The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-23
And Introduced Numerous Reforms
That Tended to Purify the Sport
OF Horse Racing.
UNHAPPY FOR SEVERAL YEARS
LOST MUCH MONEY IN sPECULATIO,
AND GREW MELANCHOLY.
People of Louisville and Racing Cir
cIes Generally ShOcked-A Descend
ant OF Explorer Clarke.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, April 22.-Colonel NJ
Lewis Clark of Louisville, prominent in
turf circles throughout the United States
killed himself at 8 o'clock this morning in
his room at Gastons Hotel Colonel Clark
came to Memphis to act as presiding judge
of the races at Montgomery Park on April
s. 1t was known by his friends that his
spirits seemed very much depressed. He
had been an intimate friend of the late
James j. Richardson, and his death seemed
to worry him. He often spoke of the death
of Mr.. Richardson, and remarked that all
of the old set to which he belonged was
passing away. AT the race track Judge
Clark was usually jolly and affable, but this
year he was not himself. AT the gatherings
in the clubhouse and elsewhere he often re-
marked that his day was past and that he
was about at the end of his course. He did
not mingle as usual with his friends, and
all of them remarked on the change.
Continued i'll health contributed to Mr..
Clarks melancholy frame of mind. He could
no longer stand the many trials which his
duties at the track made upon his strength,
and complained frequently of fatigue. AT
the hotel his weakness was particularly
noticeable He was restless, and 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
things became more and more frequent, and
the judge was in a comatose condition al
most half of the time. 1T nights his sleep
seemed disturbed and he would arise in the
morning apparently unrefreshed. During
the last week he grew worse. DR.. Kennedy
Jones, who was friend of the deceased
nj
forcedato spend most of his time with his
patient The power of sensation seemed
gone from Mr.. Clark, and the bellboys of
the hotel were kept busy rubbing him into
shape for hours at a time. AS Mr.. Clark
himself expressed it, he had almost run his
course and his fame of life was barely flick
ering. The nerve tissues had wasted away,
and Mr. Clark was victim Of neurasthenia,
a nervous disease for which there is no cure
but absolute rest.
LOST BY SPECULATION.
With his illness and depression came
financial difficulties. The judge was pos
sessed Of a competency, but he began 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 some letters
which he received. One in particular, which
came from Louisville bank yesterday
morning, seemed to disturb him. His spec
ulations were not coming out at all TO his
| liking, and it is said he was a heavy loser.
The extent OF his losses is not known, but
it is thought he had lost almost all his
money and had his property heavily in
numbered He never spoke of these mat
ters to his friends particularly, but
what he said was of a most melan-
l 10 nf
Yesterday morning he was unable 10
get up from his bed. DR.. Kennedy Jones
was summoned, and worked on the patient
all morning Last night DR.. Jones left Mr..
Clark at IL o'clock promising to return at
an early hour this morning.
Colonel Clark was up bright and early this
morning. but he did not leave his room. He
ordered a drink of brandy shortly before
o'clock, and, according to the bellboy who
served him. he seemed to be in good spirits.
Just how he committed the act which de-
prived 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 twenty minutes after o'clock He
was shown to Mr.. Clark's room and
knocked at the door. He received no an
swer and after knocking several 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 red with his blood. His right
hand was crossed upon his breast, and in ii
was firmly clasped the revolver which had
inflicted the fatal wourS. He had stretched
himself at full length on the bed and par
TALLY folded his left hand over his breast.
The action was most deliberate one. The
revolver was apparently held some distance
from his head, as there was no mark OF
powder or burning anywhere near the
wound. Death must have been instantan-
eous The bullet entered the right side Of
the head about two inches in front of the
temple and ranged down into the BRAIN AS
soon as Judge Clark's body was discovered
and Dr. Jones' by hasty examination, was
convinced that the patient had been dead
for fifteen minutes, word was sent Squire
Garvin TO hold an inquest. AS the indica-
ticns, however, all pointed to case OF sui
eide, 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 on the revolver all showed that it was
case of suicide. Only one shot fired.
and this was so well aimed that the physi-
| clan says death was instantaneous. There
was no will. The only papers left were
some old letters and torn kilograms relative
| to racing matters.
| 8. B. Montgomery, president OF the Jockey
| Club, took charge OF the remains and i'm
| medately notified relatives in Louisville Of
the shocking tragedy. sdr. Stuart r. Knott
| and other intimate friends OF the dead man
Will arrive here tomorrow and with local
committee OF turfmen will escort the re-