Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-05
REQUIRED CASH BONDS
The Peculiar Relations Between Mr.. Clarke
and His Employees.
Tbs Evidence Showed That While
Little Business Was Done, the
Clerks SALARY Was Not Paid.


head Of business known as the Clarke Art
On Tuesday. charged with defrauding a man
cut of q considerable sum Of money The
complainant against him was John v. Nc
Lain Of this city, and the methods of the
company were pretty thoroughly ventilated
in the Police Court this afternoon.
The so-called engraving company had an
Office near the court house, and last spring
Clarke inserted an advertisement in the
local papers asking for man to take
charge of an office, good wages, and ex-
perience not necessary" Clarke is rather a
and wearing eyeglasses. He is an engraver
by profession, and was the publisher of an
art work containing portraits Of prominent
confederate leaders. 1t was expected to
have a large sale in the south.
Among those who answered CIarke's ad-
vertisement was Mr.. McLain. He found
Clarke a plausible sort of man, and some
time last June entered into an agreement to
take charge of the office. and to do the
clerical work at q salary Of SIS per week
Clarke said, as his assistant would handle
considerable money, he would have to give
a cash bond. For the purpose McI.ain
drew $3.50 from a local building association
and turned it over to Clarke. This was the
.loney that Clarke was charged today with
having stolen. A written agreement was
entered into between the two men that
should bind them both for six months, and
from which neither could withdraw until
the expiration of the time specified, without
the consent OF the other. The $50 bond
was mentioned in this agreement and IL
vas further agreed that at the end of six
months McLain should become a partner in
the business on the payment of a sum to be
mutually decided upon.
Attempts mt Salary Payment.
According to the story of McLain while
on the stand this afternoon. the business
"a mon Tod
he could see. He had nothing to do during
the eight weeks he was In the office beyond
writing few letters and addressing a lot
of envelopes to southern newspapers.
What was OF more interest to him was the
Iact that the salary attached to this sine
cure was never forthcoming. At the end of
the second week Clarke gave him a check
On an Atlanta bank, telling him to get Il
cashed, 10 keep $50 and give him the bal
ahce. McLaln was unable to get the check
Sasneo and he gave it back. Later en-
clarke offered him a Judgment note made
out in pennsylvania in part payment of the
Indebtedness This he took to a lawyer and.
nnding that 1t was of no value In the Dis
far as he knew there was never anv at,
tempt made to sell any of these confederate
memorials, the clerk never got his salary.
nor could he get back his $3.50 bond. As he
weeks. and was told by Clarke that he was
making similar deal with another man,
McLain considered that the contract was
closed. and the warrant for Clarke's arrest
followed in due time
Inc next witness called this afternoon was
q W. Minnick. who had almost precisely
the same story to tell as McLain. except
mat he was in the ONCE only a couple Of
Gays and did not get SO far as to put up the
money. He told Clarke that he only had
Si2o handy. but that he would make Up the
balance out Of his salary Mr.. Mtnnics
said that he did not like the looks Of tbinss
az all. as Clarke was unwilling to leave
tne requisite bond in the hands of a mini
cash. IN
Very Fishy business.
~Mr.slMullowre y. for the District. said that
ne could produce several more witnesses
VINO had had practically the same ex-
per1ence as McLain and Minnick, hut he
claimed that enough had already been
shown to warrant holding Clarke for the
grand jury.
The contention of the lawyers for the
defense was that it was a legitimate hus,.
ness transaction. under a contract, which
nad not yet expired and they asked for
the discharge of the defendant CLARKE
mad been doing the best he could to get his
business into running order but IL took
considerable time to get the engrayings
printeo and on the market. The whole
business was open and above board and
there had been no effort on the mart ~
the defendant either to defraud or 10 do
ceive VIC
70" In dispesing or the case Judge KimbaII
characterized Clarke's action as a VERY
nshy business" and said that quite enough
evidence has been introduced to hold Clarke
on the charge of larceny. The defendant
vas put under $So0 bonds to appear before
the grand Jury