The St. Louis Republic., 1902-11-23
Prof. Philip 81. Clark Charged
With Having Jeopardized the
Lives of Four Families.
STORY OF A FAMILY FEuD.
Trial of the Accused. Who Is
Harvard Graduate, Prom
ises Sensational
Developments.
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REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Fall River, Nov. 22.-In the Bristol Su-
perior Court Professor Philip II. Clark OF
Worcester will be placed on trial, charged
| with having po soned well al the little
| village OF Assonet, Zine miles from here.
Sugar of lead is alleged to be the poison
used. and at least four families were de-
rencent upon the well for their sole water
supply.
When the case is tyied sensations are
promised on both sides.
1t IS said 1t revea4s a family feud. the
like Of which Massachusetts, never saw bo-
fcre-a story of years of bitter fighting and
enulity between brothers and relatives.
When Clark was first arrested and the
case sent to the Grand Jury the sole evil
dence against him was the fact that square
toed footprints were found about the wei
alleged TO have at one time worn square
toed shoes. The motive said TO be
revenge because a sum OF money, $500 in
all. which he claimed was left to his chii-
dren by his mother, was not turned over TO
m by Mrs; David Terry. cousin who
he'd the funds.
that it was expected the Grand Jury would
not find an indictment
Unexpectedly, however a druggist OF
South t'ranlingham came TO Fall River and
claimed TO Identity Clark a man 10 whom
he sold sugar of lead the day before the
poisoning.
Clark admitted that he came from
Worcester. through South Framingham, 10
Assonet-
The Grand Jury then returned an indict-
ment at the last sess on.
On the morning of September IS Frank
Barrows. who resides with Mr.. and Mrs.
David Terry, went TO bis well to draw
water. and found the water and stones of
the well coated with a white substance
Becoming alarmed. he took samples of il to
a doctor, who declared 1t was sugar of lead
and that the well contained enough to
poison dozen families.
Barrows said that at once he suspected
Assonet, having come down there Saturday
night to visit his brother Rudospnus
Barrows sent for Rudo phus Clark, and
they agreed that Philip had the oppJrtuni-
ty, ana they went TO the police ana swore
out warrant again I h m
Evidence, save as to the footprints. was
lack ne. and II was expected Clark would
be released In the lower court hut he was
held. and then came the testimony f ON
South Framing ham.
Clark Is an intelligent ook!ng man. Sc
years Of age, and has lived in AssJnet
good part Of his life. He had two brothers.
having disappeared about fifty years ago
following the shooting of a man and tn
burning of a house for viii he mot er of
the Clark boys was COW CT d and Sc we'd
a sentence. She died some Little time after
her release, and there was contest over
her property between the BIO RS. PGflip
and Rudolphus. the former sing practical
ly ignored in his mothers VIII.
It seems that before her death Mrs.
1idih H-u gwen S-.DtD TO her niece Mrs
Sarah A. Terry. the interest to 90 10 tha
support of her children, and ii was this
arrangement that causs d the bitter fee
ing- Philip, who had been foiowins the
trade of an expert machinist in Kansas
City prior to his mothers death, and who
in the meantime had lost his wife r..
turned home and has spent more or less
time at Assonet ever since
He is In many respects a remarkable
man, being graduate Of harvard a evil
engineer, an expert mathenatIC.'an a
former col ege professor in Kansas, a
high school teacher in Upton and an ey-
pert machinist. capable OF earning a
large salary, and being employed In a large
rested
He says he came to see his brother
Rudolphus On Saturday night ana founf,
him out and slept on the doorstep until
Sunday morning early when his brother
came home. Then Clark went to the house.
took out some of his belongings and left on
morning train for Worcester He has
claimed from tie first that he has been the
victim Of conspiracy and that only s'x
montns ago ms brother and Mrs Terry
faitsd In an attempt to have him sent to an,
Insane esylum- - :, - -