The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-11
CRUEL JOKE AT A WAKE.
WILLIAM CLARK INDUCED TO
SMOKE A Loaded PlPE
ne wss nrunk .ud the v,etiu, ors Drurken
Lot OF Youns Nsr-The Pipe Was IN
His Mouth when the Gunpowasr Es-
pIoded, Sad Hs was Badly 1Hiured.


near Eighth avenue, South Brooklyn, died on
Monday morning. The wake was held on Tues
day night, and about twenty persons were
present.
Every one was at Mrs Murphy's house by 10
o'clock who had been invited. with the excep-
tlon of old Mr.. William CLARK. lie was ex-
pected to be the leading spirit.
The nineteen who had come went up to the
chamber where the dead woman lay and were
getting along very nicely telling stories about
ghosts, fairies, and Of the days gone by, when
suddenly some one heard the voice OF Mr.
CLARK, who, by the way. Is so years old raised
in song in front OF the house. They all kept
quiet until the old gentleman had finished sing
ing. and then they burst out In applause.
Mrs. Murphy ran down stairs TO let her guest
in and welcome him. He was very drunk. Ills
high silk hat was tilted at rakish angle while
his face was all nglow with pleasure and good
nature.
Mrs. Murphy had plenty Of beer and whiskey.
Mr.. Clark proposed that all have drink IL
was about IL o'clock when Mr.. Clark had ar
rived. and up to . In the morning the company
did little else than drink whiskey or beer, and
by that time the women who were present had
retired.
Mrs. Murphy had bought three or four
dozen common clay pipes and several bogs Of
tobacco. Every one enjoyed the pipes. After
o'clock Mr.. Clark suggested to Mrs. Murphy
that thew have luncheon. After the luncheon
the men became more and more intoxicated.
Along about half past the fun wnxed fast and
furious. They danced, sang. and fought all at
the same time.
Clark was getting too drunk to stand UP by
this time. but was dancing in spirit. II not In
body: some one started up the song Down
came TO the chorus and the word down"
Clark was carried away with enthusiasm,
threw sn@ to his pe AGAINST h woT the %S .h hf
broke It IN hundred I,p pieces AS soon as The
he kept his seat and shouted until some V one ne
payfully hit him over the head and told him to
dow,
Whether 1t was the blow or the threat that
lie fell back on his chair and began snoring
loudly. The rest OF his companions kept on
mersymaking. but soon got weary. and 1t en-.
Some one it has not yet been found out who,
with gunpowder and make the old gentleman
light It.. Every one thought the idea a capital
one. Where the powder came from is not
After the pipe was loaded some one suggested
put the bowl OF the pipe in his mouth. Then the
powder would burn hfs jaws and tongue instead
Of simply smuggling his cheek and eyebrows. 40
II was decided that he must put the bowl of the
pipe in his mouth and that nothing else would
At this point some one suggested the diabolical
idea that II some cayenne pepper were put on top
of the powder that when the powder went of
the pepper would t get IN the wound that ths
pain.
pipe was selected and the whole bowl OF It
lance from the rim. On top OF the powder a
layer OF cayenne pepper was placed: and on top
Then came the question as to whether Clark
would put the bowl OF the pipe in his mouth.
wanted TO or not. Then n bright idea struck
one OF them. and he said that they should all
take new pipes and I'LL them up with tobacco,
blowing the smoke out through the stems
When they had s5 then all ~ CLARK wH
and smoke as they did. Then the pipe filed with
powder and cayenne pepper was to be handed TO
him and he was TO be ma, made e, to put the bowl
When Clark was awak encd he braced up with
a drunken stare ard saw the rest OF the party
The pipe was handed to him. and he was told 70
put the stem in his mouth until no got 1t going.
then to put the bowl In his mouth.
He did so, and soon had the bowl. fire and all,
in his mouth. As no blew a thin stream OF
po%dsr Sssss IN eaiehnS
The iokers kept watching him. and IN mo-
msnt the pipe flew ont Of his mouth, There was
and opened his mouth, from which came a
stream of powder smoke.
lie waited fully half a minute before he ut
jumped from the chair in which he had been
20
pouring the contents down his throat When
the bottle was empty the man stopped for
moment, staring at the ceiling.
Then the cayenne pepper must have begun to
to burn again for he suddenly began splitting,
uncorking IL, began TO let the contents flow
through his injured mouth. lie would stop
enne pepper would begin to burn and the pain
would force him 10 drink again. lie had taken
three or four bottles in this way. and was begin
fellows suffering, the jokers stood on one
louder and louder at every Indication OF pain on
Clark's part. AT last Clark was absolutely too
table on which stood the beer with an imbeeiiie
look on his face as he grayely stroked his long
beard.
" Let's cut those whiskers Of his off," yelled
one OF the drunken men 10 his companion.
Clark only grinned more broadly at this, and
collected around him. One OF them caught hold
of his back hair and pulled him to the floor.
and It is said. their brutsiities knew no end.
They stamped upon him, kicked him, and hit
d Dim . Isn s&s n wS f2E pair
with. These were secured. and the man
holding them grabbed ahold of Clarke
welded the shears. 1t is wonder the fellow
did not put Clark's eyes out, but he didn't, and
jab or two on the chin, where the man had tried
to cut the beard Oft too close.
During all this ordeal Clark kept looking. up
at his tOrmentOrs with a stupid grin. AT last
one of them stepped ON the old mans chest,
causing him TO cough. As he opened his mouth
IA stream Of blood issued from IL, the sight of
which scared his tormentors sufficiently 20 make
them discontinue their attacks upon him.
The crowd became scared now In earnest. IL
was getting light al this point, and So they all
decided 20 go home. In some unexplainable
manner Clark got home.
Whether some one helped him or he got home
by himself Is not known. Al any rate when he
did get home, and his wife saw IN what condi-
tiOn he was he was put Ia bed at once and
DT. Shepard OF 252 f,fty-seCOnd street was called
upon. When the Doctor arrived and saw In what
a condition his patient was he thought IL his
duty to tell the police. Accordingly he went
around to the Eleventh precinct police stat ion on
Fourth avenue and Forty-third street and told
them what happened.
Detectives Sergeant Ryan and ii. Graham
arrested three men by the name Of Edward
Carney, 22 years old, who lives on Eighth ave-
nue., near EOrtieth street; Joseph Dolan, 10
years, who llueS on ThiTty-nnth street, near
Ninth avenue. and james Kennedy. III years
old. OF 400 Thirty ninth street.
All three prisoners were taken around TO
Clark's house and Identified by him as heing at
the wake. They were locked up, and will he
Taigned before Justice Tighe In the Butler street