The Mankato free press., 1923-12-21
DEATH OF CLARK
RECALLS MURDER
Crime Was Committed At
Wells Years Ago
NEWsB0Y THE VICTIM
Suspect Died Few Days Ago In
Fairmont; Buried In Pau
pers Grave

cdlFmOutJ Mill, DSCSmD6T IL
There was committed to earth in
the pauper's plot in Lakeside ceme-
terry this afternoon the worn out
body of Duran w. CLARK, which had
carried the burden of life for sew
enty one years. Clark eted at the
county farm yesterday, says The
Fairmont Sentinel. At his grave
there were none to mourn, only the
necessary help to lower the cheap
coffin that the county furnishes and
a minister of Gods gospel to speak
the promise of forgiveness to the
uttermost for the sins committed in
the flesh.
Perhaps in death the poor man
has found relief from a conscience
tormented for third of a century
by the memory Of an awful crime,
crime never punished by the laws Of
man but avenged throughout long
years by; the higher law which de-
crees that none may escape the con-
ing. It may be that the scourgings
of conscience during the hong years
have worked atonement for the
crime that blighted, blackened and
damned the life of Duran w. Clark.
Killed Newsboy at Wells.
Thirty years ago a'railroad news
boy, twenty years old, lad Of small
physique, was murdered at Wells.
The circumstances, now half forgot
ten, were something like this:
The evening train on the South
ern Minnesota railroad at that time
ran from La Crosse to Wells. The
train and crew laid overnight at
Wells, making the return run the
next morning. 1t was the habit Of
three Of the trainmen, the mail clerk,
the passenger brakeman, to make
up cots and sleep in the coaches.
During the night the train was park
ed on a siding near the Wells stock
yards
The newsboy had complained sew
eral times to the conductor that he
had been robbed and that he sus-
pected Clark.
On the summer night in question
the mail clerk had made up his cot
and was sleeping ID the combina-
tion mail coach and baggage car.
Clark and the newsboy had their
cots in the coach adjoining.
Clerk Hears Choking.
Sometime after midnight the mail
clerk was awakened by a terrible
hOuuu VI ClOhlu6 anu SuISlAu6 Nln
the other coach. He awoke in hor~
the matter. Clark's voice came from
the adjoining coach saying that he
had swallowed his quid of. chewing
tobacco and had nearly choked to
death. The mail clerk feared to in
Yestigate further but closed and
fastened all doors and windows in
his coach. His terror was such
that he slept no more that night.
Shortly after he heard someone
leave the coach and about an hour
thereafter heard him return. The
next morning the newsboy was mis-
sing. Diligent search was made with
out result. The newsboy was EN-.
ployed by one George Alanson OF
ttract on the trains of the Milwaukee
road. The boy was bonded and the
bonding company made thorough
investigation, were satisfied that the
lad had been murdered and under
their bond reimbursed Alanson for
one hundred odd dollars in the news
boys possession when he disap-
peared.
Hogs Root Up Bones. ~
Two years later hogs in the stock
yards pens at Wells were seen root
ings human bones about. The. section
men made a careful search. The
stockyards filth and litter were
carefully screened and a complete
human skeleton, corresponding in
stature to that of the missing news
made, without result, for a ring the
boy was known to have worn. Had
this been found the identity Of the
body would have been established
and Duran Clark would have gone to
the ,gallows,~fo for Minnesota then
inflicted capital punishment upon
murderers.
In the skull of the recovered
skeleton there was a great depres-
sion, exactly corresponding to a
heavy coupling pin, such as was
used at that time.
James H. Quinn, now supreme
court justice, was county attorney OF
Faribault county at that time. and
Sandy Mcdonald was sheriff. These
officers sought diligently to fasten
inquest called Clark as witness.
He underwent the ordeal without be.
trying himself. What the inquest
sought to do was to identify the
skeleton as that of the missing
newsboy. Failing to. do this no
charge of murder could be brought.
CLARK Examines Skull
The bones indicated man OF the
newsboy's size. The teeth. were all
present and perfect, another point
OF exact correspondence. At the In
quest the skull was shown Clark
and ne was asked to state II 1t was
that of his victim. He took the
grinning CHASTITY exhibit in his hand,
examined it closely, then handed It
back with perfect -composureI and
said he did not think It was. No
verdict could be returned accusing
Clark, and though all were thorough
ly convinced of his guilt, he escaped
the hangman. ,..
The railroad company immediate
ly discharged Clark. His family, liv-
ing at La Crosse, abandoned him
and he became a wanderer, an out
cast, tormented In mind and ac-
cused by every glance OF all who
knew him. . .s. -
Shortly afterward Clark drifted to
Fairmont. He worked as a painter
and paperhanger, and at odd Jobs.
Never for a moment was he allow
ed to forget his monstrous crime.
Violin Only Friend
Clark had one friend, a thing in
animate with which he sought con-
ISOLATION. This was his old violin.
He would sit alone for hours play
ing the instrument in q rather u1-
skilled fashion but there was one
tune into which he could put
tenderest feeling. The tune was
"Hoine, Sweet Home"
The lonely man would play it
over and over again, by the hour.