The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-06-07
"a. X. W. CLlRkE,s DEATH.
accidentally shos by Ills som in Yxnnelo
Whitley.

II. X. W. Clarke, welI-known
lawyer Of this elty, was accidentally
shot by his son on Sunday morning
and died yesterday at 6 A NJ. at his
ranch In Yagnaclo Valley, Contra
Costa county. The unfortunate gen
IleMan, with his son and the Iatter's
wife and child, had left their house
for walk. Mr.. Clarke, Jr., brought
his gun with the intention OF shooting
rabbits, and at the start had sugees.
ted that 1t would be better tor the
others TO remain behind and not scare
the game by talking. Mrs Clarke
agreed to make as little noise as poe.
sible, sad the party proceedetl-her
husband carrying the gun across his
neck, with the left hand on the mug.
zle aud the right ON the lock. He
hal gone but short distance franl
the house when Mrs. Clarke called
attention to the .,indmilIand her hus.
band turned round to look ut il. Al
he changed his position the gun was
discharged. The litlle finger of Mr..
Clarke's left hand was shot of, aud
several grtipes Of powder penetrated
the faces of Mrs. Clarke and her child,
so close were they 10 the Inuzzle o.
the WEAPON. THE old gsntlealan re-
ceiv0d the full charge In his back and
fell as the report OF the gun apprised
the unlueky son of the accident. Mr..
Clarke's Injuries were found to be
fatal. Being only a few feet from
the weapon, the charge of shot had
passed through his back in a solid
mass, tearing away the muscles and
two of :ne vertebfe and several inch.
es of fhe spinal chord. IIe was con-
scious, though the portion of his body
below the wound was parslyxed. AT
ter the nervous shock consequent on
gunshst wounds, the unfortunate gem
tleInan's mental faculties were keen
enough for him 10 make lils will with
US much intelligence and coolness as
if sepe rated from the grave, by many
years of vigorous liis. HE physical
agony was SO Intense that chlOrUform
had TO be administered. Toward the
end the sensitive portion of the dy
became covered with persplration,
while the lower extreinities were cold
wound were moved as usual by the
and pulseless. Themuscles above the
respiration, but strange to say, the
abdominal muscles were Inactive
The case Is considered by medical
men 40 most remarkable. Before he
became unconscious he had a long
conversation with his SON, who was
almost insane with grief, and was
wi,h difficulty prevented from taking
iiis oSn life. The last words of the
unfortunate gentleman were, "My
lrHr -oti-iny poor son. Several
yeats ngn Mr.. Clarke, H., wasthe cen
tt9i figure ia another tragedy in Con-
i,a Cu>,a County. His father having
pbiAined Judgment against ssme
counter claims 10 his ranch, the Sher-
i'll elected the defeated parties. There
was much bad feeling ON both sIdes,
and the end was not with the termi-
nation OF the lawsuit. In the hurry
of leaving, the squatters left some ef-
fects in their h,nty, and having
stated this fact to tba Sheriff, were
authorized TO return and take them.
Acting under this permission, ysung
man named Reed returned next day
towards the shaniy, and had arrived
within short distance of 1t when
young Clarke shot him dead in his
wavOu. The affair created much ex-
citement in Contra Costa county.
Clarke was examined before Judge
JAYNE of Oakland and held without
bail to answer TO tho Grand Jury for
murder. The Grand Jury ling to
indict him, the County Judgs placed
the case before a second Grand Jury.
Action ou the affair was stapsied and 1,
writ Of certiorari issued, which
brought the case before Judge Dwi-
nellie. After years Judge DwineIie
approved the action of the County
Court, but ut that time the witnesses
had gone and the investigation was
Of necessity abandoned. The decsas-
ed lawyer was well known rs the
partner nf E. r. Carpenter.