Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-05-15
From the New Haven Journal Of the 3oth.
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.
Attempted Murder-Pr0bable Fatal Result.

One of the most horrible tragedies it has ever
fallen lot to to record was enacted in this city,
between 7 and clock on Saturday evening"
We have taken some pains to ascertain the par
ticulars connected with this shocking affair, (which
are as follows:
About O'Clock on Saturday evening, Willard
Clark, grocer, doing business on the corner of
York and George streets, entered the house of
Mr.. John Bogart, No. Is West Chapel ST., which
he had been accustomed to do at intervals, for a
number of years past. He went into the kitchen,
and found Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Wight, who,
seeming to be somewhat annoyed by the presence
Of Clark, left the kitchen and passed into the
parlor. Clark followed them into the parlor,
and advancing to the side of Mr.. Wight, present
ed pistol at his head and discharged it within
few inches of his ear. The ball entered the head
of Mr.. w. directly back of the right ear, and
passing through the brain, lodged in the Uranium
at the back part of the head. He fell on the floor
giving a few terrible groans, which were distinct
ly heard by persons passing the house, who imme-
dately entered to the assistance of the family.
Clark looked upon the scene of blood for a mo-
ment, and then quietly walked out of the house.
The alarm of murder spread with astonishing
rapidity through the neighborhood, and people re-
siding in that part of the city rushed to the spot
and In very few moments at least two hunered
persons had assembled around the house. In the
mean time officer Lee Dunning was Immediately
ceded to the store of Clark, where he found him
very quietly engaged in his usual occupation
lie asked Clark what he had been doing, to which
he replied &c don't know" He then told him that
he must go along with him, to Jail, to which Clark
replied ''well | suppose l must" Clark took
out sum of money from his pocket, and very
coolly handed it to his partner, ,and gave him direc
tions concerning the disposition he must make of
it, and gave orders in regard to the payment of
some debts, and then told officer Dunning he was
ready to go.
He was safely lodged in JAIL and offered no
resistance while on his way thither, and seemed
as cool and deliberate as he ever did in any bus
mess transaction.
Medical aid was called and everything that
could be done for the aid of the sufferer ap-
piled by the best physicians in the city. Doctors
Knight. Punderson, Blakcslco and Hubbard were
called in, bu. could render medical su~gi-
cal aid, as it was believed he could survive but
short time. He was placed upon cot, where
he lay without any apparent motion, occasionally
groaning audibly. A part of the brain protru-
ded through the aperture made in the head, and
the appearance of the wound indicated that the
ball in passing through the brain took a direct
course from right to left.
The whole course Of this terrible tragedy seems
to be the jealousy Clark entertained for Wight,
who had married Miss Bogart against the wishes
of Clark. For several years past Clark hal sought
the hand of Miss Bogart in marriage, and had
been rcru!sed by her, and finally she dismissed
him about year since.
Miss Bogart formed the acquaintance Of Mr..
Wight, to whom she b ,came attached, and on the
18th day Of last March they were united in mar
riage. AT the time she Warr:ed Mr.. Wight the
lady was but II years of age. The family are
highly respectable, and the sad news of such de-
liberate attempt to murder has created the great
est excitement in the city.
SUNDAY. April Doth.
\ counsel of physicians au surgeons was held
at O'Clock this morning, for the pu pose of con-
sultation and mutual advice in the case Of Mr..
Wight, who still appeared unconscious, and ap-
parenfly about the at 10 O'Clock last
evening.
Mr.. Charles Beers, of No. IL York ST., states
that Clark called to his house Saturday afternoon,
about O'Clock, and inquired of his son, but
told that he was not at home Mr.. B. asked him
what he wanted. and Clark replied that he want
cd to borrow pistol of his son to kill cat that
troubled him about his meat market. MIR. Beers
went to his sons room and took a revolver and a
small pistol, and carried them down and handed
the revolver to Clark, who said he would rather
have the small pistol, as he did not understand
how to use tn. revolver. He then took the small
pistol, and told BY Mr.. b. that he had no balls
that would fit the small pistol, but Clark finally
took the small pistol and tro balls that fitted the
revolver, and were too small for the pistol, and
then went away. Nothing further was heard of the
affair until the evening of the same day (after the
shoOting) when he came to the back door of MIR.
Beers house, and Knocked at the door, and Mrs.
Beers went to the door and found Clark with the
pistol in his hand, who very deliberately passed
the pistol to her. Mrs. B. asked him if he had
killed the cat, to which he rcpicd,-s' Yes Iharc
killed a t,0o legged cat!' A daughter of Mrs. B.
very innocently remarked" You don't mean Mr..
Clark that you have killed man, do YOU? ?''-
lark ha1 toll SSV
hear more about it to- morrow
Clark returned to his store, where he was met
by officer Dunning, who arrested him, and as he
was taking him down to Jail he asked him if he
borrowed the pistol to shoot Wight with, to which
he replied" Not exactly, but thou sht it woall
come ndy in case met Wight
No attempt was made by Clark to escape, on
his way to Jail, but he walked into Jail with as
tonishing indifference.
\ rumor has been circulated about the city that
Clark was partially insane, but this is believed to
be untrue. lie is as sane as man could be while
suffering under temporary depression of spirits.
At late hour on Sunday evening the father of
Mr.. Wight, who resides in New York, arrived in
the city, and reached the house of MIR. Bogart a.
bout 10 O. clock. He had expected to find his
son corpse, as the telegraph dispatch annonnc-
ed to him that his death was hourly expected.
He attempted TO embrace the pale and bleeding
form of his son, upon bis arrival, and tried in
vain to obtain recognaton. Young Wight re-
maine1 unconscious, and at times delirious. and
did not seem to recognize his father until Monday
morning, when he suddenly cried out-'' Papa,
come to me! % and threw his arms around his
neck and kissed him.-This scene wss truly affec-
ting. The pale and haggard appearance of the
poorer sufferer, clasped in his fathers arms,
seemed suggestive of a last and final embrace,
before his departure to another world.
His ever loving wife remains by his bedside,
watching every favorable or unf avorable symp-
tom, with an eagerncss and affection unparalleil-
ed. He raised himself up, in a sitting pos
ture, during the day, and exclaimed, ssHenrietta,
are you comfortable ?'-and sunk back again
his pillow and remained unconscious for some
length Of time.
Doctors Knight, Punderson, Blakeslee and
Beers. were in attendance at intervals through
out the day, yesterday, and the wound was probed.
The instrument was thrust into the brain about
three inches in direct course, thus indicating
that the ball passed from right to left, in direct
and not an angular course. Upon the top of the
head, where it was supposed that the ball pass
ed out, it has been ascertained that the skull is
fractured, but there is no aperture remang where
it is possible for the ball to pass out. But in
many cases the skull closes up, or fracture up
on the skull is healed in incredibly short length
of time, and it is possible that such may be the
case with Mr.. Wight. He seems to feel more pain
from the wonnd on tho ton of bo-d hon