The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-09-30
A FREE LUNCH MYSTERY.
Charlie Clarke Sued For tire Price of a
Saratoga Chip Route.

saratoga CHIP Route
Charles S. Clarke, Jr., formerly perpe-
traitor Of the late unlamented Argus. and
now manufacturer of cold hash and po-
tato salads for free lunch counters, has
evidently not forgotten his financial
finesse.
This is evidenced by a suit tried be-
fore Judge McGrath this week, in which
Mrs. Barker tried to recover from the
Washington Catering Company. in which
Charlie is stockholder and Treasurer,
500, the amount due her on the sale of a
Saratoga chip business.
The price agreed upon was $500, but
force OF habit or something equally indi-
vidual moved Clarke to stop paying when
only half the amount had been settled,
and so Mrs. Barker was compelled to seek
the aid of the courts.
1t seems that Mrs. Barker also worked
for Clarke, as did her son. The latter did
not get along very well with Clarke, aud
their unpleaSantness ended in sharp
war OF words. Clarke has weakness s
for that sort of war. During the pro-
gresS of the battle young Barker referred
to the expansive financial expert as a
| mass of porridge.
This shocking accusation held Clarke
speechless, and when he recovered his
voice he ordered young Barker from the
the majesty of cook.
Norman Rowe appeared as Clarke's
| legal defender, while Alexander Si1np-
son, in behalf OF Mrs. Barker, endeavored
to extract the truth from the manufac-
turer of cold rump and "beef and" Mr..
Simpson is rising young practitioner,
ana his Intimate acquaintance with
Clarke's business habits enabled him to
turn the proceedings into not roast for
the free lunch compounder.
Mrs. Barker told her story in plain,
straightforward way, recounting the his
tory OF the sale and the arrangements
Clarke had made, together with his final
reputation of the debt She was corr OBJ
GRATED by Mr.. John Bothner, late book.
| keeper for the concern.
When Clarke went to the stand he
kissed the Bible with extreme condescen.
sion, and settled himself in tbe chair as
| though inviting criticism of himself
| the result of diet of "cold vittles."
With the aid of his counsel he said that
Mrs Barker had agreed to give her bust
ness to him for nothing and teach him to
make Saratoga chips for 5000. When she
left he refused to paw her the balance OF
the $780, He admitted that he had paid
her So week besides the 500. Clark has
been noted, even in the old argus days,
for his liberality to his women employees.
When Clarke was asked why he had
paid over 500 before he had learned the
mystery of sizzling Saratoga chips, he re-
piled, ut was matter of conscience."
In the deadly silence that fell upon pfe
room after this statement, one spectator
swears he heard the flap of angels wings
and small voice whisper. Another soul
saved"
Clarke admitted that he had not learned
to make Saratoga chips, but that Mr.
Mitchell had. This Mr.. Mitchell was in
troduced to prove the conversation be.
tween Clarke and Mrs. Barker, but the
plaintiffs witness swore he was not pre-.
sent at all.
Mr.. Rowe was evidently dainty about
speaking on the subject of free lunches
and submitted the case of Chip Maker
Clarke without argument
Mr.. Simpson seemed to think he could
add nothing to MIR. Clarke's reputation
and also submitted. his case.
Decision was reserved