News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-07-09
The Clark Murder Trial.

In the annals of crime in this coun-
try there has been nothing more bru-
tai and shocking than the murder OF
Mrs. Miriam Marston, at her nome
near White River Junction. on sun
day, November %, 1890. The blood
stains about the kitchen and sitting
room, on the cellar stairs, about the
floor Of the cellar, and on the walls
and barrel all indicate that the
struggle was desperate, while the
many wounds and bruises on the
person of the victim attest the work
of a fiend.
The trial excited much interest and
from beginning to end the court
room was packed. The case was
most ably prepared and conducted
on both sides. The arguments were
unusually forcible and eloquent. The
opening for the State by the States
Attorney was an admirably clear
statement of the points and theories
on which the prosecution relied he
was followed by Mr.. Johnson, whose
argument of an hour was a power
full and convincing presentation OF
the principal grounds of the defence.
Mr.. Ballard gathered up all the
threads of the net the State had
woven about the respondent and
found no difficulty in tearing them
into shreds, while the close by W. Is.
{. Stickney was a strong and sturdy
argument in the face of an unsym-
pathetic court and audience.
The respondent had lived a most
exemplary life, in this respect recelv-
ing an endorsement that would be a
prize to any man in the community,
and his entire time on the day OF the
murder, except about one short hour,
was spent under the eyes of his neigh
bors in the same quiet and orderly
manner that has characterized his
whole life. He reached home from
the Junction about half past twelve,
as all agree, put up and fed his team
and cattle and then went in to get
his dinner, as he says. and his little
| girl, Gertie, corrOborates his state
ment that he was in the house some
while she was cooking oysters for her
mothers dinner. Eva and ClOSsie
attended Sabbath school at Hart
ford after the morning service and
| then drove home a distance of about
a mile. They must have arrived by
half past one or two. Eva put her
team into the barn and went into
the house and not finding her moth
er stepped across the road to tell her
sister. At this time Clark had made
his preparations and was driving
away, as he had planned to do, to
find a girl.
The theory of the state is that he
did the deed between the time of his
return and the return of Eva so we
must believe that in this very brief
space of time this inoffensive man,
with sick wife and four small chill
dren to whom he was devoted, sud-
denly became a very fiend and eX-
ecuted the horrid deed and then as
suddenly resumed his lifelong peace
able demeanor, and went out among
his neighbors fulfilling engagements
previously made, and this without
leaving trace or sign by which the
crime could be fastened upon him.
1t is beyond belief. The jury did not
believe it, the three old and expert
enced judges constituting the Court
say it is impossible and the great
number of people who heard every
word of the testimony applaud the
verdict that sets him free His wife
stood by him all the way through,
asserting his innocence, but under
the law was disqualified as witness.
There can be no doubt that Mrs.
Marston met her death in the fore
noon. She had left her sick daugh- |
ter about half past ten in a chair
promising to return soon and care |
for her, but never returned. Neither |
had she done up her mornings work |
nor started fire in the kitchen stove |
nor made any preparation for din
ner ; and furthermore the shawl that
was thrown over her shoulders when
she was last seen in the morning was
about her whenMDund in the cellar
We do not see amy escape from this
cOnclusiOn.-WO Odstoekstandard