The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-24

Girl Killed In EndeaVOr to
Shield Her Lover.
LOUISVILLE, Ky, Oct. 23.-When Howard
Clark and Matte Bell Mahoney were shot to
death by officers of the law in Indiana two
life stories were ended that from the first
almost were cast in sin and shadow. Bot
the story of the man was that of a criminal
5y nature The woman's story was that OF
u womanS love, which remained true to its
object, despite shame, hardship and danger.
For him she gave Yerything on earth she
aad, and when he became a murderer, fleeing
from Justice, Skulklng through the country
and travelling in danger and peril, she Joined
him, shared his way and found death with
MIN trying to shield him from the bullets that
were aimed at him. Although it may be said
that she was a virago and sin-stained, there
be doubt of her devotion to the man
who had fascinated her. Today she fills the
pameless grave of a pauper, disowned even
IN death by those OF her own blood. The man.
although there was no religious rite offered
II his burial, rests in Cave Hill cemetery, in
this city, where he was laid by the hands
that had guided his way when he boy
still free from the faint Of crime that early
darkened his career.
Howard Clark was born in Louisville about
thirty-twO years ago. His parents were peo-
pie Of the middle class, thoroughly respectable
and in tolerable circumstances. They still
live here, and on Tuesday they were the
only ones to folio their son to his grave
From bOyhCOd he showed evil propensties.
He never learned trade and never worked.
He was arrested several times on suspicion
Of having been connected with burglaries and
petty thefts, but il was never found possible
to convict him.
SAD STORY OPENS.
About two years ago there was living in
the orphanage of the Good Shepard a girl
named Matte Bell Mahoney. She was only
10 years old, and was there because her
mother was too poor to keep her. Clark
went to the home one day with a companion
VINO was engaged in some painting There
he saw the girl. She was pretty, and he be-
gan filtration with her. Clark was good
looking IN a way. He had wife, but that
did not matter. He eXerted his wiies on the
girl with great success, for in a few days
she left the home and no trace of her could
be found
Her father was dead, and her mother en-
listed the services of the humane society
and the police, and in short time the girl
and Clark were found living together with
negroes. warrant was sworn out against
MIN by the girls mother, charging him with
seduction. He was arrested. The case went
to trial, but the girl knocked 1t out as soon
as she testified, for she swore that Clark was
not the man who had led her astray. She
said that she preferred to live with him
rather than at the home or with her mother.
Judge Thompson dismissed Clark.
From that time on the police kept them
under surveillance. Clark became identified
with a crowd that was suspected of many
crimes. He was arrested frequently, but DO
case COulQ ever De MADE against MIN. But
on the morning of Aug. "a his career cul-
minated. Policeman Joe HeffeTnan and SER
geant were making their rounds about 4
o'clock when they saw Two mon standing
near a grocery. Their actions were suspi-
cious, and they walked up to them and asked
them what they were doing. They said they
were newspaper carriers, and on further tues
tOntnS Clark drew revolver from his coat
and began firing at the sergeant HeffeIrGn
stepped III between them and knocked Clark
down. Standing over him he toll him he
was under arrest Clark's answer was 10
raise himself his elbow, take careful aim
and fire again. The ball passed through uCf-
fernan's body, inflicting a fatal wound. The
policeman fingered two days and than iii d.
AS soon he fired Clark jumped up end
ran, and both men made their escape. Thin
the search for Clark began, and the man.
realizing that things were getting warm, de-
cldld to skip out. The girl went with HIM.
They went to Western park, on the river
the city, where Clark stole a skiff
Mamie Mahoney dressed herself in male at
tire. and they proceeded down the river.
No further trace of their movements has
been ascertainCd until they were seen pass
ing Tell City. The Louisville officers SUI
pected the mode CT their flight and had no.
tilted ell the towns along the river. The
Tell City officers in turn passed the word that
boat containing two people had passed their
city to the towns further down the Ohi0.
This made things so lively for the fugitives
that three miles below Owensboro they aban-
dOned their skiff. Mamie MahoHey took off
her mans attire and donned a skirt and
Rockport. That night they spent at the cabin
of a negro named John Wager. Clark shaved
of his mustache and they made some effort
to disguise themselves.
BANDITS LAST STAND.
Meanwhile the chief of police at Owens
bore organized a posse and started down the
river on the Kentucky side All day long
they searched, but could find no trace Of the
fugitiYes. Bafiled and discouraged they ware
coming back on the Rose Hite. A few miles
from greensboro the steamer made a landing
and the officers became engaged in conversa-
ton with a fisherman. The fisherman old
them that he had seen two men land in a
Skin on the Indiana side.
The officers Immediately struck for the IN
diana SIDE, and early in the morning tn ~
started cut toward ROckport. They had seen
nothing of Clark and the girl and had heard
no report OF them. They were about five
miles from RockpOrt when q sudden turn in
the read brought them in view of a man and
woman sitting by the roadside about thirty
feet away. They stopped the buggy to ascer-
tain if it was Clark, but the crack of a D stoI
and a whistling ball told them it was their
game and that he was going to carry out his
boast that he would never be taken alive
Clark fired two shots. Both missed The
officers had opened fire on him. Despairing
Of doing anything with the revolver Clark
reached behind him with a knife and tried to
cut open the case of his shotgun. Mamie
Mahoney, more devoted to him than ever
leaned over so as to protect him with her
body from the bullets of the officers. load
of bucksot struck her in the side and she
fell over in the death agony Clark raised
up and a Winchester ball struck him in the
left SIDE of the head and passed through both
temples He lived three hours notwithstand-
ing the terrible wound but was uncOn scioUs
The girl died almost Immediately.
For several hours the bodies lay by the
roadside Then they were placed in a wagon
and hauled to Rocckport where they were
laid side by side in little back room. The
coroner's jury decided the killing justifable.
The girls mother was communicated with,
but she refused to take the body so 1t was
placed in unmarked grave in the potter
field. Howard Clark's body was brought to
Louisville and followed to the grave by his
father and mother.