Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-30
VERDICT in
CLARK CASE
After A Whole Day 0fArgument
YesterdayRy Both
Sides.
FINISHED EVIDENCE SATURDAY
Four Speeches Made And Great
Crowds Hung Upon Every
Word Spoken.

lne CldTk case moved rdpluly DAT
urday. When court convened, Capt
Clark, who was on the stand Friday
at adjournment, resumed the stanC
and adhered firmly under cross ex
Elimination to the general denial hi
had entered to all of the charges ir
detail. He stated he had lived here
IL or Is years and had known Mis-
Mitchell since Nov. 1913. Was in
troduced to her by Miss Fern Fort
ner. Had never committed the
criminal offense against her a:
charged. Never heard of it until
Feb. 1915. Gave her no valuable
presents. She came to his office some
to do stenographic work for him. He
paid her for that, but had no improp-
er relations with her during her
work. He denied that he had ever
written eletters to her. Did not
promise to divorce his wife and mar
ry her. Gave her an office key to
get into the room to work. AS Sec
rotary of the Owls. clerk of the
Woodmen and Captain of Co. D. he
had a great deal of clerical work and
needed stenographer. Didn't re-
call what amounts he paid her. Did
not give her the ring, bracelet or
lavaliere. Did not go to her brother
to straighten up rumors heard, the
brother came to him. Promised in
John Sites Office not to write any
more, to stop talk. Moved his office
to the Summers building because he
had his typewriter there and didn't
think he ought to use the Armory
office for his private business.
He said he was not divorced from
his wife, but had left home pending
the settlement of this trouble. He
made no arrangement to meet Miss
Mitchell at Casky and knew nothing
of it. He had himself asked the
lodges to investigate and did not
name the committees.
Miss Fern Fortner corroborated
the statement that she had first in
PRODUCED Clark to Miss Mitchell in
Nov. 1913, when he became coach of
the basket ball team of which they
were members.
Capt. Clark's wife and little son
were in court with him for the first
time Saturday.
George Bradley, father-in.law of
Capt. Clark, testified that he was
school census enumeration for a mum.
Der of years and that in 1918, before
Miss Mitchell had met Clark, her
mother had reported her age as l6.
The records of County School Super
intendent Foster showed the girl to
be a year older than alleged by the
prosecution. 1t was contended by the
Commonwealth that the date of the
birth was originally listed Incorrect.
iy and that the record thereafter had
been copied from year to year.
A great deal of testimony was CIV
en- on each side as to Capt. Clark's
moral reputation in the community. |
Miss Ruth Wilkins. a schoolmate
of Miss Mitchell, testified that she
told witness the jewelry was given
to her by her mother. brother and
sisters.
Z. N. Roper. Nick Stadelman, Geo.
Jake. NARROW Crisis and other men,
bers of the lodge committees told of
the visits at which Miss Mitchell
signed statements.
Archie Higgins, Charlie Lander
and Henry Sites were character
witnesses for Clark.
Sam Pursley said he saw a type
writer in Clark's office.
Miss Mitchell recalled. said she
lever worked on typewriter and did
lot know If one was there,
Both sides rested at three o'clock
md two speeches of an hour each
we're made before adjournment.
John Feland opened for the de-
ense and his plea was mostly crit