The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-04
Ellie Clark's Murderer Crazed
by Rejection Of His Suit.
A MORBID LOVERS EPlsrLE.
Funeral Services at Evanston Over
the Remains of His Victim.
The Casket Covered with Easter Lilies
and violets-rhe Body Has Been
Shipped 20 Her Parents at Spokane
For Burial.

CHICAGO. April 3.-The inquest on the
body of Ralph C. Smith was held at Evans
ton this afternoon. The facts elected were
as already told in these dispatches. Among
the personal effects found on him was the
following letter to his mother:
am nearly mad with suffering and hardly
know what am doing. / am barely able to
move about today. Nv sorrow 10 more than /
can stand. l have asked help from Him
on high. but a. usual l got the oppo-
site OF that for which prayed. The only hope
such control Of my emotions that can keep
thoughts from entering my mind. As the hours
go by and the days pass I feel I am growing
weaker under the awful strain. I wrote in my
last letter that MI. Clark had only succeeded in
separating Efiie and me for a matter of time and
that / still have her affections, but now that is
gone, the natural result from the position in
which Mr. Clsrk's actions and demands
have placed us. I went out to see her
this week for tho first time since
she received her fathers cruel letter,
and she told me she could no longer give me
the affection that had been mine during the last
five years. asked her why her love had been
withdrawn and she said: "Fatber told me
must give you up, and can love you no more
as must do mis- will" Oh, God, am thankful
that my sorrow at this time can come but once
in q lifetime. feel that the climax Of life is
reached and my doom closed. How sweet
would have been my sorrow il had only fol-
lowed her to the grave.
J. D. Wood, Smiths roommate. testified:
noticed that he had been nervous and excit-
able for some time. On Saturday his condition
was worse. He seemed unable to keep his mind
on any one thing and would take up paper or
book for moment aud then throw it down.
He spoke of his affection for Miss Clark,
nrAt tHa tai had To hiyvN< hat
account. Almost all of Saturday morning
he spent holding his head In his hands and
weeping. He read her letter telling him of Mr..
C.ark's decision and other letters from Miss
Clark during the morning. He threw them all
into the furnace. While they were burning
and for an hour afterward Smith stood weeping
In front Of the furnace.
In the Northwestern university chapel
at Evanston this afternoon funeral serv-
ices were held over the remains of Miss
Ellie Clark, of Spokane, who was MUIR
dered on Saturday night by her discarded
lover. Ralph c. Smith. of Portland, Or,
who then committed suicide. The services
began at 2p. m. President Henry Wade
Rogers officiated. This forenoon the
casket had been placed in the
chapel and covered with floral offerings
sent in by young girl friends. A large
bank of Easter lilies rested at the head of
the caskst, and punches Of violets were
scattered here and there. Many friends Of
the deceased availed themselves of the op-
portunity to see the dead girl before the
funeral services. At II O'Clock the casket
was opened at the rooms and access was
allowed to friends. At o'clock the re-
mains were taken to the chapel. Following
the hearse rode the pallbearers and repre-
sentatives of tho Woman's Club of the
university. The bearers were c. H. Fahs.
chaplain of the freshman. class and these
other classmen: H. B. Merwin. B. B.
Bell, J. NJ. Eldridge. r. L. Sheppard and
Harry Fisher. The chapel was crowded
with students and townspeople and out
side the buildings the grounds contained
crowds of curiosity seekers, whom the
dramatic tragedy had attracted. During
the forenoon the house in front Of which
the shooting occurred was the object of
curiosity, and the friends of Miss Clark
who called there were compelled to pass
through crowd of visitors.
Miss Clark's body left Evanston on Q
late afternoon train and was brought direct
to Chicago, accompanied by q short pro-
cession of friends and pallbearers. The
casket was transferred to the Union Pacific
station and sent westward on the 1890 p.
III. train. In the hurry of arrangements
the formalities necessary under the law
before the body could be removed were
almost forgotten. 1t was not until this
morning that q certificate was obtained
from the coroner allowing removal.
Memorial services will be held in the
chapel of the university on Wednesday
AvauiuC