The San Francisco call., 1903-12-19
CLARKE SEEKS
HIS FREEDOM
Files a Suit for the Annul-
ment of Recent Secret Mar
riage to Rosalind III. Bower
SAYS MIND WAS UNS0UND
"Sweet Pea Girl" Ready for a
Bitter Fight, Threatens to
Institute Counter Action

e. K. Clarke has appealed to the
courts to free him from the woman he
married secretly in Oakland shortly
after midnight last Saturday. Yester-
day a suit for the annulment of his
marriage was filed with the County
Clerk. the summons in the case having
been served on Mrs Rosalind Bower
Clarke earlier in the day at her apart
ments in the Lick House. In his COM
plant the husband sets up a claim of
unsound mind, extending over a period
of several days, resultant of heavy
drinking, and diselaims all knowledge
of the matrimonial contract of which
he was a party and entered into under
the spiritual direction Of Rev. Mr.. Van
de Mark in the Iatter's home across
the bay.
IS Clarke alleges that on December z,
while he was intoxicated, he visited a.
notorious house at 318 Sutter street,
where he met Rosalind Bower, famil-
iarly known as the Sweet Pea Girl"
in whose company he remained for sew
eral days. During that time he claims
that she and certain confederates,
whose names he does not know, caused
him to drink large quantities Of liquors
which finally deprived him of his power
of reasoning. and that while in this
state the defendant took him into her
custody, induced him to go across the
bay, where she secured a license and
procured Rev. Mr.. Van de Mark to go
through the form Of a marriage cere-
mony.
1t was intimated to Mrs. Clarke early
yesterday that the suit would be
brought during the day, and she was
in conference with her attorney, o. X.
Gushing, for several hours preparing a
defense to the suit. 1t was announced
later in the day that the wife has en-
gagged additional counsel to assist At
torney Cushing in her case, and that
she has been assured by the latter that
she has no reason to fear the outcome.
In discussing her defense Yesterday
afternoon Mrs. Clarke said that her at
torney had nearly a dozen witnesses
who would testify to the condition of
Clarke just prior to and Immediately
after the Oakland marriage and would
also be able to prove beyond any ques-
tion of doubt that he was fully cogni-
zant of the step he was taking.
An offer has been made by my hus
bands attorney to effect a compro-
mise" said Mrs. Clarke, but I in
sisted that my only compromise would
be that he return to me. Now that he
has brought his suit I will fight it to
the end. L do not purpose to give him
a divorce, for / am satisfied that if he
was taken beyond the Influences of his
relatives he would not have gone to
court, but would eventually have
sought a reconciliation. Day and night
L am being dogged by detectives.
Even this morning these men were
in the hotel trying to gain information
regarding my conduct at the Lick. and
otherwise trying to annoy me. 1 have
some good friends, however who have
offered to stand by me. Even the
trades people from whom my husband
ordered dresses and jewelry, which he
afterward instructed them not to give
me, have assured me of their sympa-
thy and will testify in my behalf at
the hearing of this suit
IT was stated yesterday that Mrs
Clarke's attorneys will bring a coun-
ter suit against her husband for main
tenance.