The San Francisco call., 1908-11-04
MINISTER, ON GRILL,
DFEPENS MYSTERY
Rev. PaysOn Young Battles In-
yestigatOrs With a Straight
Story
Latest Theory Advanced Is
That Edna Clark Has Gone
East to Become Nurse


disclose the whereabouts of Miss Edna
Clark. the relatives and friends of the
missing Alameda art student brought
10 a conclusion yesterday another day
Of fruitless search. with nothing more
substantial TO show for their labors
than an additional theory. This was TO
the effect that the girl had left her
home to take up a course of study in
nursing. 1t was borne out by the fact
that woman closely resembling the
missing girl had applied to the German
hospital for a position last Saturday.
The latest theory was advanced by
Father Payson Young while being ex-
amined by the missing girls relatives
and was originally founded on conver-
sations the Anglican priest had with
Miss Clark.
During these conversations Miss
Clark had frequently expressed a desire
10 be nurse and the latest supposition
is that, fearing parental objection and
protestation, she decided to take mat
informing her relatives, went away to
follow out her plans.
With this small clew to work on il
developed last night that a young
woman closely resembling Miss Clark
had applied to the German hospital for
a position. The application was made
10 Miss Helen Barker, the matron. The
young woman gave her name as Miss
Davis but on being asked her ad-
dress she became bewildered and de-
clared she would send it in with her
written application.
On being shown a photograph of Miss
Clark Miss Barker said that it closely
resembled that of the woman who had
applied for a position.
The description of the womans
clothing, her mannerisms and charac-
teristics We're Identical with those Of
Miss Clark and there is but little doubt
that the two We're one and the same
person.
The young woman called on me last
Saturday" said Miss Barker, and told
me she wished TO take up nursing. She
said she had no experience in that line.
I asked her to send in a written appn-
cation on the following Monday and she
said she would. I have not yet received
IT, On asking her where she lived she
hesitated and stammered and then
finally said she would send the address
with her written application.
When / first read of Miss Clark's
disappearance and her description I
could not help thinking of my caller of
last Saturday. The description of the
clothing was identically the same"
PAsHO Is QUESTIONED
Whatever scruples there might have
been i'm the minds of Miss Clarks rela-
tives regarding the state of affairs
existing between the girl and the rector
OF St Mary the Virgin were cast to
the winds yesterday when there arose
the possibility of his knowing some
thing about the girls disappearance
They went to him and put him through
an examination. direct and to the point
They questioned him for over two hours
taking up detail after detail. hoping
that he would drop some word which
would give them a clew. [ was in vain.
Father Young denied all knowledge of
the missing girls present location. He
spoke freely and without restraint, but
maintained he could throw no light on
the mystery
No sooner had he concluded the inter.
view with the girls relatives than he
was subjected TO another, just as
searching and as emphatic. by various
representatives Of the press. The re-
suit was the same
I first met Miss Clark" said he.
about three or four months ago. when
she came TO my study and saying she
had heard Of me. asked questions abou.
the Catholic party Of the Anglican
church, TO which I belong. I treated
her in the same manner as I would any
other person seeking information of
this character.
Later, she came again and told me
Il
learned from her that she belonged to
an Episcopal church in Alameda and
that her mother objected to this. there
being a difference of religious opinion
between the two. The girl showed a
deep interest in the affairs OF the Catho-
lie party of the Anglican church and
came again repeatedly to confer with
me.
After our acquaintance had riuened
he fo1G If fc
far as could gather her mother strong
ly opposed her joining my church. This
did not seem to be the only trouble
Miss Clark said that she was constantly
restrained at home, that she was not
allowed to go out without her mothers
consent and that she was made the
subject Of numerous similar petty an
noyances, all of which saddened her
considerably.
These visits to my rectory were
made during the noon hour, evidently
while she was taking a recess from
the art school. I lent her books and
pamphlets Of religious nature to study
at leisure, and when she returned them
we would take up the questions of
religious nature
MET GIRL ON BOAT
"On more than one occasion while
crossing the bay TO my home in Oak
land I met Miss Clark on the ferry
boat These meetings were purely ac-
cidental. We would then have short
conversation, and when the bay was
crossed we would take our trains to
our respective homes. once, after
having met her on the ferry boat, she
asked me TO visit her folks and I con-
sented / had previously told the girl
that II she wanted to join our church
she would have to decide for herself
as to which course she was going to
pursue in the conflict between her love
Tor her mother and her religious con-
science. In the face OF my knowledge OF
the girls history I accepted the invita-
ton 10 visit her home, hoping that
I might be Of some use in bringing the
mother and daughter to an amicable
understanding on the matter.
L visited her home but once. A few
DAYS after the visit Miss Clark in
formed me that her mother objected
10 me and ] made no further attempt
TO thrust myself upon her. ] put her
obsection down to the differences Of
religious opinions.
The last time Miss Clark visited me
was about two weeks before she dis
anpeared- She brought back some books
7 had lent her. talked for a short time
r her 1ea- he