Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-08-22
|NEWSOF Till COURTS tf1 a
WOMAN REVEALS
DASTARDLY PLOT
MEN PLANNED TO BLOW UP
LODGING HOUSE
Witness Declares Conspiracy Hatched
to Involve Union Miners in
Murder Of Innocent
Workers

Further developments in the alleged
plot to blow up the pipe line of the
Yellow ASter mine at RandSburg,
which has already brought about the
arrests of Fred Jockey and George
Nelson in Los Angeles and their re-
turn to Randsburg, came to light yes
terday when Claude H. Clark, accom-
panied by his 10-year- old daughter,
Edna, appeared in the superior court
in response to an order made by Judge
James to state his reasons why the
child should not be returned to her
mother.
From the testimony in this case yes
terday 1t would appear that not only
was there a conspiracy to destroy the
pipe line and lay the blame on inno-
cent men but dastardly conspiracy
had been entered into to blow up
lodging house occupied by a number of
nom union men, the alleged purpose
being to throw the blame upon inno-
cent persons.
Mrs. Clark has filed a suit for d.
vorce against her husband, and when
this comes to trial further light on this
supposed conspiracy may come to light.
Little Edna Clark was restored by
the courts order to her mother, for
merly detective employed at Rands-
burg during the mining troubles fol-
lowing a strike at that place, and as
she fondled in her arms and kissed
the lips of her baby sister. Thelma,
she went as only an overjoyed child
can weep.
Postponement Denied
When Clark appeared in court his
attorney asked for a continuance until
next Friday, when, he said, two inn
The delay was opposed by Horace
Appel, Mrs. Clark's attorney This
mother" he said, was good enough
to have the care of the child from her
birth up to a few weeks ago, and l
believe she is still a fit person to
watch over her"
The court would not grant a post
ponement and Clark was called to the
stand. He said he had taken the child
| from the home of his sister-in-law,
Mrs. Eta Gray, 433 East Thlrtieth
street, where she had been placed dur
| ing the absence of her mother in
Randsburg. 81 made arrangements
| two weeks before that time with the
| Sommers family, living at l143 South
| Olive street, to care for the girl" said
Clark, land she has remained there
| since"
Mrs. Clark followed her husband.
| Charges against her character, she
said, which had been made by her nus
band in a cross complaint in the di-
l
| "They came like a thunderbolt SAID
| the woman land are utterly untrue.
| / worked as a detective in Randsburg
| and my husband frequently sent me
into houses of i'll repute to work as a
sewing girl and secure ali the informa-
ton I could. I learned of a plot to
| blow up the pipe line and lodging
| house and told him I did not think
myself or the children should live with
him after that He told me II 1t would
be all off with me- if l informed on
| him."
All in the Business
Mrs. Anna Lindley, mother of Mrs
Clark. who lives at 1924 East Forty
eighth street. said she overheard
conversation between Clark and others
carried on in her dining room.
HE told me at that time, between
July / and A." said Mrs. Lindley
chat he intended to blow up the pipe
line and lay it on 0 Fred Jockey
protested against such an act, and ne
said. oh, 1t is all in the business.
Later he told me the plan was all
spoiled by Mrs. Clark. who, he said,
always bucked everything.
Clark denied ever having engaged in
such a conversation. He admitted,
after much sparring, that he mad been
agency not only at Randsburg. but
also in Bisbee Ariz.
"And didn't your wife tell you that
any man who would ask his wife to
blow up building full of miners and
lay the blame upon innocent men was
not fit to have wife?" asked Attorney
Appel.
'She never talked to me on the sub
ject," replied Clark.
Mrs Ciark's complaint in the divorce
suit alleges non-support, cruelty anu
other charges. which Clark in an ans
wer filed yesterday denies.
Judge James, in restoring Edna TO
her mother, warned the latter moi. to
influence the childs mind against her
father pending the divorce suit
Mrs Clark, before leaving the, stand-
declared she had retired from the de-
tective business and expected in the
future to live with her mother, sup
porting herself by sewing. Clark is
now employed by the Pacific Electric
railway as a motorman.
The Sommers family on South owe
street, in whose care Edna was placed
by Clark, say they have no knowledge
of the troubles in the Clark housenoio'