The Portland daily press., 1868-03-03

~ NOnckHfER, MASS.-Ino w VI
pester Spy gives the particulars Of murder
committed in that city on Friday night. The
victim was Joseph G. Clark, professional
gambler. He has been on intimate relations
with a Mrs. Eaton, and she has visited his
rooms and spent considerable part of her time
there Friday evening, Clark, who took his
meals with her in her home ON Sumner street,
was at tea as usual and at a quarter before
seven, Mrs. Eaton went up to his rooms. She
found the door fastened from the inside, SO that
her key would not open it, but heard noises
which satisfied her that Clark was there. She
spoke to him and begged admittance, but re-
ceiving no answer she concluded that he had
company he did not wish her to see. She says
she went down stairs heavily on purpose to
persuade him she was gone, but retured again
softly and went up the stairs leading to the
floor above Clark's rooms, thinking there was
a woman in the case, and determined TO Kno"
more about it. She sat there till about twenty
minutes past nine, when she heard shght
noise in the loci, of Clark's door, and looking
down she saw two men, with their coats about
their heads come ont and hurry down stairs.
She Immediately came down, unlocked the
door and went in. As she entered the main
room, where Clark's faro table stood, she no.
ticed a dark spot ON the floor near the door,
but none OF the furniture was displaced. She
went into the sleeping room and found the
body OF Clark on the bed, which was mat
tress raised from thu floor, and enveloped in
flames. She at once gave the alarm, and
parties in the other rooms of the building were
the flames.
An examination by the police officers and
co oner j. M. Rice, who were Immediately
summoned, showed that the head of Clark
was split open on the top, apparently by a
hatchet or similar weapon, some four inches,
and a rope was also knotted about his neck,
aud the poker of the stove twisted in it as a
turniquet. 1t was evident that he had been
strudk down and s'rangled in the outer room
and then carried to the bed and placed upon
it, after which his murderers had broken a
kerosene lamp over his head and right Shout
der and saturated the bed clothes with the
oil and set the whole on fire. He was known
t. have large sum of money in his posses
sion, and this with his watch, diamond pin,
&C., were gone. The watch had been unfast-
ened from heavy gold chain about his neck,
and the chain was left. s-i4r
The forms and dress of the men who were
seen to leave the room correspond with those
Of two men who had been in the town for a
few days, lounging about gambling rooms for
no apparent purpose, and they were at once
suspected. Officers were sent TO the Western
depot at once and the men were there, but as
the officers approached one of them ran away
before the officers got sight of him. The other
was arrested, and was found to have tickets
for both for New York, by the train which was
| just ready to start. sbG3 alt iog a1a /
| u The party arrested is Silas James, known L
the sporting fraternity as Gen. James, a pro
fessional gambler, and of bad reputation ever
among others in the same business.
On Sunday Charles 7. James was arrested
in Providence. Nine hundred dollars, a watch
a diamond pin, Clark's property, were found
in his possession. He says the affair was
planned by his accomplish, the notorious Gen
James, before coming here. The plan was tt
murder and rob Clark, then destroy all evi
| dence of the murder by burning the building
It was well known that Clark usually carried
a large sum of money with him and wore
valuable diamonds. Clark had a previous &C
quaintance with james, and charitably pait
| his bills during the few days they were wait
| ing to murder him. Friday evening wal
the first time he found Clark alone The deco
was done with small broad axe which the,
carried to Clarl's room, in a coat. The Gene
raj attracted Clark's attention while Charles
stepped behind Clark and struck him NOR
tai blow. e.s4 .-o.a