The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-02-16
CLARKES COURTSHIP
A Lawyers ESpOusal Of a Rich
Omaha Widow.
HE FAILS TO SECURE THE PRIZE
Woman's Curiosity Develops the
Fact That the Lover Drew
the Long BOw.n
IE FAILS TO SECURE THE PRIZE

the Long Bow"
"A suit which has been the means OF
developing some interesting incidents in
the career Of former attorney of IL
waco is now in progress in the superior
court of Pacific county. The case is one
in which II. S. Gile, of Portland, is the
complainant, ana Tor cause OF action ne
alleges that numoer of persons are
! ! now, and have been Tor some years, in
illegal possession of certain land on
| CHINOOK beacn claimed by Mr.. Gle. 1t
| appears that Mr. GiIe surveyed claim
IN that portion of Pacinc county in tine
year 1858, but since then there has been
gradual, but steady, recession of the
waters from what was formerly low
water mark with the result that
there are now in the neighbor-
hood Of $40 acres of accretion. On
part of this a fisherman named Petit
built house over twenty years ago.
and meanwhile the late w. II. Taylor,
j. Graham, Jasper Prest and q number
Of others built themselves residences OF
one description or another. Mr.. Gile
now claims everything in sight out to
the channel, and the suit is the out
growth Of refusal on the part of the
squatters to pay rental to the claim
ant.
Suit was first instituted in the SUI
perior court of Pacific county some
months ago, but was dismissed on ac-
count Of some technical error in draw
ing the complaint.
The defendants were represented by
j. 7, Clarke, who first made his appear
dnce in Ilwaco about year ago. lie
hailed from Nebraska, so he said, and
Nelo u lhWy Wy PlOlISolOil1 Oul lOl
some time after his arrival he made
living by carpentering work and what
ever else presented itself He managed
to make a favorable impression on the
fishermen and in fact popularized him
self with a number of people, by taxi
ing prominent part in the affairs of
the town; and on one occasion delivered
lecture on 1.-THE Blessings of Civic
Rights" before an audience composed
chiefly Of fishermen, Before the lecture
he had posters printed announcing that
the lecture aforesaid would be deliv-
cred by Hon ]. T. Clarke"
He was given retainer of SIS, and
was to get $3.50 additional when he won
the suit. When the case had been tenn
porarily settled Clarke talked for some
time of rich widow in Omaha, with
whom he was about to make q matri-
monial venture, and finally bade his
friends adleu, announcing that he was
about to leave for Omaha to be mar
ried.
Before he left he borrowed valuable
gold watch and chain from W. b. Hay
den, of Ilwaco, in order that he might
make as favorable an impression as pos.
sible, and in addition sold his law books
to Judge Brumbach for $780, upon the
condition that when he returned the
books could be re-purchased at an ad-
vance of $25 The library, by the way,
had been purchased in great part from
two lawyers in this city, but had been
paid for with promissory notes indorsed
by Mr.. Hayden.
A couple of weeks after Clarke's de,
parture for Omaha, Postmaster Dalton
received letter from the lady Clarke
fondly hoped to marry, asking for infor-
nation about her betrothed, and stating
that Clarke represented himself as one
of the leading lawyers In the state Of
washington, having large and lucra-
tive practice and being then leading
counsel In one of the greatest land cases
ever heard in the United States. Mr..
Dalton replied to the lady's inquiries by
referring her TO Editor Philips. OF the
Ilwaco Journal, and vouching for the
latter's reliability and veracity. Mr..
Phillips sent what information was in
his possession, with the result that the
lady refused to carry out heragreement,
and a few days later Judge Brumbach
heard from Clarke. who stated he would
be in Ilwaco with his bride in the course
of couple of weeks, and that upon his
arrival he would shoot both Dalton and
Phillips for their statements to his am
anced.
Clarke also wrote to hs clients in the
land case, saying he wished to 90 to
washington for the purpose Of settling
the disputed title. and would certainly
be successful in hts efforts in their be-
half. He added that there would be a
iIttle matter OF $40 expenses which he
desired RENTED. The money was sent.
but the next news received was con-
tanned in an unpaid ieiesraphir cis-
patch. which announced that he had