The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-09-11
FARMER DEAD IN A
/. DITCH; GUN-sHOT1 .
WOUND IN HEAD
MOST PLAUSIBLE THEORY Ao-
vANcEp is THAT EMIL DE
CLARK WAS ACCIDENTALLY
SHOT BY HUNTERS.

Emil De Clark, Bergian farmer.
living on the Harper road. In Gratiot
township, was found dying In a ditch
nj the roadside, about a mile from his
home, Wednesday afternoon, and ex-
PRED a few minutes later in the arms
of his son, Leo. aged Is. A hole in
his head, which, al first, was supposed
10 have been caused by fall from
his wagon, now proves TO be a gun
shot wound and the sheriff is now In
quest Of two men, dressed in hunters
garb, who were seen running away
from the spot where De Clark was
found. One of the men carried a shot
gun.
IL was not until Thursday afternoon.
when Julius De Clark. a brother of
the deceased. found Emirs hat and
noticed that II was perforated with
bird shot, that the authorities realized
DE Clark had been shot. No time was
lost then in notifying Sheriff Burns.
but the person who did the shooting
had "a hours start and the sheriff had
little 10 work on.
Assistant Prosecutor James A. Rob
ison. who with the sheriff, Coroner
Parker, County Detective Churchill.
Deputy Martz and Assistant Prosecut-
or Grose. investigated the case Thurs
day night. has a theory that De Clark
was accidentally shot by two hunters
who asked him for ride. In climb
ing into the wagon the trigger might
have caught against some part OF the
wagon, Robson thinks. Several points
about the case seem TO favor such a
theory--the position OF the wound, in
the back of the head; the fact that
there Is nothing missing from De
Clark's pockets, and the finding OF a
hunters white hat, torn into strips as
though for bandages, near the place
where De Clark was found
De Clark was returning from the
city, where he had sold a load OF to-
matoes. when he met his death. His
team continued on their way with the
empty wagon and when Leo De Clark
noticed his fathers absence. he went
down the road TO investigate. About
q mile away he found his father lying
in the ditch and ran TO him, crying
frantically:
Papa, papa"
De Clark opened his eyes, murmured
mamma" and was silent again. The
boy sent Henry Peters, farm hand,
for DIR. j. X. Jones, No. 2299 Gratiot-
ave-, but De Clark died before the
physicians arrival. DR.. Jones, after
examining the wound. concluded that
the man had fallen from his wagon
and the township authorities coincid'
ed In the opinion.
After tho 6ndinp nj the riddlad hat
1t was learned that Mrs. Louis Diegel.
who drove along the road Wednesday
afternoon, had seen two men, one car
rying a gun, running through the
fields. She had not seen De Clark, as
the ditch concealed him from her.
Later the white hat torn into strips.
was found in a field, near the road.
II. as Assistant Prosecutor Robson
believes. the man was accidentally
shot, the presence of the strips, or
bandages. would seem to indicate that
they were preparing TO tie the wound
and do what they could for their vic
tim when they were frightened away
by the approach OF Mrs. Diegel. fear
ful that they would be suspected or
murder. Miss Lena Moran. who fol
lowed Mrs. Diegel along the road, also
says that she saw two men running
into the woods, as though heightened.
Coroner Parker has turned the case
over to Justice Body. of~ Grat1ot
township, who will hold an inquest.
DE Clark was "a years old and
leaves widow and five children In
poor circumstances. The family live
on what is known as the Trombley
farm.