The San Francisco call., 1898-01-23


 to William, and was always with the family more or less. Mrs. Clark and her husband got along we'll the first four or five years, but he did not seem to have any affection for his children. He said he loved them, but she could see that he did not He often cursed his wife. yet treated the whole family kindly.
 Mrs Clark said that at the time of her marriage to William she was friendly to George. George told her that Williams actions proved he dii not love her. Her affections toward her husband died, and she became more friendly toward George and told him that she loved him. They became un- duly intimate. She admitted that George Clark was the father of one of her children. The husband always took his wife's part and did not seem to be conscious of anything wrong.
 William Clark came to California alone twelve years ago, while George and the family remained in the East for a few months before following. She said her relations with George con- tinued until seven years ago, when she made a profession of Christianity. George at that time also made con- fession of faith, but it did not last long with him. When he resumed his at tentions she answered: NO, I am an other mans wife and 1t is wrong be- fore God" He was not discouraged. however, and tried to assault her and sometimes succeeded. The last in stance in which he was successful was L. Ia fcy since then, and when she rejected him he cursed her. She said she would call an officer. and he answered that he would kill the first one who put his head inside the door.
 George Clark asked her if she would marry him if William was out of the way. She thought he would put Will liam out of the way to get her. She answered that he should not commit murder, and he said he would never do that. About five months ago, before George went East, he again asked her if she would marry him if left alone. At first she said: Don't talk that way; it is wicked" but finally she said Yes"
 She thought he would remain in the East, so said this at the last minute. When he returned from the East and again asked her the question she would not talk, because she loathed him. The reason she consented at first was be- cause he had her under his thumb by threatening to reveal her past life, which she wanted kept a secret Fin ally she said she herself would go and tell it to the whole town. He said:
 ''No, people would run us both out of the town
 Her husband and George were not on good terms and the latter was always making trouble. George was alone in the kitchen where the lunch pail was kept the day before Williams discovered the poison in his coffee. George was whistling as loudly as he could, and seemed to be walking around. When George was told about the stry- chnine he said that William wanted to commit suicide. George heard William say about fifteen years ago that he would kill himself and founded his theory on this. He said that William wanted to commit suicide. but did not have the heart to drink the coffee. George said William W ollNC0 lo dO NllH DS- cause his wife went around with Salva- tion Army officers. and told her that she ran around with them too much George threatened to kill the captain of the army, all through jealousy. Mrs Clark said she never saw her husband have a pistol or cartridges in the house.
 pr. Osborne was the next witness called. George Clark lived in g. cottage on his place. The doctor was aroused at 5:15 o'clock Thursday morning by William Clark's two girls, who sum- moned him to their fathers aid. They said: Papa is hurt. Some one hit him when he was going out of the door" The doctor found Clark dead, and then went for the Marshal. Dr. Osborne, with Dr. McCurdy, held an autopsy on the body that afternoon.
 Marshal Johnson said he was called shortly before o'clock by pr. Osborne and went to the Clark home. He dis covered the pistol on the porch and suspected George Clark of the crime He then went in company with Dr. Os- borne and Charles Jackson to Georges room and placed him under arrest. Noticing fresh mud on the mans shoes he took charge of them, and had him put on others. The Marshal asked George if the pistol found on the porch was his. He at first denied it, but on arriving at the jail he said:
 There is something I want to cor rect. I did not tell the truth. That is my pistol"
 Marshal Johnson placed Georges shoes in the new tracks in the mud along the course taken by the mur- derer, and they fitted in every instance The officer produced a box of cartridges with only five missing, which compared exactly with those in the revolver found at the scene of the tragedy.
 Peter York testified to having seen a man running past him in the direction of George Clark's rooms. The fellow had an overcoat about the same length as the one found in Georges room.
 Constable R. L. Spurr, Dr. Samuel McCurdy, George Dax (Clark's son-in- law) and Mrs. Dax, the daughter of William Clark, were examined, but their testimony only corroborated that of the other witnesses.
 The jury returned a verdict to the ef- feet William AndarGnU ClorL orna &o