Cheney Clow - Murder Trial and Execution

Murder Trial and Execution

At the trial, the testimony from the Sheriff was that Moore was shot in the back, and not from Cheney's gun, but probably was shot from one of the Sheriff's own men who was firing toward Cheney from a position behind Moore. The evidence that Clow actually killed the man was weak, however, this did not sway the jury. In May 1783, a jury convicted him of murder and the judge sentenced him to death. He was sentenced to be hanged by the neck until dead.

It now fell on Delaware's governor Nicholas Van Dyke to set the time and place for the execution. The Governor wished he could pardon Clow but felt that he was unable to pardon him for political reasons and did nothing. He did, however, postpone the execution without ever appointing an actually date. He, in essence, postponed Cheney's execution indefinitely. Nothing happened for six years. A new Governor, Thomas Collins, came into office in October 1786. More petitions for pardon were filed by the family but still to no avail. Cheney's wife and children finally gave up their long fight.

In 1788 a final letter from Cheney Clow, having been in close confinement for 10 years, the letter addressed to the new Governor requested that a pardon be granted at once or that a warrant be issued without delay for his execution. The pardon was not granted and Cheney Clow "went bravely to his death, singing a hymn as he walked to the gallows.

No specific date was recorded for the execution. Cheney had no will, and there is no record of the disposition of his estate. After they hanged Cheney, the family took his body and buried it in a secret place. Many think the grave was near the house but unmarked.

In January 1790 the eldest daughter, Arrana, petitioned the State of Delaware to settle the estate of Clow and to distribute such among his heirs. The petition was "ordered to lie on the table" and on the table it remained. Nothing regarding the disposition of Clow's possessions is known.