The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1922-03-16
THROW NO LIGHT
ON BIC MYSTERY
Of MISSING MAN
No New Developments In Clark
Case; searehers ss Much In Dark
as Day City Treasurer Was
Last Seen.
PENDiNG BOND ARRIVAL
Assistant Ready to Take Job When
Bond Approved; Was Former
Cowboy and Clerical Man
With Railroad.

The cause OF the disappearance
and the whereabouts OF Judge w. w
Clark. missing city treasurer. re
mains as much OF an unsolyed mys
terry as II has ever been.
There have been no new develop
ments revealed. Nothing has been
heard from the man and he has
never been traced out OF Oklahoma
City where he was last seen Thurs.
day morning In front OF the Bristol
hotel.
AS the days pass. friends OF the
missing official became more con-
vinced that nationwide search
must be made and plans to this
effect are now being made by the
local X. 7. and Elks lodges.
There are some who think the
treasurer will return alive, but a ma
jority believe that he has passed to
his reward. These persons contend
that IL he had suddenly become de-
mented, he would have been appre-
hended and identified before this.
The suicide theory In connection
with the mystery is being more fire.
quently expressed. Mayor Coffman
recalls that three months ago, Judge
Clark called him into his office and
asked him to witness the counting
of the city's government bonds and
war saving stamps and the placing
of them, properly wrapped. into the
vault. This would indicate, the
Mayor said this morning. that Mr..
Clark might have been anticipating
death.
Reports that Mr.. Clark had domes-
tic troubles, were emphatically de.
MED from every source today.
office Still Closed.
The city treasurer's office is still
closed and will remain SO until the
assistant treasurer, j. ]. Clark, who
was appointed yesterday, qualities
for the office, the mayor says.
The newly appointed official is
making arrangements for the $4,000
security bond required by the coun-
Gil This bond, which is being made
by a bonding company, is expected
to arrive here tomorrow morning on
Rock Island passenger train No. 81.
Clark will assume charge of the
office as soon as the bond is made.
The newly appointed assistant
treasurer and the missing treasurer
are not related, the former declared
this morning.
From railroad office worker to
cowboy and from cowboy to auditor,
is the past record Of the new mem
ber of the city's official family. For
II years, Mr.. Clark was in the en-
ploy of the Rock Island railroad,
working at points between Council
Bluffs and Davenport In 1897, he
obtained a one year leave of absence
and came to what is now Custer
county, Oklahoma. He became a
cowboy and this work proved so fas-
cinating to him that he decided to
give up his railroad job and remain
in Oklahoma.
At the opening of the Kiowa-
Comanche country a few years later,
he went into that territory and soon
became connected with the Driggers
interests in the Wichita mountains
He remained in that section until
he came to Chickasha in 1914 to be-
come auditor and secretary in the
Driggers brothers office here.
"This will be the first public OF
flee have ever held" Mr.. Clark
said this morning. Il will endeavol
to perform the duties efficiently ano
satisfactorily.
The appointment Of an assistant
city treasurer is for an indefinite
period. Should Judge w. w. Clarl
return within the very near future
he will be permitted to resume thu
office, 1t was reported officially to
day. If he does not return some tint
soon. Mayor Coffman says, the offic'
probably will be declared vacant an
man appointed to fill the position
until his successor is elected.
Mayor Coffman stated today tina
he will recommend an audit OF tn
records in the treasurer's office
Judge Clark does not return with
the next week or two. Il am col
fident that there is no shortage an
that there has been no miscondut
of the office" said the mayor, "bu
it would be necessary to make a
audit of the books" This audit,
is said, would cost the city sewers
hundred dollars.
The appointment of J. 7. Clark
assistant treasurer will be submitte
to the council for confirmation me-
Thursday evening, according to Il
mayor. Until an audit OF Il
records in the office are made, Il
assistant treasurer will keep Sc
arate set of books.
Because of the delay in the ma
ing of the bond, city employees "