The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-24
DESPER4DO JOHN CLIRK.
Its Career OF CrIme-The Refined and Pious
Woman Who Mourned Him.

There lived In this city until a few years ago,
and may be Living here still. q frail, careworn
little woman, whose life had hccn linked with
one Of the most unhappy and yet most inter-
esting romanccs in the annals of this century's
crime. She was the wife OF John Clark, one of
the most remarkable criminals OF his time.
Although a thoroughly respectable. well-edu-
Gated. and high-minded woman and a dcVout
member OF the church, she lived with him for
years, tried her best TO reform him. sought to
protect him from the officers who were ever on
lis trail. and was faithful TO him to the end.
Clark was the SON OF a prosperous business
man in Rochester. When he was u boy he fig
ured In al sorts of wild escapades, was arrested
several times for small offences, and had devcl-
oped into a professicnal .crook before he was 90
years old, One OF hiS most notable traits Was
with elean-cut features and BLACK. curling hair.
Fc always wore a silk hat, a iow.cut vest,
}inchcd his tiny feet. He also wore several
large diamonds on his fingers, and shirt front,
reputation had made him II terror 10 the town.
he ,eioled, with his cousin, a beautiful young
moon. The authorities were too hot on his
traIl to allow him TO prolong his stay with his
again on his travels. From that time until his
death his visits 10 his wife were far apart and
uncertain. He was too busy carrying out his
The other day Jaiier John Cawthra of Rochcs-
ter, who knew Clark well and was present when
he was hanged in that town. was in this city.
and in conversation recalled the desperate.
nSlark Vas Ne neryiest man ever knew !"
said ne old Caller; rWhen he was on one OF
through the Arcade, right in the centre Of III
a Toy pro 1t was was G GroW nae WIN WITH pSSiGple, and ID they
md handsome face he was very Conspicuous.
He was walking with . girl-ho was a great
rctte In, his mouth, A, big. strapping man
passed them, Looked back into the girls face,
and smiled. That angered CLARK. Without q
Iaol4ent's hesitation he drew q revolver from
his pucHet and fired. The bullet knocked or
,wo Of ne man fingers. Clark wiped the re.
pocket, and. telling he girl 10 wait \ moment,
stopped TO rriltht hLS cigarette. He was as
bot there was 10 one around there who dared
touch him. They knew he was John Clark and
mat he wouldn't hesitate to fire again on he
"Elork made a great deal Of money from his
r"6he,ic;i lie took A 0t !, IKE $50 G4o
was arrested in one Of The Southern States and
lodged, in jail, but he oscarcd before he had
Eot out no one knows TO this day. There were
charges enough agniH.t him At the time to
send him 70 prison Tor the resi- of hi life. There
ar; those Who knrr Clark Wei VINO say hc
made nj least SlpD,OOO by robb!ng houses and
.u' burglar OF hi time. j well remember one
night when a business man, Of Rochester was
robbed by him. Inc man b house was on East
0,cnur. Tho best street OF the town. Clark
discovered that hc kept "A good sized roll uf
banE nutos IA his clothc, all the time. Tt0mqn
WAS Ia ihc hUbIt Ut -, ing up far into IL night.
aud whCl. C.lGh dnpr. rcd pn the scene to enter
the house hr discovered III" owner IN a dress.
ing gown, with MS bAtI 10 the window, reading.
ms discovery, however, did not discOi rage
Clark. ~ went away and came back with II
long stick, to which was fastened u string and a
hook. suddenly the man in-idv looked up To
see his truu-cI,, with has roll OF bills in them,
going swiftly through the air and out OF the
window. lie must have thought they were be-
witrhrd. for he. cOuld;.rot see for the moment
the string ana The ,tirk, AS soon a. he had
recovered his s"lf' pos cs,iOn lac ron out to look
for the thiuI, hut II MAS no usO. CLARK was
far away b. that time.
'tlHgk was rOrnCrrd in Rochester ut last, He
had Just returned from one of his long tour OF
burglary through the country. lie was seen
coming GU! of The hUuse whrlH his wife lived,
and two on thI"c policemen went IN pursuit Oi
hilh. " hen they Corncrcd hin in an alley he
turacd and shot one OF lnCin dead.
a IN" time he was in jail awaiting the eN'
cgutipn oi his zen ciicr to hr hanged his wife
was "a daily visitor. she IL sAl a handsome
woman, with an air OF refinement and good
breeding about her. He VA. the coolest man |
Cicr saw u, the scHtO'd. lie walked UP the
steps su,ph ing n cigarette and smiling rs If he
enjoyed h.n.u!f, Just wait till ] finish tu.a
t',uko aud ! III ready he remarked dryly
they let MIN finish II,
Ills death bruh" ms moor w!f"'H heart. |
law hur'Iwo or ihrcC years afi""wHrd, ana shr
was wrluklrd and old, aud the gray Was begin
ming. to come into her hdIr, She urIftvd 10 this
city, and perhaps she ~ here yet