Evening star., 1950-12-06
Double Staying
Brings Theory
OF Death Pact
D. c. Man, Wife Found
Shot Dead in Auto
Near Durnestown

wife yesterday may nave peen
fired by mutual agreement,
police and medical authorities
said today.
But nowhere could investigators
find a reason why Wilson D.
Clark, So, would have fired bullet
into the brain of his wife and
then turned the gun on himself.
Their bodies were found last
night slumped in the front seat
of car on the northern outskirts
of Darnestown, Md, 10 miles
north of Rockville.
Before they left their efficiency
apartment in the Alban Towers
3700 Massachusetts avenue NV,
Mr.. Clark elaborately prepared for
the end, police said.
He wrote a telegram to a son
in California and put it,in his
pocket. He left instructions for
disposition of the bodies, and the
car, and directed his son to COM
municate with Washington at
torney who had custody of his will.
Note Contains No Hint.
But the bare Unconditional notes
contained no hint as to why he
had decided to take the fatal step.
That day, as almost every other
day since Mr.. and Mrs Clark had
come to the Alban Towers last
June, they were seen in the lobby.
Mrs. Dorothy Cooper, assistant
manager and room clerk, found
Mr.. Clark his usual polite, cour-
teous self when she gave him his
mail.
Neither the building manage
ment nor any other acquaintance
located by police could remember
ever seeing the couple anything
but cheerful, and had no knowl-
edge of any illness affecting the
couple.
Nor did they know much of Mr..
and Mrs. Clark's background. Mr..
Clark was said to have been a re-
tired Government employe who
recently came here from Seattle.
Mrs. Cooper remembered that
Mrs. Clark said she had been liv-
ing in Maryland.
Recently, Mr.. Clark telephoned
a Washington fraternity house.
asking to be put in touch with a
young lawyer. He was referred to
a fraternity brother, Charles w.
Widman, $500 Massachusetts, ave-
nue. NV.
Agrees to Handle Will.
Mr.. Widman does not have a
routine law practice, nor did he
know Mr.. Clark, but he agreed TO
take custody of Mr.. Clark's win
and personal papers.
HE didn't seem at all de-
pressed" Mr.. Widman recalled.
In fact, We joked about the will.
and said it would be a long time
before he needed that again."
About 7 pm. yesterday Frank
Boswell of Rockville passed a car
parked on the highway near
Darnestown, the two right wheels
off the road. Three hours later
Mr. Boswell returned and saw the
car still there. 1t seemed to him
that the head of a woman, seated
behind the wheel. was moving
and he thought he saw
a bullet hole in the rear window.
He notified Montgomery County
police.
They found Mrs. Clark sitting
behind the wheel, a bullet hole
In front and above the right ear.
The body of Mr.. Clark was
slumped against hers, with a
wound in an almost identical
spot. His right hand clutched a
.38-caliber revolver.
DR.. F. j. Broschart, Montgomery
County medical authority, said he
would issue certificates of murder
and suicide. An autopsy will not
be necessary. he said.
Evidence of mutual agreement"
was seen in the fact that a tag,
tied to the right door handle,
identified the dead man and in
structed the finder to 60 to the
Alban Towers apartment for more
information.
Blanket Covered Seat.
Police pointed out that the front
seat was covered with a blanket,
perhaps to prevent blood stains.
Two notes were found on the
dresser of the Clark's neat apart
ment. One was addressed to the
manager. telling him to close and
seal the place, leaving contents
intact, Gin case of accident" to
him or his wife.
The manager was told to await
the arrival of the son, and to
place the car in a garage, since
the son was its legal owner.
The second note, addressed "To
Whom It May Concern" repeated
most of the first note and asked
that his son be telegraphed with
money found on Mr.. Clark's body
Both notes were typewriter, but
signed in ink by Mr.. Clark.
In one Of Mr.. Clark's pockets,
police found this telegram to his
son, John D. Clark of Berkeley
Calf.
Both your parents died today
Decedents request cremation but
bodies are being held pending your
instructions or arrival and identi-
fication. Communicate with At
torney Charles L. Widman, $500
Massachusetts, avenue NV. Wire
immediate reply to-"
The bodies were removed to the
Gartner funeral home. Gathers
burg.
Lee Boulevard Crash
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