The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-29
Well K noWn Property Own
er and Clubman Kills .
Himself in a Fit
Of Despond.
PROGRESSIVE AND UGEFUL CAREER
His Courage Broken by His
Mothers Death-Prussic Acid
Succeeds Where Gas Failed.

durable consumptive and dreaded the ter
rors of a lingering illness and a painful
death, Frank L. Clark committed suicide
on Saturday evening. at his home. No. So
Arlington avenue. He made an unsuc-
cessful attempt to end his life a year ago
by turning on the gas in his room n
locking the door. The odor of the escap-
ing gas attracted members. of the house
hold, who forced an entrance and rescued
him just ia time. 1t was given out by
the family and by Mr.. Clark himself at
the time that the affair was the result
of an accident. This time he guarded
against failure by taking a large dose Of
prussic acid, a poison whose action is
instantaneous. He must have died i'm
mediately he took the deadly draught, as
his features were composed n there
were no signs of any death struggle.
Mr.. Clark was a lawyer, a Master in
Chancery ind an extensive Spectator in
real estate, with an office in the Weldon
building. SO far as is known at present
he left all his business affairs in perfect
order and was in no way embarrassed
financially at the time of his death. He
is reputed to have owned considerable
fdluctDiC PLOpS1t III Ii d0NlbiOi ~ tuC
income he derived from that source he
had his professional income, which must
nave been considerable, as he had a large
practice.
Mr.. Clark gave his friends n rela-
tives no intimation that he intended to
end his life, nor did he leave any ante
mortem statement of his reasons for do
ing so. He went to his office as usual
Saturday morning at ten o'clock and re-
manned there until four o'clock, with the
exception Of one hour which he spent at
lunch. He arrived home at his usual
hour, a little after four o'clock, and sat
down to read the evening papers. After
reading a few minute and chatting for
a short while with his brother Abraham,
he went to his room to dress for supper.
As he didn't appear at the supper
table his brother went in search Of him
and found him lying across the Ded in
his room dead, with al empty vial be-
side him. DR.. Forman, the family ply
stefan was called, but his services were
of no avail. The police we're notified
Immediately, and Detective Hottie was
sent to investigate. He found nothing that
would throw any light in he suicide.
DR.. Converse later in the evening W a
permit for the removal of the body.
All arrangements for the funeral were
ma made b= geaferday b * mr. ci 5oshua surs ahd
Burnet. h services will be conducted
at the house tonight by the Rev. Dr.
stoddard or his assistant drna and the ne t lhe
family plot in the New York Bay Gene
terry. The remains win be laid at rest
beside those Of his mother. who died ot TIVE
the same man after his mothers death.
He was very devoted to her. He used to
spend sps do q great sa s Of his y, time sd in I, hef the eom qa}ai1y
paM in = Tbey were ersa' eonf srass s at the
sans time me- a~a AFTER her dea az , he pesam ne
sleeping every night in her bed, although
he occupied his own room for all other
purposes. His brothers attribute his sui
death, combined with the fear that he
was a consumptive.
Mr.. Clark was the son of the late Al
len Clark. He was born in New York
City forty-two years ago. When he was
tM elve years old, the family moved to
Jersey City and purchased the house at
now as the Clark homestead, where he
lived until the day of his death.
MIR. Clark was interested in all that
tended toward the Improvement of the
section of the city in which he lived.
When the Clarks moved to Jersey City,
and until a few years ago, Arlington ave-
u came to am abrupt ending a few feet
to the south of the homestead, and con-
tinued the other side of the railroad. Mr..
Clark, acting almost solely on his own
responsibility set to work to have the
street continued right through from Ocean
avenue to its southern terminus he got
the Street and Water Board to pass the
necessary resolutions, n induced the
Board of Freaholders to bulld the bridge.
When this Improvement was completed he
set to work TO secure a station at Arltng-
%ar, - ~ n nh nffnxr cOxrnN I nC n r
hard work, he got the railroad company
to consent to build the present handsome
structure, the plans for which were fur
nished by him. 1t is said that ne only
secured this improvement by making a
large concession of property or money to
the ra.lroad people. That Arlington We
nue. is macadamized is also due in a
measure II his efforts.
Mr.. ClarM was unmarried, and was one
of the best known club men in the city.
He was one of the charter members of
the Jersey City Club and was a member
of its Board of Governors at the time of
his death. He was also a member and at
one time the Treasurer of the Carteret
Club and an active menber of the Palma
owned many valuable paintings. Many
of his best works he loaned the Jersey
City Club and they adorn the walls of
its drawing rooms, where he spent many
of his leisure moments after his mothers
death. Amateur photography was his
pet hobby and he won many prizes for
his SplenCtQ 6AHlDitS dl Cldt6 Ait MI
tionai exhibitions. The two successful
art and camera exhibitions which were
given at the Jersey City Club were ar
ranged and managed throughout by him.
There was a special meeting of the Off
GERS of the Jersey City Club yesterday to
take action regarding his death and the
flag on the clubhouse flew at half-mast
all day. President George Holmes APP
pointed the following delegation to at
tend the funeral:-
w. ] Tate, DR.. Leonard J. Gordon,
John F.. KIumpp, William r.. Sfarrett,
George L. Wins. J. A. Davis, Charles
Henderson, J.. Earle .Lusk, L. Clifford. ].
s. Newkirk. S. Z. Mount. J. s. McMas-
ter, Williiim ". Toffey, Joseph A. Deal.
Benz. Edge, M. D.. Alfred Henderson, r.
+ Lawrence, e. s.. Leaycraft, Chas. d.
Miller, ~ e. Pangborn, Isaac Romaine,
Board of Governors will draft resolutions
at it's meeting on Wednesday night.
Mr.. Clark was also a member of Ber-
gen Lodge No. AZ, of Masons.
Three brothers n a sister, the wife
Of ex-senator William Brinkerhoff, sur
yiye him.