New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-08
IHE STAFFORD MURDER.
LITTLE LIGHT ON THE MYSTERY.

TESTIMONY OF THREE PHYsICIANS-THE DkAD
wOMANs RELATIONS WITH WILLIAM LEWIS
IFRos SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNE'J
BRIDGEPORT, Conn, Sept. THE coroners
inquest concerning the death Of Rose Clark. or koso
Amber continued to-day by Coroner F. L. Hot'
who returned from tho Adirondack and relieved MS
deputy, Mr. Joyce. whose retcence has been so undS
eliminating to conceal not only what merited con-
cealment but also the things concerning which puOhcy
was needed to obtain important evidence The exani"
began at S30a The first witnesses called were
Mr.. and Mrs. Philip Lewis, the parents OF william Le"S'o
whom Rose Clark engaged to be married Inc iac'
eloited that Rose had been In the habit OF coming
to see for the past three years-that s one
year Whereabouts prior to her divorce from Amber
Joseph Durour dealer In harness living In Man'st'
Str afford testified that he served the notice OF an app
cation for divorce upon Amber, who was exceedingly
angry, and said: This is viii Lewiss work But they
will never live TO get married" On similar occasion
Amber visited stratford and coming to Dufours store
made similar threats
But testimony OF the three doctors who performed
the autopsy the chief feature OF the days lnVesg%
ton Drs Mooney and Cogswell, OF Stratford and Dr'
Porter OF Bridgeport, all evidence All tnst passeu
was in secret session, but Coroner Holt told lHE
TRIBUNE correspondent that there was no malerl"'
difference between any of them Dr. Mooney sad to tho
correspondent that in his opinion the woman was not
outraged, but murdered under circumstances so
peculiar that no hypothesis has been framed that viii
meet all the facts.
The evidence taken preceding days tends
to show that q muscular, heayily-built man
was standing at the Raven Stream Bridge on
the night OF Sunday, and that his manner
indicated that he was waiting for some one. Other
witnesses testified that Rose Clark was seen shortly
afterwards walking With heavily man. The
night was dark and there moon The woman
was recognized by her voice. The man was not recos
nized The bridge mentioned is about mile ana
quarter from the of the Carks and the body OF
the unfortunate woman found inside the grounds OF
| F. S. Hodges which four OF five acres In cxteuL
| These grounds ABOUT quarter OF
mile from the Carks' home They are fenced In
by q stout stone wall between three aud four feet
high This wall is well built. and there arc no holes OF
projections which would aid poor climber In scaling H.
The body was found inside the grounds partly propped
up against the wall with the clothes IN such disorder as
would not indicate violence There were marks upon
the body upon the back "a Oruise mad the appear
auce Of resulting the body being pressed with force
against the wall On the inside the stones are less even
and smooth and there projections In the immediate
vicinity Of the place where the body was FOUND Wllch
would account for this mark There was another on the
right arm which may have been caused In a similar
1t now thought that the general appearances are
opposed 10 hypothesis hitherto entertained that Rose
Clark was outraged and murdered road aud then
dragged up wall and placed in the position which
has been described II is beginning to be surmsed that
the unfortunate womau's refusal TO allow william LAWS
! TO accompany her homo caused b, her having an
APPOINTMENT with another Low, At tue bridge, and that
Lewis had some knowledge OF this Snd did not press his
| company where he knewit would be unwelcome.
! TIC long delay between Rose Cla Ks divorce
| and any definite arrangement for marriage with
the man for whose sake shes said Ia srafoi 10 hive
applied for divorce looks n neither desired the mar
riage ardently People In STAFFORD do not hesitate to
| affirm that the relations between Lewis and Rose
Amber during Der married life transgressed the
| limits OF honest friendship. II the theory
of brutal assault be maintained the circumstances Of
the womans death incl pcsbe for she was young.
strong fearless aud in the company OF friend II she
| entered the premises OF Mr. Hodges willingly
| and wa. not thrown there IN death, and her
| body and clothing carefully arranged In the
darkness ~ they found then the ouly hYpothcss
possible ~ that she murdered by unknown lover
| for re sons not yet understood.
IL has oeen said that short black hairs like those OF
negro were found murdered wOnan's brown six
dress. From this u IL thOuglt tha the negro Boston
| White, has been arrested and released may know
more Of the matter than has appeared. The Wines
Ie.ey who furnished the negros aib, was rcc Iamucd
tine OF the day, Dut nothing additional was
| ccifed rom him. II Boston Wni'e was secretly the
womans lover Is suggested that he mgut be the real
Cause why ner marriage Win Lewis was 80 long do
lnyc ahd that ne might. IN his icrJcOus. savage love-
ms SEED upon giving Lewis and becoming entirely
| his. and having failed persuade Killed her.