The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-11-27

| der-The Refined and Pious Woman Who
NIourned Him.
There lived in this city until few
years ago, and may be living hero still,
II frail, careworn little woman whose
life had been linked with one of the
most unhappy and yet most interesting
romances i'll the anpals of this centu-
rvs crime. She was the wife of John
Clark, one of the most remarkable GRIM
inals of his time Although thorough
ly respectable, we'll educated and high
minded woman and dovout member of
tho church, she lived with him for
years, tried her best to reform him,
sought to protect him from the officers
who wero ever on his trail and was
faithful to him to the end.
Clark was tho son of prosperous
business man in Rochester When he
was boy. he figured in all sorts of
Wild oscapadcs was arrested several
times for small offenses and had devel-
oped into professional crook before he
was 20 years old. One of his most nota-
bio traits was his love of display He
was small and slender, with clean cut
features and black, curling hair He al
IL,
whito kid gloves and small, pointed
shoes that pinched his tiny feet He al
SO wore several large diamonds on his
| fingers and shirt front. When he was
still very young, but long after his rep
utation had made him q terror to the
town, he oloped with his cousin a
beautiful young girl. carefully reared
1t was short honeymoon Tho authori-
| ties wcro too hot OH his trail to allow
him to 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 Ho was
too busy carrying out his bold plans for
robbery to stay long in the town
Jailer John Cawthra of Rochester,
who knew Clark well and was present
| when he was hanged i'll that town, in
| conversation recalled the desperate.
CLARK was the nerviest man ever
knew" said the old jailer. "When he
was on ono of his visits III Rochester, he
was walking one day through the ar
cadc, right i'll tho center of the town.
1t was crowded with people, and they
all knew who no was. With his gay
clothes and handsome face he was very
conspicuous. He was walking with a
girl-hc was n great man for the girls
and he was twirling cigarette i'll his
mouth. a big, strapping man passed
them, looked back into the girls face
and smiled. That angered Clark With
out moments hesitation he drew re-
volver from his pocket and fired Tho
bullet knocked off two of the mans fin
gers Clark wiped tho revolver with his
handkerchief, put it back in his pocket,
and, telling the girl to wait u moment,
stopped to relight his cigarette He was
as cool as if nothing had happened. and
you can bet there was no ono around
there who dared touch him. They know
he was John Clark and that he wouldn't
hesitate to fire again on the slightest
provocation.
CLARK made great deal of money
| from his robberies He took something
like $50, 600 out of Mexico. most of it
from bank. He was arrested i'll one of
the southern states and lodged in Jail
but he escaped before he had been thcro
Il day. Later he was caught i'll this city
and locked up i'll the Tombs How he
got out no one knows to this day There
time to send him to prison for tho rest
OF his life. There arc those who knew
Clark well who say he made at least
500, 600 by robbing houses and banks
lie was, III my opinion, the most skill
ful burglar of his time ! we'll remem-
Der ono night when a business man OF
Rochester was robbed by him. The
mans house was on East avenue, tho
best street OF the town. Clark Giscov-
cred that he kept good sized roll of
bank notes i'll his clothes all the time.
The man was in tho habit of sitting up
far into the night, and when Clark ap-
peared OH tho scene to enter the house
he discovered tho owner i'll dressing
gown, with his back to the window,
reading This discovery, however, did
not discourage Clark Ho went away
and came back with long stick, to
which were fastened string and a hook.
! Suddenly the man inside looked up to
SEQ his trousers, with his roll of bills il
them, going swiftly through the air and
out OF the window. He must havo
thought they wero bcwitched, for he
could not see for the moment the string
and tho stick. AS soon as he had recov-
cred his self possession he ran out to
look for the thief but it was no use.
Clark wasstar away by that time.
CLARK was cornered i'll Rochester at
last. lie had just returned from one of
his long tours of burglary through tho
| country. He was seen coming out OF
tho house where his wife lived, and two
or three policemen went i'll pursuit Of
him. When they cornered him in an
alley. he turned and shot one Of them