Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-14
From Our Saltwater Reporter.

From Our Saltwater Reporter.
The testimony bearing on the killing of the
convict, John Clark by Deputy Warden Hall
for disobetience has been given to the public
who will Judge for themselves whether the &C.
ton of Mr.. Hall was unsuitable, notwitbstand-
ing the fact that the jury, composed of men
of standing and worth have exonerated him
from bla,Ac.
The excitement caused in our city by the in
formation of the killing Of Clark has subsidized
and opinion as to the justification of Mr.. Hall
i'll his action is divided.
The majority Of the gentlemen with whom
your correspondent conversed on this subject
have looked at the matter squarely and
calmly, and acquit Mr.. Hall of all
blame. Their acquittal is based on these
points
The discipli1e Of the prison must be
maintained at any cost Clark had proved by
his actions that he was dangerous man, one
who would hesitate AZ nothing when in one of
his tautrums. In the three shops were eighteen
to twenty convicts, tive of whom We're life
members, and of these convicts were
known to be thoroughly in sympathy with
Clark.
Had Hall attempted to take Clark and the
other convicts iuterEcred, the force of guards
was iuadeUuate to control them, and there
would in all probability have been general
outbreak and much blood would have been
spilled. These circumstances are the grounds
on which ma jrrity Of our prominent citizens
base their Judgment. Still there are many
who will hold to the opinion that the circum-
stances did not call for such severe treatment.
Conclusion of the Testimony.
At seven o'clock, Friday evening, the inquest
held on the body of the convict John Clark,
was resumed, and the testimony of the con-
victs Bennett, Hicks, and Ramsey was ad-
mitted.
LEVI BENNETT, CONVICT, SWORN.
Knew John Clark; have known him six
months; never saw him till he came here; was
in the shop Thursday, at fou.e o'clock; heard
nothing that occurred between Cayon and
Clark; saw Cayon speak to Clark, and suppos
ed that he ordered him in Clark went to his
bench, and said that he would not so; he sat
there moment, then jumped up, srasped his
putty knife, and said That he would put it
into anyone that you'd attempt to put him
into the dark cell; he was addressing me; the
guard was not near us; told
Clark that the easiest way the
best way, saying, Clark they will make you GO:
he then said he would die before he would go
into the dark cell; | said, you are foolish, they
will shoot you; he said let them shoot and be
ID; | then went down stairs; the guard at
this time was in the other room; was down
stairs when the deputy came; I expected
trouble and for that reason staid away longer
than I otherwise should have done; when
came back l found Mr.. Hall standing near
where Clark had been, and Clark near the
partition; heard Hall say, Clark, will you
put that knife down; did not hear Clark
speak; he had his hand behind him, grasping
the knife; Hall was about four or five feet
from him at the time; Hall said, Clark, I adj
wise you to put that knife down and come
with me; did not hear Clark speak; Hall then
stepped ore side | was about thirty feet
distant.
Hall repeated, Clark will you go with me;
then the pistol in Halls hand; Clark
raised his hand and said here is the spot,
blaze away; he held the knife in his hand; ;
Hall then said, Clark am not going to fool
with you, put down that knife and come with
me: Clark then made motion and stepped to-
wards the deputy; Hall then fired; Clark
placed himself in position to attack Just be-
fore the deputy fred he was eight or ten feet
from Hall when he made the motion; when
shot he said Oh stood firm for a minute, stag
gered and fell forward and the knife flew from
his hand; knew the knife he held; do not
know when it was sharpened; Clark was in my
Judgment high tempered man; was present
when Clark cut Ramsden; DO not know how
the quarrel originated or of the attack;
Oldrh WAS dTulel Will tle SdIlc putty KNIFE;
Ramsden had a small oil can in his hand;
Clark cut Ramsden badly; from this occur
renee l considered Clark dangerous man and
afraid to work with him; he would take
any weapon convenient when excited; saw him
strike q convict with club have been in the
prison eight months; worked with Clark six
months; l was vanishing, he was painting; the
putty knives arc all alike, with the exception
Of Clark's which sharper than the rest;
had no trouble with him myself; that the
knife had been ground on both edges different
from the others noticed this fact after he cut
Ramsden; do not know how it was ground be-
fore; think that could tell it from the others:
did not know at the time the name of the con-
vict Clark struck with club; Clark was paint
ing elevators, the other was print
ing; they were about twenty feet
apart; Wakefield went down stairs; came back
and asked Clark if he had his duster; Clark
had it and gave it to him, aud Wakefield went
back to work; he worked moment when Clark
said the -- - has been down and
reported on US for having his buster; he then
started and got a club about four feet long and
one-half an inch square, and said to Wakefield,
you reported me, and then struck him; that
was two months ago. Wakefield started to run,
and said l did not report you; thought Clark
struck him On the back the first time, but do
not know where he struck him the second time;
he hit him hard; the guard ca ne and sent Clark
in; think Clark said to the guard he reported
US for using his duster; if he had come for it
he could have got it; sometimes we are alone
for a short time, as our guard
has three shops under his charge;
| know of no plots formed by Clark or others;
heard Clark say, can do 20 or % wheels if I
had a mind to, but 1 won't do it; Thursday in
the forenoon, after the foreman said that he
must do 20 wheels, Clark said that he would
not regard the foreman's orders; Lemon said,
then you will not pay any attention to what
say;' Clark said no; Lemon said that he would
see some one that would make him; the prison.
ers in the shop talked together great deal
when they got u chance; Clark made several
threats after he cut Ramsden; said if they
tried to torture him he would cut their hearts
out, meaning the officials am painter by
trade twenty wheels, we'll done, would con-
stitute good days work for me these short
days; am slower at wheel work than the az
erage painter; Clark was an able bodied man
and appeared to be able to do a
days work at almost ANYTHING:
do not know that the guard asked Clark to do
more work than the rest of the men; did not
wish to work with Clark; from the way he used
others didn't feel safe at the same bench with
him; worked near him half of each day;
have not talked with any one about this affair
since it happened; Clark said that Ramsden
would sneak upon him when he came back,
and said if he did he (Clark) would quarter
him.
WILLIAM HICKS, CONVICT, SWORN.
Have been in this prison since II or ~; was
present when Clark was killed; saw nothing
that occurred between Clark and Lemon or
Cayon; was painting axles about fifteen feet
from Clark, and saw Hall when he came in;
heard what he said to Clark; Hall said, II
would like to see You in the cell
room.' He spoke gently; Clark was
then working on q wheel; he got
up bucked to the partition and said, will not
60 to the cell room, lie walked six or seven
foet from where he stood and had the putty
knife IN his hand; do not knnw if it was
sharpened; 1t was wooden handled ordinary