Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-29
CLARK'S STATEMENT.
HE DENIES THAT HE ILL-TREATED
MATTE LAWSON.
is Corroborated by Chas. w. Hewett,
Resident of the Same Place.

1t will be remembered that short
time since an article was published con-
tanning the statement of Mrs. Lawson
and her daughter Matte concerning the
latter's alleged ill-treatment at the hands
of Mr.. J. M. Clark at Ophir Camp. Mr.
Clark came to the city yesterday
ard says that there was not
word of truth in the whole
of Matte Lawson's story. He states
that he was in Los Angeles somewhere
in the neighborhood of April Goth and
was in search of girl to accompany his
wife and himself to his residence at
Ophir Camp. A police officer introduced
him to Humane Officer Wright, who told
him that he knew of a girl and made an
appointment to go Mrs. Lawson's house
and see what they could do. Mr.. and
Mrs. Clark accompanied Officer Wright
to Mrs. Lawson's and found the girl
willing to go. The mother consented
and they took Matte with them that
night, agreeing to meet Mrs. Lawson at
the police station the next morning
when she could say goodbye to her
daughter. They met at the police sta
ton the next morning and there was no
objections made to the girls going with
them. Mr.. and Mrs. Clark then pur-
chased two pairs of shoes for Matte
and some dress goods and underwear
and then went to Ophir Camp, where
Matte staid just two weeks.
Mr.. Clark states that Matte behaved
very badly while there; that she was
continually telling vulgar stories and
singing vulgar songs. She had no work
to do, in fact all she did while there was
to wash the dishes. She threatened to
run away if the place did not suit her,
and one evening she went away and
climbed a tree where they could not
find her. She was afterward located by
G. w. Hewett, who heard her in the
tree. She said she had run away from
other places. After she had been there
two weeks she left one morning before
breakfast and arrived at the postoffice
about 10 O'Clock that morning. Mr..
Clark says he did not follow her, nor
yell after her; in fact he did not 90 as
far as the postoffice until O'Clock that
afternoon. All of her statements, Mr.
Clark says, were untrue, and he is pre-
pared to prove the same in court if
necessary. The girl was never beaten
by hlm or his Vile, and II she had bruises
on her body she must have received
them from some one else.
The following letter concerning the
matter has been received from Ophir
Camp under date of May 9th:
EDITORS HERALD-Seeing in your
paper of May g., 1890, statement made
by Miss Matte Lawson in regard to i'll
treatment received in this camp, Iwould
like to state that being in business with
Mr.. j. M. Clark and in position to know
the true facts of the case, saw no i'll
treatment or abuse of Miss Lawson
while here. On the contrary, she re-
ceived every advantage possible.
Her unexplained runaway is and al
ways will be a mystery to me.
After reading the statements of Mrs.
Lawson and the neighbors in regard to
the condition of Miss Lawson on her ar
rival in Los Angeles, l have come to the
conclusion that they are either falsify-
ing or have been misled by the deliber-
ate falsehood told by this wonderful
romancer, Miss Lawson.
am ready to swear to the truth of
my statements. Respectfully,
CHARLES w. HEwETT