The age-herald., 1899-04-23
COL. LEWIS CLARK KILLS HIMSELF Committed Suicide in Hotel at Mem
 phiS. WAS JUDGE AT RACE COURSE One Oi the Best MnOWn Men in Turl
 Circles. HAD LATELY GROWN DESPONDENT Speculated in Stocks and Thought to Have Become Financially Embar- rassed-Failed in Health and
 Grew Melancholy.
HAD LATELY GROWN DESPONDEN1

l turf circles throughout the United States, 1 killed himself at o'clock this morning in his room at Gaston's hotel.
 | Colonel Clark came to Memphis to act as presiding judge of the races at Mont 1 gomery Park on April s, and it was mo- ticed by his friends that his spirits seemed very much depressed He had been an in- l innate friend of the late James Richard l son. and the death of his friend seemed to | worry him. He often spoke of the death l of MT. Richardson and remarked that all l of the old set to which he belonged was 1 passing away. At the track Judge l Clark was usually jolly and affable, but | this year he was not himself. At the gath erings in the club house and elsewhere he often remarked that his day was passing and there was about to be end to his 1 course. He did not mingle with his friends and all of them remarked on the change. | Continued ill health contributed to MT. 1 Clark's melancholy frame of mind. He | could no longer stand the trials which his duties at the track made upon his strength and complained frequently of fatigue. His Weakness Noticeable At the hotel his weakness was particular ly noticeable. He was restless al. at times even irritable, something unknown in him before. He would sit in his chair and drop off suddenly into slumber, from which he could with difficulty be aroused These spells became more and more fre- quent and the judge was in comatose condition almost half his time. At nights his sleep seemed disturbed, and he would arise in the morning apparently unre- freshed During the last week his condi- ton grew steadily worse. pr. Kennedy Jones, who was a friend of the deceased sportsman, and his attendant physician, and was forced to spend most of his time with his patient. The power of sensation seemed gone from Mr. Clark and the bell boys Of the hotel were kept busy rubbing him into shape for hours at time. As Mir Clark expressed it, he had almost run his course, and his flame of life was barely fckering
 The nerve tissues had wasted away, and Clark was victim of neurasthenia. a ner- vous disease for which there is no cure but absolute rest. With his illness and depres- sion came financial difficulties The judge was possessed of competency. but he be gan to speculate. The exact nature of his dealings were not known, but he watched closely the quotations in the brokerage shops, and seemed greatly disturbed by
 
 Heavy Looser By Speculation
 One in particular, which came from Louisville bank yesterday morning seem- ed to disturb him. His speculations were not coming out at all to his liking, and, 1t is said, he was heavy loser The extent of his losses Is not known, but it is thought that he had lost almost all of his money and had his property heavily encountered. He never spoke of these mat tn fri de io,1Jo but ,l,o4 mentions he made were of most melan- choly character. He spoke of economy and retrenchment.
 Yesterday morning he was unable to get up from his bed. Dr. Kennedy Jones was summoned, and worked on the patient all the morning.
 Last night Dr. Jones left Mir Clark at II o'clock promising to return at an early hour this morning.
 Just how Judge Clark committed the act which deprived him of his life no one knows. True to his promise to call early this morning and see the patient Dr. Jones came to the hotel at 20 minutes past o'clock. He was shown to MT. Clark's- room, and knocked at the door, He re- ceived no answer, and after knocking sev- eral times, stopped Mr. Cleary, the clerk of the hotel, who happened to be passing through the corridor The door was broken open, and Judge Clark was found lying on the bed, which was reddened with his blood.
 His right hand was crossed upon his breast and in it was firmly clasped the re- volver which had inflicted the fatal wound.
 He had stretched himself full length upon the bed and partially folded his left hand over his breast. The action was a most deliberate one. The revolver was appar- ently held some distance from his head, as there was no mark of powder or burning anywhere near the wound. Death must have been Instantaneous. The bullet enter ed the right side of the head about two inches in front of the temple and ranged downward into the brain.
 As soon as Judge Clark's body was dis covered and Dr. Jones, by nasty examin- ation, was convinced that the patient had been dead ten or fifteen minutes, word was sent to Squire Garvin to hold an inquest As the indications, however, all pointed to a case of suicide, there was no necessity for an inquest The position of the body, the character of the wound and the grip of the dead mans hand upon the revolver all showed that it was case of suicide. Only one shot was fired, and this was so well aimed that the physicians declared that death must have been instantaneous.
 There was no message of any kind left by the dead man. The only papers in the room were some old letters and torn up telegrams relative to racing matters.
 s. B. Montgomery, president of the Jockey club, took charge of the remains and immediately notified relatives in Louis- vile of the shocking tragedy
 Stuart R.. Knott and other intimate friends of the dead man will arrive here tomorrow and with local committee of turfmen will escort the remains to Louis- vile, where the interment will take place.
 
 Strangers in Birmingham should not fall before they leave the city to ride out on the Traction Company's beautiful red cars Q Gate City and see one of the most charac- teristic of Birmingham sights: rolling mill In operation. Cars pass the Hotel Nor ris and the Florence Hotel every 20 mn- utes. A delightful ride a palace car over track as smooth as ice Don't for
 no