The San Francisco call., 1899-07-18
AVENGED A WRONG
DONE TO HIS WIFE
Henry Birmingham Kills
John w. Clark.
TRAGEDY NEAR VALLEClTO
SEQUEL to Dragging and Assaulting
of a Weak Minded Woman by
Man Who Pretended
to Be Doctor.
TRAGEDY NEAR VALLECIT0
Special Dispatch to The Call.

ANGELS CAMP, July 17-Henry Et-
tringham shot and instantly killed John
w Clark at the home of the former this
morning. The birmingham home is pleas
antly situated in a shaded spot on the
slope of a hill two miles from Vallecito.
Henry Ettingham lived there with his
wife and 3-year-old daughter, to whom he
is passionately devoted.
His home life was rudely broken into
on Sunday night, when his wife told him
of the adventures of John W. Clark. Her
story to him was that of a distracted wife
to an indulgent husband. Mrs. Ettrlng-
ham is an unfortunate woman. She is
possessed of a weak mind, incapable of
withstanding the approaches of a design
ing scoundrel. She was once the inmate
of an asylum, but her existence seems to
center upon that of her husband and
child. The story she poured into the Et,
tringham ear was one that aStounded
him. She related how Clark came to
their home on Friday morning and asked
for something to eat. She was frightened.
but granted his request He told of
wife and baby he had left in Missouri and
worked upon her naturally sympathetic
nature until he gained the upper hand.
She was complaining of pains in the
head and stomach and mentioning the
fact that she was suffering, he posed as
a doctor and diagnosed her case as oAe
of the stomach and head. Then she was
persuaded TO take drugs, which caused
her 10 become unconscious and the vic
tim OF nGT NlSlIOI.
After a family council an arrangement
was made by which Clark could be
caught. Birmingham decided to leave tIe
house with his lunch bucket as if going
to work as usual He would then return
and while he went toward the house by
one route John Batto, his brother-in-law,
and his son would each close in by diff
ferent paths and thus cut off the possible
retreat of Clark The scheme was car
ried out to the letter.
Birmingham hid his rife in the vineyard
near the house, and on his return, accord
ing to the preconceTted plan, this morn
ing secured it. AS he did so the sound Of
voices came to his ears, and he knew
Clark was in the house. He advanced to-
ward the door. As he did so a scream
was heard, and he saw his wife run out
of the door. Clark followed her, and seZ-
her back into the house. AS he did so the
now thoroughly enraged husband called
to him TO throw up his hands. Clark
dropped the coat which was on his arm
and threw one hand behind him. Think
ing that he was about to draw weapon
and fired. Clark ran and another shot
was fired, but the first had gone home
and Clark drrpped dead.
birmingham rode TO Murphys and gave
himself up to the officers.
The body of Clark was examined and
miscellaneous assortment of things was
found upon him. On his coat was
badge bearing the name of John w.
Clark. First Arkansas Volunteers, Span
ish-American War" A discharge granted
for disability at San. Francisco was found
among his effects. He was a stranger
here.
At the Coroner's inquest, held to-day,
verdict was rendered to the effect that the
killing was iustifiable homicide, and ex-
onera ting Birmingham.