The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-12-15
Mr.. AND MRS. CLARK
The Governor Pardcn} the Couple
COnfl'd in the Penltsntary.
HIS LETTER TO The BOARD
They We're Convicted of Poisoning
Stowar. ot Missoula County
on the Testimony Of
Their Daughter.
ircrInI pIrrIten 10 the stard5rI

Special DiafJtrh 20 th" Standard
ilclrUH ucC iL-Gotgyu0r nieEarIs
has plrlalol Mr. and Nj Edward Clark,
who N,tt convicted ln lsE ot lhr murder
ot John q. stewart In MLssoIila coguty.
and sentenced to the pruit.gtary for II
wears Tur Clarks were convict q Dn the
testimony rf Mrs. Clark daughter, Mrs.
M0ry St,BJrt wife OF tn murdered man,
Who. about year ago confessed To- huy-
Ink prrIur,I herself at tde trial Mrs.
Stewart lpr4 unity filled with rcnorse at
What shr had done agreed 10 sign a state
mvnt admitting as false what she hnd
sworn to as a witness. but b-fofc doing 80
committed suicide. stewart WIS poisoned.
Ills murder and the subsequent trial OF
the Cllrks In M!ssouLa was the talk OF
the hour at the time.
Governor Richards. In explaining his
action to the board OF pATlous wrots l
hitter relative 10 each case The letters
we're practically the same Ia the wording.
Respecting the pardon ~ Mrs. Clark the
governor IN part says: My action IN this
matter X based upon the belief that Mrs.
clark IL Innocent OF the crime imputed
tc her. and that her conviction was un-
warranted by the facts. This conclusion Is
reached after - long aud lainFtaKing In
vcstigAtion into the facts involved. whicr.
10 my miud. clearly Indicate tina; tnls wo-
man Is being punished for a crime she dill
not commit
THE circumstances surrounding the
death of John T., Stewart. whom Mrs.
clark and hrr husband IRE ale gel to
have murd' red, as brought )u, IN the cy-
idrucc at the trial. do not ,onnec. thew
with the crime In such a mInucr as 20
have Justified the infection " tho prndlty
imposed uIou them. The evidence al
ducCd was not only circumstant,al In ev-
cry respect, but OF "A character TO give
rise to reasonable doubts as to their quit.
II would seem that " such doubts Scre
entertained the defendants were not
given the benefit OF them. There vas no
evidence In the trial OF the cause. taken
apart from the attempt to establish "A mo-
tive for the commission Of the crime.
upon which TO hinge "A verdict OF guilty.
Aside from The question Of motive there
was much I'm the situation to wholly dis
credit the presumption of guilt"
The governor then goes on to criticize
| the testimony against Mrs. Clark. chara -
| t'rizing It as extremely weak lie speaks
OF Mrs Stcwart's confession to l. q.
| Denny, DEFENDANTS attorney. and 10 ex-
Governor Toole of Helena. and her sui-
| eide, Ia conclusion he says. 1T Is evident
to me that the Clarks are Innocent and
have been unIustly imprisoned. ANY one
found guilty Of such a crime the pre-
uoditatp1 murder OF Stewart should be
executed rather than imprisoned, hut the
Transcript of evidence transmitted To
I your honorable board gnd the papers IN
/ tho cas-" submitted for your consideration
mak" Il clear that IL Is my duty to reme-
/ dy, AS far as possible. u grave wrong done
Mrs Clark and her husband to grant ex-
cCutiVe Cl,mcnCy IN the case of each"