The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-20
OFFICER CLARK
TOOK LAUDANUM
DIED TWO HOURS LATER.
HAD BEEN DRINKING AND DOMEs-
TIC AFFAIRS WORRIED HIM.

4
Yesterday Afternoon, Told n Com
paniOn Good Bye and Drank Two
Ounces of POisOn-Remains Taken
in Charge by His Father-Funeral
Will Take Place This Afternoon
from Fathers Residence.
Putting into action oft repeated
| threats Patrolman A. j. Clark of the
! Savannah police force, took his own
| life yesterday afternoon at his room
in the Marshal House by swallowing
two ounces of laudanum.
Two days before this he had been re-
strained from throwing himself from
| the fourth floor of the building by
some friends. He was then under a
great mental strain. and said he did
not care to live.
The domestic affairs of Clark are
supposed to have been the
cause of his rash act, as
there We're evidences that he
had wife living in Savannah who had
recently reproached him for his neg
lect Of her. and had asked for
monthly pittance to support herself
on.
Told Woman His Intention.
A statement made by Mrs. w. B.
CLOSEUP throws more light on the mo-
tive for the deed than anything else.
She is a boarder at the hotel. She
| said that on frequent occasions lately
Clark would make statements that he
to iii l.
He did this so often that she paid
little attention to him when he repeat
ed this intention yesterday. He had
been drinking heavily for the past few
days, and has not reported for duty
for three days before yesterday, when
he took up his regular tour.
He was on duty at 2:1O o'clock, the
last official report that he made. He
accosted the superintendent at Bull
and Broughton streets and asked for
instructions about the sale and explo-
sion of torpedo sticks by vendors on
the street lust before 3 o'clock Mrs.
CLOSEUP said she received telephone
message from Clark, to meet her 1T
a wine room at West Broad and
Broughton streets, operated by George
Christopher.
Ate Several Sandwiches.
1--WE had some sandwiches and sew
eral drinks together" she said. Il
came on up to the hotel, and he fol-
| lowed me. When he got there l felt
something in his pocket, and, thinking
| it was another bottle of whisky, 1 at
tempted to take it from him without
his knowing it. He detected me, and
pulled the bottle out, showing me the
labely which bore the mark 1audanum'
on it,, He told me that he wanted to
| say good-by.
HE went into his room and closed
the door. A few minutes later he came
into my room to get a pencil and a
pitcher of water. 1 gave him the pen
| Gil, which he returned a few minutes
| later. l do not know what he wanted
with it. He kissed me and again said
good-by. After while, l grew sus-
picious, and went to his room. He was
lying on the bed and seemed to be
in great agony. l called for assist
ance and the doctor was summoned"
Where He Bought Laudanum.
Shortly before o'clock Clark went
into a downtown drug store and call
ed for a bottle of laudanum. The
clerk asked him if he wanted it for
himself. He said he did, that he had
gotten into the habit of taking it. A
| Ihree-ounce bottle was given him.
When the bottle was discovered about
two-thirds of it had been taken by
Clark. The bottle was on the mantel-
piece.
As soon as Clark was discovered DR..
William Norton and DR.. r. S. Kenan
were summoned, and every effort was
made to resuscitate the man. He was
too far gone, however, and died shortly
after 4 o'clock.
Funeral This Afternoon.
At o'clock the body was taken in
charge by Mr.. G. w. Clark, father of
| the deceased, and carried to Goette's
undertaking establishment to be pre-
pared for burial
Mrs. Carrie ID. Clarke, wife of the
patrolman, was notified as soon as pos
sible after the death of her husband,
and appeared on the scene Immediately
She resides at No. 81 Jefferson street.
The funeral will take place this aft
ernoon at 4 o'clock from the residence
of Mr.. G.. w. Clark, No. 522 Gwinnett
street, east. Interment will be in Lau-
rel Grove. The pallbearers have not
| yet been selected.