult his counsel, ns they
were present. Counsel replied (after I partially
explained to them): “Give it to hint" l aicauing
me). “1 could put It ui#ra the chain”; which I
have never done. Ills brother In giving it to mo
raid: "I tuund it upon the tabic at home, and
brought it oxer, thinking you mtgbt warn it.”
.Sukwqucutly there was found at 120 Broad
street Herman Joel, a watchmaker, who had
formerly done business at West Point and Cen-
trcvillc. Joel knows Cluverius. The officers
relied upon Joel to prove that about twelve
months ago Cluverius brought that key to him
ut i 'ontre\ illcto havo a ucw barrel put into it;
that Jccl re members the circumstance and the
conversation, and Identified his own work.
It was twelve months ago when Clnverius had
tho key. Witnesses from King William and
King and Quecu counties proved
that Cluverius wss wearing that identical key
at a comparatively recent period.
Now, here comes in a serious contradiction.
Hunt, a colored witueas from tho American
hotel, was shown the key at the inquest aud
said he saw a key "exactly like this” lying on
the bureau in Miss Lillian's room at the Amer
ican on March the 13th. So tho testimouy is
written; so Hunt signed it. But it is was alleged
that that writing was not the correct purp*rt
and expression of his words and ideas; that ho
never meant to say the key he saw was exactly
like this.
WHERE HE WAS THAT NIGHT.
(Timirgou to Richmond aud approaching
the Mattaponi river to take a ferry, as they
drove down to the water Officer Robin, hap
pening to lcok into prisoner's face, saw it
ovenpread with a sickening pallor.
Aa to where he was on the night of the 13th,
the prisoner said: "I was at the dime muse-
But prisoner has never yet named a mm
who saw him at tho dime museum that night.
Another thing that Cluverius raid on hi?
wav to Richmond under arrest wa* that he hid
been ptisonated; that he would send to Now
Yc ik ami Chicago for the very best detective
talent and would fathom the mystery of Lil
lian'* death and dear himself. He declared
that he liked Lillian very well, but that was
ail tht rt wa* between them.
HANDS CONCEALED.
It was a raw day when tho prisoner was
brought up from King and Queen. They drove
in a double buggy, or drag, and Cluverius kept
his hand* under the blanket nearly all the
way. Mr. Robles, who sat with him on the
back seat while CkpUtn Enps drove, asked hita
if he hadn’t brought hi* glovea. Ho sahi that
he had bat one pain that they were heavy
driving glove* and that he had left them in
his nriky at home.
Vfon arriving at the Thud stationhouse it
was noticed that bis right hand was badly
scratched, or rather gouged as if by finger
nails. Asked how about that, he said that he
had scratched his hand at Centreville. At
Ccntreville, at his law office, he told hi* father
and others that he scratched his hand by hang
ing it in his watch-chain as he boarded the
train that morning. . ... . ,
The trial is still fresli m the public mind,
The prisoner maintained his remarkable a»ol-
ntfs throughout. The verdict of guilty did not
break his composure. An effort was made to
obtain a| new trial, but ..the motion was not
granted. ■%
During the long and weary months pissed in
jail waiting for tho execution, Cluverius kept
in remarkably good spirit*. Ho read lHs Bible
daily and asserted Bis innocence so stoutly
that many wire won over
bis side. Strong appeals were made to tho
governor to commute the sentence to life im-.
prisenment, hut w ith tho exception of a brief
respite Governor Lee declined to interfere.
The condemned man spent his last days In
writing a hook containing a history of his lire
and a review of the case. It was his desire
that the proceeds arising from tho sale of tire
work should he given to his aunt, Mrs. Tum-
tall, to reimburse her in some measure for tho
expenses incurred in his defense.
To the last this singular; man preserved his
sccict, if he had ono. If he was tho murderer
of Lillian Madison he never by word or look
gave the slightest indication of his guilt.
Innocent, Hut ftlung;ml. %
Ottawa, Out., January 13.—For tho six
months preceding tho 28th day of September,
1885, there was throughout British Columbia,
and indeed throughout the Dominion of
Canada, tbe greatest interest felt in the rare
of Robert Evan Sproul, then under sentence of
death at Victoria, B. C., for murder. It was a
cnee of life or death with the accused, and
being an American citizen, and that govern
ment being im pressed with hia innocence,
taking every possible legal action to prevent
the hanging of the condemned, tcnde-l to
create moro than ordinary interest in each
step of the proceedings which were then going
ou. Robert Evan Sproul was a miner who
had moved to Canada from Kennebec county,
Me., in 1880. He was the part owner of one
of the richest mines in tho Kootenay district of
British Columbia. On tbo 1st day of January,
1885, ono Thomas Ilamme), also a miner, and
a part owner of the Sproul claim, was killed,
and suspicion pointed to tho accused Sproul
as the guilty man. He was arrested and
charged with tho offense, bnt stoutljt main
tained his innocence, and on his trial, which
was had at Victoria. B. C., endeavored to
provo an alibi, but failed. After the trial h!s
counsel alleged certain irregularities in the
binring, among whioh was tho non-descrip
tion of the court, but tho provincial supremo
court sustained tho decision of the lower
court. On tho 3d of May, 1880, on the appli
cation of the prisoner’s counsel, an order nisi
for a writ of habeas corpus, or, in tho alterna
tive, for tbo discharge of tho prisoner, was
granted by tho Hon. Mr. Justice Henry, of
tho Dominion supreme court, and after delib
eration judgment wus pronounced by him di
recting the issue of a writ of haboas corpus,
dircctul to tho shcrifl’ for Vancouver island,
calling upon him to prodimo tho prisoner, to
gether with tho cause of his detention. The
sheriff refused to obey tho writ, and ou tho 2 i
day of August, 1880, an application was made
for the discharge of the -prisoner, on the
ground that tlio sheriff hod not obeyed the
writ. After hearing argument thereon Mr.
Justice Henry ordered the unconditional dis
charge of tlio prisoner. Five respites were
granted tho condemned man by the govern
ment, and at Isst he was hanged by ordor of
the nrinistcrof justice, who refused to interfere,
although urged to do so by Mayor Fell and
some flvo hundred residents of Victoria, as
well us by the secretary of state of tho United
States.
After the trial, tho chief witness for tho
proeccution, ono Charles Wolfe, m^do an affi
davit in due form that the evidence given by
him at tho trial, was false, and the American
consul at Victoria reported to tho lieutoaant-
governor of British Columbia that iiftcr the
investigation bo believed the prisoner to bo iu-
lioccnt. Notwithstanding tho Order of tho
highest court in Cuouda, .Sproul was hanged ou
the 28th of September, liu maintained his in
nocence on tho gallows. Now a witness whom
ho could not procure on his
trial has turned up in Sun Francisco, and iu
order to satisfy tho relatives of Sproul that ho
iru keen hanged for a crime of which ho was
iniiccint, Tlclltty trrnwkcf^rq a judge of com
petent jurisdiction and made nn affidavit tint
he was with Sproul from eight o’clock in tlid
evening of the 31st of May, 1885, until half
past six of the night following, and, moreover,
that they wero at least fifteen miles from tho
scene of the crimo. As tho murder was com
mitted between these hours, according to tho
prosecution, this disposes of the theory that
tho accused .Sproul did the deed.
This affidavit has been (Hod hero with the
secretary of state. Acting on the advicoof
Counsel Frank Sproul, a brother of deceased
and administrator of his estate, 1ms bogun ac
tion against tho province of British Columbia
for $50,000 damages on account of tho illegal
hanging of the accused.
Giro strarge thing in connection with tho
affair is that four days before tho execution a
friend of tiie prisoner died iu Boston bequeath
ing him $100,000, which was not mado anowu
to tht* condemned man until lio walked onto
the gallows.
Ho Wants to Swing.
Darien,Ga., January 11.—(Special.]—Cooper,
the murderer sentenced to bo hanged on Jan
uary 1 ith, was informed today that the gov
ernor had reprieved him until February 11th.
Hu did not hail the news with joy. He says
he docs not like this interference by outside
parties, and would prefer to hang on the day
first appointed.
A Mysterious Lynching.
Osyka, Miss., Jnniury 11.—Iko Brumfield,
colored, was hanged by an unknown raob Sat
urday night. Tiie body was found on Sunday.
Tbe negro, it is stated, resided arro&s tho state
line in Louisiana, hut w*as brought across the
line aud lynched. The cause of tho hanging
has not transpired^
flangings in Arkansas.
Fort Smith. Ark., January II.—James
Lamb, Albert Ihlell and John T. Echols, white.and
Him Steven*, colored* were banged Jn the United
tntes courthouse yard here today lor murders
committed iu the Indian territory.
Or to Avoid It* Mother's.
tho New Haven News,
a wire child that knows when to lay
a |x>kf r band..
RUPTURI
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, BETTS & BETTS,
331 WHITEHALL ST.,',
ATLANTA, GA.
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DRS. BETTS & BETTS,
33, Whitehall St.,
d&wk nrm ATLANTA. GA,
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