Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-02-04
DESPERATE CLARK.
ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE GRIM
lNALS OF HIS TIME.

Been Equaled-HanEed at Last For MUIR
der-Tho Refined and PIous Woman who
ATourned Him.
There lived in this city until few
years ago, and may be living here still,
q frail careworn little woman whose
life had been linked with one of the
most unhappy and yet most interesting
romances in the annals Of this centu-
ry's crime. She was the wife of John
Clark, one Of the most remarkable GRIM
inals Of his time. Although a thorough
ly respectable, well educated and high
minded woman and devout 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 his trail and was
faithful to him to the end
Clark was the son Of q prosperous
business man in Rochester When he
was boy, he figured in all sorts Of
wild esoapades, was arrested several
times for small offenses and had devel-
oped into professional crook before he
was 20 years old. Ono Of his most nota-
bio traits was his love of display He
was small and slender, with clean cut
features and black, curling hair. lie al
ways wore silk hat, low cut vest,
white kid gloves and small pointed
shoes that pinched his tiny feet He al
SO wore several largo diamonds on his
fingers and shirt front. When he was
still very young, but long after his rep
utation had made him terror to the
town, he eloped with his cousin, a
beautiful young girl, carefully reared.
1t was short honeymoon. The authori-
tics were too hot on his trail to allow
him to prclong bis 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 aud uncertain. He was
too busy carrying out Ais 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 IN that town, i'll
conversation recalled the dpspUfado.
CLARK was the nerviest man ever
knew" said the old lailer "When he
was on ono Of his visits in Rochester, he
WAS walking cue day through the ar
cado right in tho center OF the town.
1t was crowded with people, and they
all knew who he was, With his gay
clothes and handsome faco he was very
conspicuous. he was walking with u
girl--he was great man for the girls
and he was twirling a cigarette in his
mouth A big, strupping man passed
| them, looked back into the girl face
and smiled. That angered Clark. With
out moments hesitation he drew a re-
volver from his pocket and fired. The
bullet knocked of two Of the mans fin
gers. Clark wiped the revolver with his
handkerchief, put it back III his pocket,
and, telling the girl to wait moment,
stopped to relight his cigarette. lie was
as cool as if nothing had happened, and
you can bet thore was no ono around
there who dared touch him. They knew
he was John Clark and that he wouldn {
hesitate to fire again on tho slightest
provocation.
"Clark made q great deal Of money
from his robberies. He took something
like $50, coo out Of Mexico most of it
from bank He was arrested in one Of
tho southern states and lodged III Jail,
but he escaped before he had been there
day. Later he was caught in this city
aud locked up in the Tombs, How he
got out no one knows to this day. There
were charges enough against him ct tho
time to send him to prison for the rest
of his life. There are those who knew
Clark well who say he made at least
800, 900 by robbing houses and banks.
He was, in my opinion, the most skill
! full burglar of his time. ] well remem
Der one night when a business man Of
Rochester was robbed by him The
mans house was on East avenue, the
best street of the town. Clark discov-
cred that he kept a good sized roll of
bank notes in his clothes all the time.
Tho man was in the habit of sitting up
far into tho night, and when Clark ap-
peared ON the scene TO enter the house
he discovered the owner in dressing
gown, with his back to the window,
reading. This discovery, however, lid
not discourage Clark. He went away
and came back with long stick, to
which were fastened a string and hook.
Suddenly the man inside looked up to
see his trousers, with his roll of bills in
them, going swiftly through the air and
out of the window He must have
Thought they were bewitched, for he
could not see for the moment the string
and the 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 was far away by that time.
CLARK was cornered in Rochester at
last He had just returned from one Of
his long tours of burglary through the
country He was seen coming out o.
Confined TO Ver Bed.
"My wife has been in poor healtl
for long time and unable to do he
work, and part of the time was con
fined to her he'd. A few months ag
; she began taking Hoods Sarsaparlll
and now she is entirely we'll and abl
to do her work We are grateful TO
Hoods Sarpaparilla." GABRIE
GREAGo, st. Johns AriZ.