The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-08
THE RATCHET ASSAULT.
Story Of the Lives Of Clark
and Mrs. Holmes.
HER ANTE-MORTEM STATEMENT.
Chances of Her Recovery and
Her Assailant's Discovery.

VINO was mufderousy assaised by her rejected lover,
Thomas II. Clark, a. M. 200 Lexington avenue on
Monday night stil lives and faint hopes are now
entertained Of her ultimate recovery Her assa,lani
been arrested and the theory Of his supposed
suicide rs s,ill adhered to By the police An active
search is being prosecuted however, and it is quite
reasonable expect that dead alive, clarks where.
abouis VIII be discovered. Clark's last known
employ meat salesman in Mr. Scotts shoe store
In Eighth avenue near Thrty-fourth street. Here
nothing suspected OF his relations to the unfortu.
nate woman but his strange conduct noticed, and
tho proprietor Of tho store was obliged to
dismiss MIN about the Fourth Of July for nattenton
10 business "ae seemed to have some trouble his
mind" Mr. Scot, SAID 'and tho midst OF business
lac would act In an abstracted sort OF way leaving
toners TO take OF themselves walk off, surprised
nj hts inattenton" Mr. Scott describes him as gen.
teel man. choice Of his language and apparently very
correct in habits. He from the South. Clark's
interest business Sixth avenue had ceased prior to
his employ ment by Mr. scott The injured woman who,
II rs now alleged. had been his mistress made anita
rnortcm statement after the assault WINS com.
mittcd II is as folows:-
THE ANTE NoRTRM STATEMENT
As was returning home about three O'Clock P. n.
on August q, saw man, whose name refuse to give
ut present. standing IN the doorway OF stable
door but one TO the house In which reside. Immedl-
and partially closed the door and he pushed il open
asked HIM what he wanted. He closed the outer door
behind HIM ana then struck mo upon the head with
some sharp instrument then became unconscious.
Tnis Is NIL have to communicate.
FRANCES HOLMES.
fa mHk
When asked II sho thought she would i've said 81
think may get BETTER" and In response to the ques
tion, Shave you any hope Of recovery?n she an
swcred, II havc.'
Dr. d. B. Miller, tho Deputy Coroner. thinks that
there Is a chance for the womans recovery, but no
strong hope.
MISS RESDERsoS's LIFE STORY.
In the haste Of gathering the particulars Of tho
tragedy last evening there many very important
facts ommitcd which have since been brought to light
appears that the Of tho victim of the tragedy
Is not, as already stated, Mrs. Frank Holmes Her
proper name Is Frances J. Henderson, She Is not
widow; nor was shc ever married, but for time she
was Clarks mistress Sho TO this city In the lat
ter part Of 1870 from her home IN East Boston Tho
circumstances attendant upon her departure from her
10 10 was for
purpose OF hiding some rash STEP In the spring Of
ISL sue went board with MRS. Waters, az No. 81
East Thirteenth street. There she remained until the
fall OF that year, teaching music and sing
ing. During her soiourn at Mrs. Waters
from two gentlemen one Of whom she represented to
be cousin, while the other was, to all appearances
Mrs waters to SUPPOSE that her boarder was no. all
that she should he On the contrary her conduct was
always of the most adykc character. and Tor her
the perfect confidence OF her hostess In speaking OF
her yesterday Mrs. Waters used the most euogistio
language declaring that Frankie" a. she called
Miss Henderson, was the most dgniaed and
She spoke very highly OF her Industry
snup SUM Of Of the o bsn
saved by denying herself many of tho
OF lifc Miss Henderson, after years sojourn with
Mrs. Waters, changed her boarding house, only to
again in short time Her sojourns at Mrs. Waters
house were not Of long duration, however. as, for
1873 she stopped with Mrs. Waters for short time and
It then that change was noticed In her Before
ton. but now she iScame tho very reversc-moody
and irritable-and In the frequent habit OF bursting
into passionate AM and prolonged hts Of Weeping thu
and therefore. supposed that he The cause OF
her sad change She never related ms much, however
the had the life bothered Of her" She also
planned that no owed her some money, which he ethg
would not or coulc not pay her.
HER BUSINESS RKLATIoNs WITH CLARK.
An account has already been Published OF her acting
cashier In Clark's Sixth avenue store, but there
were other business relations between them which
failed his business be about re-cssabshng him
sell in at No. l64 Broadway, In partnership
with Mr. Hugh +. Young. He could not do undei
his own name, however, % he prevailed upon Misa
MIN a. his mistress, to amx her signature
to the deed Of partnership with Mr.. Young The
thereupon repaired the Office Of MI. Louis Cohen,
lawyer doing business ~ No 229 Broadway, whore Mist
Henderson signed the deed OF partnership This
month afterwards, owing 70 Clark's loose manage.
ment Of the business assignment made Tor the
tho benent OF the creditors The latter very loud
in their denuncation OF Clark. openly declaring
belief that he a cheat and swinder. II ID
five six hundred dollars In the preiminarles
nectcd with the signing Of the deed Of partnership
with Mr. Young CLARK represented Miss henderson
his cousin and the latter supported him in that
statement At this time also she drew up under tho
suggestions Of OF the creditors Of the deiunct
rm statement In which she represented herself to
be worth considerable property. 1t was afterward
ascertained however, that this statement false
from beginning 70 end and the creditors aceordinay
upon whatever stock there IN the store and
had 1t sold to meet their respective claims.
HESDERsoS's CONNECTIONS
OF Miss Henderson's family IN East Boston very 1t
tic could be ascertaned she always avcrss "a
talking with anybody on her affairs 10 Mrs Waters,
however, she was very communicative, and Il was
from this lady the following reaere details Of Mss
Hendrsop's personal history we're obtained Her
parents are living, aud she has plumber Of sisters.
One OF these is married TO Mr. Willard, who keeps
large livery stable In tho suburbs Of East Boston,
while another is married to a prominent
Mss Hendersons aunts is named Holmes, and
some Two or three years ago Miss Henderson began to
when she was homo many people supposed that her
name was Holmes because OF her habit OF making ire
qnent and long stays at her aapts house During all
residence In this city Miss Henderson has mover
received letter from her relatives in East Boston NOS
has she communicated with them TO any extent She
informed Mrs. Wators upon one occasion that her
parents under tho impression that she was en-
ploy cd Ia Buterck's fashion store on Broad yAnd
she intended that they should remain happy In thar
ignorance.
cLARK's HISTORY.
Clark tho perpetrator Of tho cowardly assault was
born In Ohio, wnsre his parents reside. He came
to this city many ago, and engaged IN vaf-
Gus boot and shoe stores during his residence nere
Those who know him. and the reporter OF the HERALD
several Of them yesterday, unite In saying that
he demened and wholly irresponsible for his acta
When he started the partnership with Mr. Young, ne
No. 164 Broadway. under Miss Henderson's name. he
had little money that he had W borrow tho amount
necessary for the purpose from Miss Henderson.
Alter the collapse OF tho concern he brought SUIT In
tho Fifth District Court against the firm OF Young a.
Henderson Tor wages, which, no claimed wore duo
him for work performed He discontinued the suit,
however through fear that his part in the transaction
might get him trouble. About the latter part OF
May he was employed in stationery store Nassau
street, but discharged after week trial for mat
tention 10 business
eleven ne was seen by acquaintance standing
the corner OF Thirteenth street and Fourth avenue.
He appeared dejeosed out and the cquaint-
ancc said there was wild CLEAN in his eye and a