The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-01-28
DID SHE BURN THE MILL
Omaha Police Believe that Minnow
c. Hill, Former Wife of r. L.
Clark Set Fire to the Mill. 4

Cldrk Set FIRE 10 Inc Mill.
Last Thursday there appeared a
special dispatch in all the big dailies
with sensational story that Mrs. Min
now Clark, the divorced wife of r.. L..
Clark, of Omaha, was being hunted by
the police authorities who believe she is
responsible for the burning of the Clark
Mills at Omaha on Dec. 31st. The dis
in Leon, as the Clarks were former resi-
dents of this city, where they were en-
gagged in the milling business, moving
their mill to Omaha from this city few
years ago. The story of r. l.. Clarks
martial difficulties are we'll known to
Decatur county people. Mrs. Clark has
many friends here who are inclined to
doubt the story that she burned the
mills. The telegraphic dispatch from
Omaha is as follows:
OMAHA, NEB., Jan. 20.-Special.) "A
society girl turned incendiary is being
hunted by the police of a dozen cities
at the direction of the officers of Omaha.
Detectives have discovered what they
regard conclusive proof that the fire
which destroyed the big mills of the
Model Milling company the last day Of
the year was not accidental, but was
kindled by someone actuated by malice.
That someone, they say, is Miss Minnow
G. Hill, of Davis City, Iowa. the di-
vorced wife of Rufus l.. Clark, one. of
the mill proprietors.
The motive for the destruction of the
mill is found to have been chagrin at be-
ing allowed small alimony by the court.
Diligent as the search of the police
has been, no trace of the missing girl is
to be had. Friends and relatives are
unable to give an inllling7of her where
abouts. One of the odd circumstances
of the situation is that Minnow Hills
absence is not at all assuring to the mill
proprietors. They fear to invest cap
ital in the rebuilding of the plant, be-
cause she may return and burn it again.
For this reason they plan to remove to
Los Angeles; CAL.
z The Model mills at Thirtieth and
Boyd streets were burned to the ground
the night of December 81. The loss was
$4,000, and only a small part was
covered by insurance.
An empty kerosene bottle outside the
basement window of the mill and
threat Mrs. Clark made the day of the
divorce to get square with her husband
by burning the mill if it took her TWEEN
ty years were the first circumstances to
arouse suspicion. Several persons told
the police they saw the woman at the
place of the fire close to tke time it
took place.
Since the DIVORCE Miss Hill has lived
at Kidder, Mo. Her married life was
unhappy. The divorce was one Of the
sensations of the court year, because of
the prominence and wealth of the
Clarks. Miss Hill and young Clark
were married in secret, and lived to-
y
discovered. Miss Hill came from Web
ster City, Iowa. Her parents were
wealthy. Intidelity was the plea in the
divorce suit. Mrs. Clark asked for
S25,OOO alimony and received $1,000.
She was bitter against tho Clarks, be-
cause they all sided against her.
In Saturdays Des Moines Register
and Leader appeared the following
special from Webster City, where Mrs.
Clark was raised:
WEBSTER CITY, la, Jan. Especially
The dispatch sent out from Omaha to
the effected that Miss Minnow Hill of
this city was suspected Of having burn
ed down the Clark mills of that city by
the metropolitan police and detectives
caused profound sensation in this city,
where Miss Hills parents live. Miss
Hill is divorced wife of Rufus l..
Clark, one OF Omaha's wealthy men. j.
u. Hill. Miss Hills father in this city,
was greatly shocked at the report sent
out in the Omaha special. Mrs. Clark
is his eldest daughter, and is 81 wears
Of age, having been born and raised in
this county. Mrs. Clark was married ID
n,
Of a wealthy miller then located at
Davis City, Iowa. The daughter and
the husband lived there for several
years, and then moved to Leon, Iowa,
where the Clarks built another large
Touring mill, having sold their mill at
Davis City.
-Four years ago the mill was moved to
Omaha, and Mr.. and Mrs. Clark moved
to that city. Two years ago, on her re-
turn from visit to her parents here,
Mrs. Clark discovered that her husband
had been maintaining two households
Or she alleged that he had--during all
the time of the residence in Omaha. At
once she sued for divorce. A decree
was granted, and short time afterwards
Rufus married the woman whom it was
alleged he had been supporting. Since
securing her divorce and being given
her maiden name, Miss Hill has been
living with sister at Kidder, Mo-, who
is the wife of prominent physician
there, and with her parents in this city.
She spent the last eight months with
her parents here cOminr to Wahctar