Evening star., 1896-12-16
WITH1NTENT TO KILL
The 0hstge Against Saloonkeeper John T.
Clark.
Fired Shots mt Two Men-BlOyys Were
Struck-The Case Goes
Over.

Saloonkeeper John T. Clark. who has
had varied experience in selling rum and
figuring in police circles fired four shots at
two young men last night, and Friday
morning he will be tried in ,he Police
Court for an alleged attempted murder.
Clark ia nearly sixty years old and his
saloon is at the corner Of 7th and L streets
southwest. Last night few minutes after
o'clock John Lennox, a cripple, and a
companion named Fitzhugh Smyth, both
under the influence of liquor, called a.
the saloon, engaged in an alteration with
Clark and when they had gone outside
Clark fired four shots at them. One bull
let went through the window Of a cable
car, but other than this damage was
done. Jealousy is said to have caused the
shooting.
Clark and his young wife have not lived
happily together during recent months.
They had separated, but just. week
ago the wife returned to the house
The husband had been put under bonds
for threats toward her and during the past
two years he had killed a colored man.
John Lennox and Fitzhugh Smyth.
the former from New Jersey. and a
cripple, and the latter from Lynchburg
Va. were the young men who figured in
The exact circumstances under which the
shooting occurred the police did not know.
but, from statements made by both Clark
and the young men, they reached the con-
clusion that Clark was jealous of Smyth
Indeed. Clark and Smyth so stated, but the
latter says the husbands suspicious were
without foundation. On several occasions
he said, Clark had made unjust accusations
against him, and on one occasion he was
arrested on suspicion because Clark had
lost q diamond.
To a Star reporter Smyth said he and
Lennox went in the saloon last night to
rot q rirG hny ho1 hnara ", haY
and had gotten whisky without any trouble,
and there was no reason for them to i'm
agine there would be any trouble this time.
But Clark repeated his accusations, the
result of jealousy, and there was trouble.
Lennox. the cripple, says he saw Clark put
his pistol in his pocket and walk from be-
hind the bar. Then, he said, Clark grab
bed him, putting his hand on his pistol at
to get killed, he dealt the saloon keeper a
blow on the head with his cane. Both men
then left the saloon, and Clark, who fol-
lowed them out the door, fired the four
shots at them.
Clark claims that he was assaulted for
refusing the men liquor. and the pistol, he
says, he used in defense of his home and
himself.
Policemen Kennedy and Bruce We're
standing on the corner opposite the saloon
When they saw the shooting. They saw the
drunken men come from the place and
We're watching them when the shots were
Hled Wnen they saw Clark using his
weapon they rushed across the street and
piaced him under arrest. He made state
nent concerning Smyth's alleged conduct
about his house Policeman Bruce went
ahead and arrested the two young man
AT the patrol box the affair was freely dis
cussed, and when the 4th precinct station
vas reached Smyth, when asked for his
occupation, said: I'm wife winner"
This morning the trio appeared in Judge
Mlller's court for trial, the charge against
Clark being assault with intent IN kill
The young men were charged with disor-
derly conduct and an additional charge of
assault was preferred against Lennox
Clark's right eye was discolored and his
hat was cut. Mr.. Gloss appeared as coun-
sci for Clark, and at his request the cases
went over until Friday
Clark was released on 81, 600 bail by Judge
Miller today for his appearance.