Arizona republican., 1908-10-26
TOM CLARK
 PASSED AWAY Death Occurred Early On
 Sunday Morning DICK FLETCHER IN CUSTODY Inquest Will Be Held This Morning--Autopsy Verified Previous Diagnosis There Was Never a Chance for His Recovery.
DICK FLETCHER IN CUSTODY

] bln OIdIh uleu NtcSIeludy morning
 at three o'clock as the result of the in juries inflicted Tuesday night by a
 shot from a revolver in the hand of
 Dick Fletcher. Fletcher was soon after
 arrested on the charge of murder, the
 bond under which he had been held
 since Tuesday night expiring with the death of Clark and his subsequent ar
 rest.
 An autopsy was ordered by Coroner JOhnst0nc, who, as soon as he was in-
 formed of Clarl's death, also impan- 'eled a jury of six men. Owing to the
 public interest in the case and the
 many friends of both Fletcher and
 Clark in the community, the coroner
 sought to secure a jury whose verdict
 would more than usually command re
 spect and be of weight in any subse-
 qucnt proceedings that may be held
 as well as with the community at
 large. He therefore selected the fol- lowing named well-knoWn citizens to serve in that capacity: J. J. Sweeney, Leo Goldman. Fl. II. McNeiH, Walter Talbot, T. W. Chamberlain, C. D. Dor ris
 The postmortcm examination was made at o'clock yesterday afternoon in the undertaking parlors of Mohn X
 DriscoH Dr. Craig was assisted by
 Drs. Wylie and Dysart. It was found that the bullet perforated the eighth rib on the left side passed through the base of the left lung, through the diaphram, perforated the spleen and pancreas, severed the spinal cord and lodged in the eleventh dorSaI verte- brae, whence it was recovered. There was some slight hemorrhage in the abnOminal cavity, but not sufficient to cause death. There was no perforation of the stomach or intestines and no injury to the liver The bullet passed below the heart instead of back of it as at first reported and ranged down and back instead of up, as at first in dicated. There was never a chance for the patient To recover, and the only wonder is that death was not al most immediate. The first announce ment that the bullet went between the fifth and sixth ribs was made be- fore the careful examination that soon followed, and so appeared at first. owing to the differently appearing structure of the chests of different peo- pie. The night before death there were some symptoms that the intestines might have been cut, but the most careful examination proved that this was not so, and the original theory as to the track of the bullet was fully demonstrated as correct, the bullet be- ing found exactly where it was eX- pected to be
 The inquest will be held this morn ing at o'clock in the office of the coroner, Justice C. w. Johnstone Fletcher will remain in the custody of the sheriff until after the inquest at least, when it is likely the matter of bail will be considered
 Whatever the result of the inquest, and whether bail be granted or not, or whether the subsequent examination eXonerates Fletcher or not, the case will doubtless be carried to the grand jury for final action, as that body is the proper tribunal to pass upon the matter This procedure seems to have the endorsement of all inter ested in the case, whatever varying opinions they may have concerning it.
 Fletcher said that he hoped to rest better last night than any night since the deplorable incident occurred, for the reason that it had been a terrible and an eXhausting suspense to him. He had had keen appreciation of Clark's suffering and had hoped sin cerely for his recovery to health and strength, not only because of the bet ter situation in which he would be placed, but because he has never for an instant wished to harm him eX- cept when he felt that the issue was forced upon him.
 Tom Clark was 34 years of age and l native of England. Quite early in life he became a sailor and followed the sea for some time having voyaged in all parts of the world and having ived some time in India. Whether he anne from the west or the east, to the nland, was not learned last night, but anyhow he lived for some years in Colorado before coming to Phoenix 'cw years ago He was proprietor of he Anheuser pool rooms, but had lit le other property except a home tead claim south of Phoenix that he lad been living on most of the time since making the filing. He left his property to Mrs. Ray, of the Occi- lental hotel, which has been his stop ping place while in the city most of he time for several years. He was a nan of most generous impulses, and |
 nce the tragic incident of Tuesday night no man who knew him has tese- flied that he did not like him or con q ,I, me, save when he was in his cups.
 The funeral will not be announced | lntil after the inquest