The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-28

as the rays Of the lamp did not shine
squarely through the window, and could
have watched for chance to shoot
Clark and have done SO when the unfor-
tunate man turned his back. Clark prob
ably did not see nor hear his assassin.
The murderer did not leave a clue. The
gun that used was carried away.
There was not a foot print to be found in
the yard. There was positively no clue
whatever The shot found in the body
was served A careful examination was
made of the premises but without avail.
A coroner's jury was impaneled and was
on duty for month
The only evidence besides the fact that
Clark was dead was the hole in the
screen. Clark had always been careful to
have the window shades down. The night
he was murdered the west shade was up
allowing a clear view of the room from
the yard. Whether Clark feared some one
and for that reason always, had the
it was a fact that it was his habit to
have the shades down.
Some suspicion was aroused from the
fact of the shade being up and ON that
suspicion Mrs. Clark was arrested on the
theory that she was an accomplice but
there was nothing found to justify the ar
rest.
Clark was known as a quiet citizen No
one has been able to advance any really
plausible theory for the murder. Two ice
houses in Downs were burned a short time
before the murder One theory is that
Clark knew who was guilty Of burning
them and that the person killed him fear
ing that Clark might tell what he knew
The coroner's jury interrogated many
together. Everyone who might give tes-
timony which bore on the case was sum
moned. The coroner's jury was unable to
There have been family troubles be-
tween Clark and his relations which have
been probed to the bottom since the muir
der. It seems that Jim Clark and the
greater part Of the people living in the
south part of Downs not far from the Sol
ONION river were relatives by marriage.
Clark'S first wife was Mary j. HaWley
Who died in 1897. After her death Clark
-5-fa Ia xffX-
the house to care for the five children
John Wrage was paying attentions to
like for Clark After time Nancy Haw-
lev returned to her home. Wrage was Wis
iting her one day He saw that she mad a
letter which she was attempting TO con-
ceal from him. He demanded the letter
and before he received it struggle oc-
Cured. Nancy II wiley feared for MIN to
read it. She struggled desperately but
Wrage secured the letter and read it in
his sWeetheart's presence It was written
HawIey. She was in trouble and Clark
admitted in the letter his responsibility
and asked her forgiveness
John Wrage then threatened to kill
Jim Clark. Nancy Hawley told him to
choose between marrying her or not. She
was willing that he cast her aside. John
Wrage asked if Clark would marry her
and she said she thought he would. Then
Wrage decided that he would marry her.
That was three years ago
WRAGE CLEARS HIMSELF.
sheriff notified John Wrage as he and his
wife were driving home from the cemetery
that he would have to appear before the
eoroner's jury. Wrage turned pale but
quickly recovered himself. Before the
jury he was examined and the story Of
his threat TO kill Clark was brought out
Wrage had forbade his wife talking to
Clark Wrage denied that he. had threat
ened to kill Clark and said there was no
enmity between them. Mrs Wrage adj
mitted the story about the letter. Wrage
and his wife were employed BY Norton
Wrage's alibi was complete. He and his
wife were at home. according to the tes-
timony of Eyler who slept in the next
room to them and heard them talking for