Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-08
THE CLARk-KRIETE TRIAL.
The Plaintiff II ON the Stand and Tell
Her Story.

Her Story.
The trial Of ex-Policeman Thomas z.
Clark. charged with committing a rape up
on Miss Nellie Kriete. on the 10th Of De-
cember last, was begun before Judge Nc
Comas in Criminal Court No. this morn
ing The court room was crowded, many
policemen being present as witnesses on
one side or the other. The request Of the
DEFENSE that the witnesses on both sides be
excluded from the court ROOM however.
decreased the number of those present at
least one-half. Mr.. Tracy L. Jeffords repre-
scented the government while Messrs. Frank
Gloss. John ONeill and ex-State Senator
WIN. +. Little of Virginia appeared on be-
half of the defendant
The first witness called was Miss Kriete,
an attractive looking girl, who stated that
she was eighteen last February. and that
she now resided in Baltimore, Md She
first met Clark, she said. on the 14th of
last November She. at that time, attended
the oyster shop of her brother-in-law Tub
man, on the avenue near 2lst street.
clark called there frequently, and used to
make himself very much at home. He sell
dom called at her brother-in-law's house,
where she then resided. nearly opposite the
third precinct station on X street
Promised to Marry Her.
On the day of the alleged crime. Sunday,
December 10. Miss Kriete stated that
Clark called at the house about 4 D. m
She told him she was about to 60 out call
ing when he said: mo, you are not For
am here" Clark, she said, soon bolted
the door to the room. a parlor on the second
moor. There was no one at home at the
time. He was quite pleasant for a time,
put ABOUT dusk he grew suddenly very af-
fectionate and demonstrative. Drawing q
revolver he threw her to the floor and
threatened her. She begged him to spare
Aer, without avail
Continuing. amid her sobs and painfully
SLOW, Miss Kriete said that Clark accom-
plished his purpose. The witness said that
Clark promised to marry her. and took ali
the blame on himself He told her that
she must say nothing about it. On two
SUBSEQUENT occasions she said that he as
saulted her.
''On the oath Of December" said Miss
Kriete. Clark handed me his revolver and
told me to shoot him.
The Authorities Informed,
While they were conversing at the door
that evening, Miss Kriete stated that her
sister discovered what had occurred Her
prother-in-law went after Clark, brought
MIN to the house, when Clark begged him
not to expose him. Clark assured them
her.
Clark. explained Miss Kriete, did not
come as he had promised, the next day and
that afternoon, Christmas day. complaint
was made to Lieut. Boyle who suspended
clark from duty. Her clothing worn and
torn at the time of the alleged assault was
identlhed by Miss kriete, and as her direct
examination closed, she solemnly exclaimed
God is my witness that at no time con-
sented."
Miss Krete was subjected to a searching
cross-examination in which she indignant
~ denied that she had prosecuted Clark
Tor the purpose OF compelling him to marry
her.
The Mother Testifes.
Mrs Amelia Kriete OF Baltimore, Md.
the mother of the prosecuting witness, fol-
lowed her daughter on the stand and told
of being sent for last Christmas eve, and
Clark.
kriete, was the next witness. She cor
roborated her sisters testimony to a large
extent. Clark, she said, was a great hymn
singer
When she confronted him with her sis
ter 8 accusation he declared, she said, that
.he girl was not in any way to blame in
the matter. He alone was the guilty one
and Mrs. Tubman stated that Clark threw
himself down upon a lounge and cried like
a baby He declared, she said, that he had
treated the girl wrongfully. but swore to
God that he would right the wrong by ma r
rying her. When the witness reminded him
that he was engaged to a Philadelphia girl
he exclaimed: Darn the girl in Philadel-
phia. Give me until 10 O'Clock tomorrow
(Christmas) morning, and will marry Mel
lie. If / am not here then you can blow
my brains out" He never kept his prom
Use. however, said Mrs. Tubman, and then
the authorities were advised.
Upon the conclusion of Mrs Tubman's
testimony the court. at $780, took the
usual recess.