The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-11-26
NEIeH6oRs DESCRIBE
INCIDENTS or CRIME

Vermillion, S. d., Nov. 23-Eric Mess
Ter, at whose home Clark died on the
morning following the shooting, was a
strong witness for the prosecution yes
terday afternoon. He said that while
In the granary On the day OF the
tragedy he heard shouting in the direc-
ton of the Clark home.
He, together with the Lindgfen boy.
hurried as fast as they could and when
near h Clark place saw Clark, half
walking, half stumbling, from the
house towards the road, closely fol-
lowed by Mrs. Clark. When about half
way from the house to the road, Mrs.
Clark turned back to the house and
Clark continued toward him, falling be-
fore he reached the road. When the
witness got to Clark he was apparently
In great agony. Clark said: "She got
me this time for sure, here is the gun
she did 1t with, take II and keep it,
Clark asked that a doctor be telephoned
for, and Messler, not having a phone
in his house, went to his brothers HON
about 60 rods distant. Dan Messler.
the brother, was out in the field and
60 rods more had to be Travelled before
he could be talked with. They started
saw Clark a few rods distant coming
near them. accompanied by Mrs.
Clark's mother, When Clark reached
n house he fell from exhaustion in
'front.' of the porch. Dan Messler went
into the house and phoned for a ply
stefan. A little later the wounded man
complained of being chilly. and was
taken inside and placed on a lounge.
Two physicians, Drs. Toohey and
Elliott. arrived from Beresford about 6
O'Clock. The witness said that he re-
NAMED at his brothers. home all
night, he and A. B.. Erickson setting
up with the patient. He asked Clark
II there had been any trouble between
him and Mrs. Clark tina day or on the
day or two previous. Clark replied
that there had been no trouble what
ever, and that that afternoon he was
sitting in the dining Dom reading a
paper. His wife came in and asked
for a part Of II, which was given her.
She then went over 20 a lounge In the
same room and, reclining on it, began
to read, In a little while, without say-
ing a word, Mrs. Clark got up ana
went to the bedroom. Returning she
walked directly to him and, placing a
revolver to his right side, fired. Wit
ness was shown a revolver and asked
IL 1t was the one Clark had handed
him out in the yard. He said it was,
and by means of Identification, dis
played a cross on the wooden handle
which he had made with his knife.
Witness said that Clark suffered terri
bly, all night long and that he died at
7:45 on Wednesday morning. August 10.
Examining Physicians Testify.
DR.. A. +. Toohey, of Beresford, was
called next to the stand. He described
at some length the result of his first
examination and of the post mortem.
DIR. Toohey arrived at the Messler
home about 5:15. He found the pa
tient had been wounded by a bullet
entering his right side about three and
one-half inches below the right nipple
and slightly in front. He attempted an
examination at once, but Clark was so
nervous that 1t was impossible TO use
the probe without the use of an anes
Dr. Elliott, also of Beresford, arrived,
meanwhile, and after following the
course OF the bullet inward, backward
and downward about 4 inches, they
lost track of 1t. Two incisions were
made, n four inches below where the
bullet entered the flesh, and one 10
lower down. All trace of the
bullet was lost, and the doctors ceased
heir labors and awaited developments.
The post mortem disclosed that the
bullet had passed through the right
lobe o. the liver, penetrated the colon,
and lodged in the lumbar vertebrate.
Both the doctors were united in the
that such a wound is generally
Lar MesSler was the next witness.
testified as to the condition OF
lar during the time he was con-
ined at his home. He said the patient
suffered very great agony and that he
expected his death.
Axel Odeen, one OF Clark's neigh
oors, was called and testified as to the
lime Clark had been around his wife's
after his return from the trip
hat he had taken after the divorce
proceedings.
There are at least six more Witness
$ that will be heard on this side OF tho
,ase.