The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-02-11

YOUNGSTOWN, on the Great Racket.
II is with great pleasure that the News
DEMOCRAT gives TO It's readers another
chapter in the famous w. r. G muddle.
Much has been seid aud written regard
ing the farce at Ngnia, which has been
called trial, and after which Mrs. Ada
II. Clarke teitgraphed j. J. Clark Truth
has again prevailed 1t remains for the
NEws-DE DEMoCRAT, at this late day, to give
the frat statement obtained from mem
Der of the council, regarding the scenes
which trauspred at Nenia. This official
statement fully sustains the charges pre-.
Viously made, that the investigation, II
such IL may be called, was conducted 10y
and in the interest of Mrs. Ada +. Clarke,
the accuseci. Tt has been hard for dis
Interested party to believe the many re-
ports that have been circulated, but now
IL appears as II the half had not been
told.
The NEWS. DEMOCRAT has tried several
times to get a statement direct from
member of the council, but as often as
the attempt has been made, IL has resulted
in an utter failure. Finally it was decid-
ed TO send q reporter to Youngstown to
see Mrs. Hettie j. Clark, who was a mem
Der of the council. When the assignment
was given the reporter he was not over.
anxious t. undertake the mission, feeling
COnuuenL lIdL no TnhlleT now uhTu ne
might labor his reward would be a failure.
The reporter was anxious to nave the
regular w. X. G, man senton the trip, but
owing to other engagements he could not
go. Arriving at Youngstown dinRent in
quiries were made among the friends of
Mrs. Hettie j. Clark, and IL was ascertain
ed that she was very hard person 10 APP
proach and was very reserve and careful
in her statements. She is the wife of DR..
NJ. S. Clark one of Eoungstown's leading
physicians. She Is lady who is noted
for her honesty OF purpose and zeal in W.
II. c. work. Mrs. Clark is lady who
would not shield friend If wrong, nor in.
jure an enemy il right.
When the reporter called at the house
yesterday afternoon he first met Doctor
Clark, who introduced him to Mrs. Clark
The reporter briefly stated his mission
and closed with the remark that he was
very glad to meet Mrs. Clark.
MRS. HETTIE J. cLARE's INTERVIEW.
"I do not know as l can say that l am
glad to meet etyou," was the answer.
II would like very much 10 get state.
ment from you regarding the trial at Ae-
nia,n said the reporter.
II do not know as | can favor you in
this manner, but as so much has been
written, suppose IL would do no harm,"
said Mrs. Clark.
The lady then told the full story of
the council meeting. She said that at CO.
lumbus, while on her way to Aenia, She
met Mrs. Emma f. koous. They went
on the same train to Nenia, and knowing
that Mrs. Koons, who preferred tue char
ges, was in the city, about the first thing
she did when the couucil opened, was TO
ask IL Mrs. Rooms was to be permitted 10
be present at the hearing.
"SAe cannot" said President McQuis-
ten, "as this is simply council meeting 10
consider department matters, and not
court Of inquiry"
The morning session was devoted al
most entirely to department business, and
an adjournment was taken for dinner.
After dinner the charges preferred
against Mrs. Ada F.Cl0rke were taken up.
Mrs. Hettie j. Clark again asked that Mrs.
Koons be allowed TO be in the room so as
20 present her case. This was refused,
Mrs. Ada f. Clarke opposing the PROPOSE
ton. The charges were then read by Mrs.
Ada +. Clark, the department counselor,
who was also the defendant. At this time
no evidence was offered to sustain them.
There was
no ONE TO PROSECUTE THE CASE
rexcept the lady against whom the charges
had been made. She was the legal ad-
wiser of the council and conducted what
little investigation there was. After read
ing the charges Mrs. Ada +. Clarke COM
menced to explain tuem away. She ad-
mitted every thing charged. Her explana-
tions we're so plausible that no one could
doubt her statements, as there was moth
ing to offset anything that she might say.
She said she got the soap of Joseph
Biechele, the So from Major Vignos and
the Valley book. These were the charges
made and she said they were true. She
then went on to explain that the
ROSTER WAS A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE,
IN fact, that is she was Obliged to furnish
only the names and any advertising mat
ter she might secure was an after consid-
Grafton and one with which the corps had
nothing to do. Mrs. Clarke held that IL
any merchant made her present the
corps could not prevent her accepting IL.
At this point Mrs. Clarke waxed warmed
and in eloquent language told OF the
difficulty she had experienced in getting
out the roster. She told how she had
been on her sick bed and unable to move
a hand or foot. In order that the work
of the corps should not suffer on account
of her illness Mrs. Clarke engaged an
assistant, who continued the work. lt
was partly
TO PAY THIS ASSISTANT
that Mrs. Clarke retained the money and
goods. The defendant then told of the
advantages OF her roster over any that
had been previously issued. She said il
was better and cheaper, consequently
what more did the corps desire.
The statements OF Mrs. Clarke appeared
to have great weight with the ladies pres
ent and taking her explanations, and
having no one present to contradict any
thing that she said, il was the general
opinion that the Canton lady should be
sustained. Still some of the ladies were
not satisfied. They wanted more infor-
nation before arriving at decision. Two
affidavits were read, one from Joseph
Biechele and the other from Major Vignos
This gave the council very little additional
light. Mrs. Clarke claimed il was a pri-
Vate enterprise and did not read the affi-
davit OF the Repository Printing Co., which
stated that Mrs. Clarke had made the CON
tract for printing the roster in the name
ofthe w. r. G. instead Of in her own name
The members of the council knew moth
ing oil the existence OF this affidavit.
Every point that was made against her
was quickly explained away In a very
adroit manner.
WANTED MRS. ADA +. CLARKE TO LEAVE,
Many OF the ladies present knew the
disposition of Mrs. Clarke and feared to
ssay anything that would arouse her anger.
She was present and there was no one 70
deny her statements. Some of the ladies
limited that they would like to have q
chance to talk the matter over without
Mes. Clarke hearing what they had TO say.
After several remarks of this character
had been made, Mrs. Clarke said:
"Ifyou do not want me here will leave
the room"
There was silence and she took her de-
parture. In less than three minutes she