The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-03-20
GAVE POISON
TO MISS CLARK
Asserted Larsen, Tech Sem
ior, in Letter Just Be-
fore Suicide
HIS BODY FOUND
IN THE FENWAY
Woman Died After Enter
tanning Party Early
Thursday Morning

sen. a senior at the Massachusetts IN
stitute Of Technology, from the gay
party, at which Pauline Virginia Clark,
divorce, ended her life early on last
Thursday morning. His body was found
Yesterday in the Fenway, behind the
Museum of Fine Arts. Apparently he
had been dead only short time.
Two letters signed by Larsen, as
serting that Miss Clark had long in
tended to commit suicide and that Lar
sen had supplied her with poison, were
received by Boston newspaper and
Medical Examiner Magrath several
hours after his body was found.
In the letter to the medical examiner
Larsen said that Miss Clark requested
him several weeks ago to procure some
poison for her in order that she might
take her own life. She had long be-
fore decided on this course, he said sne
| told him.
Il agreed to do this" the letter con-
tinued, Extracting from her the prom
| ise that she would not use it until her
mother came home. She gave me her
promise and | prepared for her a solu-
ton of strong poison
The letter related how Larsen had
met Miss Clark six weeks ago and they
had become intimate friends. 1t said
that Miss Clark told him OF her exces
sive depression and OF various incidents
in her life.
81 wondered how she resisted so long
the temptation that death really Isl
the letter added.
The letter then described how he sus-
pected that Miss Clark was going to
break her word and take the poison
among her guests on Wednesday night,
and although she again promised 10
defer her act, she suddenly stood up
and drank the fatal potion.
Il called doctor and attempted to
assist her." the letter continued. When
| saw that she was dead / left because
| would not give myself up to be
grilled by understanding police.
took the remainder Of the poison with
me. 1t was my property after Miss
Clark was dead.
Il had intended TO take poison be-
fore met Miss Clark. She was the
worlds finest woman
The parties in Miss Clark's apart
ment, the letter said. were not Wild
revels. but were only for the purpose
OF killing the moroseness OF her life.
IN his letter to the editor Of Bos-
ton paper, condemning the printing Of
stories OF scandal, he advised that the
editor also take poison when your IN
feriority becomes too conscious in your
mind, If you have one"
II was Larsen's first love affair,
friends said last night. He came TO
America in 1918 as one of ten students
sent to America by the Norwegian gov
eminent to study American engineer
ing methods. Up until last January he
knew no girls and applied himself dill
gently to his studies.
Then he met Miss Clark and their
attachment grew steadily. Quarreis
between the young woman and ricn
friends over Larsen's popularity result
ed, Larsen's friends declared, and when
she was driven to choose between Lar
sen anu lUNt anu = ltll AAlthN~ anu 'hA
ury, she chose Larsen.
Larsen was taking a chemical course
at the institute. sHe had been fire.
quent visitor at the extensively fur
nished Newbury street apartment of
Miss Clark, to whom his friends said
he was deeply attached. Last Wednes-
day night he was one Of the guests
at lively party there.
In the early hours OF Thursday
morning Misss Clark, who had been
laughing and drinking, suddenly col.
lapsed and fell dead. 1t was found she
had taken poison. Larsen, highly ex
cited. seized the bottle in which some
of the poison remained, ran from the
apartment and notified physician,
then dis appeared. No trace of him was
discovered until his body was found
yesterday.
Baysrd Wharton of Philadelphia,
Harvard student, who also was at the
party. said that Larsen was Of NOR
bid disposition.
He said that the young woman had
been melancholy much of the time re-
Gently, although she appeared gay on
wedne day night. Whsrton's father,
Henry Wharton, came to this city yes
terday and engaged an attorney 60
look after his sons interests.
Miss Clark. formerly an artists mod
ell. was divorced in September last from
Lieutenant Commander William j.
Thomas, u. ). y. Acquaintance said
she had many admirers and was in the
habit Of entertaining lavishly.
A few days before her death she
showed to a young woman friend a
bottle which she said contained poison,
remarking that she would use il when
she was Through with life" Wharton
said she had shown him two bottles,
one containing perfumery, but had said
nothing about the contents Of the
other
Medical Examiner Msgrath. who pro-
nounccd Miss Clark's death As one Of
suicide, began an investigation into the
death Of Larsen shortly after the body
vas found.
Larsen's Letter.
AZ the start Of his letter 20 the med
icsl examiner Larsen said.
In order that the disgraceful COM
ncnt Of certain Boston newspapers
upon the death Of Miss Clark may be
given a chance to come to completion, I
take the liberty in this way 20 tel |
What I know about the tragedy
A portion 81 the letter follow.
-Miss Clark vas not a society belle
of the pleasure seeking type Her
q an