The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-06
1EsPERADo JOHN CLARK.
His Career Of Crime--The Refined and
Pious Woman Who Monrneh Him.

B1OuS W oman VINO MOurned MIN.
There lived in this city until a few
years ago. and may be living here STILL
a frail. careworn little woman. whose
life had been linked with one OF the most
unhappy and yet most interesting ro-
mances I'm the annals OF this century
crime. She was the wife OF John Clark
one of the most remarkable criminals OF
his time. Although a respectable. we'll
educated. and high-minded woman and
a devout member Of the church. she
lived with him for years. tried her best
10 reform him. sought 70 protect him from
the officers who were on his trail, and
was faithful TO him TO the end.
Clark was the son of a prosperous
business man I'm Rochester. When he w:s
a boy he figured i'm all sorts Of wild esca-
pades. was arrested several times for
small offences. and had developed into
a profes sional crook before he was 20
years old. one Of his most notable traits
was his love Of display. He was small
and slender. with clean-cut features ana
black. curling hair. lie always wore a
silk hat. a low-cut vest white kid gloves.
and small. pointed shoes that pinched his
tiny feet. He also wore several large da-
monds on his fingers and shirt front.
When he was still very young. but long
after his reputation had made him n
terror TO the town, ne el0ped wrh his
cousin, a beautiful young girl. carefully
reared 10 was a short honeymoon The
authorities We're too hot on his trail 10
allow him 10 prolong his stay with his
wife. So leaving her with friends. he set
out again on his travels. From that time
until his death his visits to his wife were
far apart and uncertain. He was too busy
carrying out his bold plans for robbery
to stay long in the town
The other day Jailer John Cawthra OF
Rochester. who knew Clark well and was
present when he was hanged IN That
town. was I'm this city, and In converse
ton recalled the desperate.
CLARK was the nerviest man I ever
knew" stad the old jailer. when he
was on one Of his visits 10 Rochester he
was walking one day through the Ar
cade. right in the centre Of the town.
It was crowded with people and they all
knew who he was with his gay clothes
and handsome face he was very conspc-
uous. lie was walking with "a girl-he
was a great man for the girls-and he
was twirling a cigarette I'm his mouth.
big. Swapping man passed him, looked
back into the girls face. and smiled That
angered Clark. Without "A moments hes
itatiOn he drew a revolver from his peck
ct and fired. The bullet knocked of two
OF the mans fingers. Clark wiped the
revolver with his handkerchief. put IL
back In his pocket. and. telling the girl
to wait moment. stopped TO relght his
cigarette. He was as cool as II nothing
had happened And you can bet there
was no one around thcre who dared 70
touch him. They knew he was John Clark
and that he would hesitate 10 fire again
on the slightest provocation.
CLARK made a great deal Of money
from his robberies. lie took something
Ike 5000 out Of Mexico most Of il from
a bank. He was arrested in one OF the
Southern States and lodged in jail. but
he escaped before he had been there
day. Later he was caught I'm this city
and locked up I'm the TOmbs. How he
got out no one knows 20 this day. There
were charges enough against him at the
time TO send him TO prison for the rest
OF his life There are those who knew
Clark well who say ne made az least
100000 by robbing houses and banks. lie
was, I'm my opinion. the most skillful bur
glar OF his time / well remember one
night when a business man OF Rochester
was robbed by him. The mans house
was on East avenue, the best street OK
the town. Clark discovered that he kept
a good sized roll or Dank notes III n''
clothes all the time. The man was IN the
habit OF sitting up far into the nish''
and when Clark appeared upon the scene
20 enter the house he discovered the own
err in a dressing gown. with his back 70
the window. reading.
This discovery. however did not dis
courage Clark. He went away ana came
back with a long stick. TO which was
fastened I hhok. Suddenly the man IN