Richard D. Clark (died 1946)

CLARK

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 9/24/2009 at 12:03:56

Jackson Sentinel, Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa, April 19, 1946

SON FACES SECOND DEGREE MURDER CHARGE IN THE DEATH OF FATHER FOLLOWING QUARREL AT FARM HOME

Clayton Clark Being Held In County Jail

Francis Clayton Clark, 43, was being held Thursday morning on a second degree murder charge following the death of his father, Richard D. Clark, 68, of Maquoketa.

A coroner’s jury composed of Herman Stange and John Blessing of Maquoketa and Henry Wiedner, Bellevue, heard testimony in the case Thursday morning, but failed to release their verdict.

Testimony at the inquest revealed that the elder Poole, the son Clayton, another son Ray, and two grandsons, Wayne 16 and Donald 14, sons of Ray went to the Verdun Poole home Sunday at the insistence of Richard Clark to get a plow said to belong to him and to collect for 76 days labor at $6 per day, which the latter alleged was due him.

Wayne testified that an argument developed between his grandfather and Poole, with name calling on the part of Poole, who insisted he was unable to pay the bill at that time.

He said his grandfather prepared to leave and that Clayton pushed him against a wall and said: “Six dollars a day is too much for an old age pensioner to charge.”

Shortly after that Clayton struck his father above the left eye and knocked him through a door and onto a sidewalk where he is said to have struck the back of his head.

Testimony further revealed that cold water was used to wash off the face of the injured man who was bleeding from the nose and eye. The affair happened about 1:00 p.m., and as near as could be determined it was after 7:00 p.m. before a physician and ambulance were summoned. He was removed to a Clinton hospital where he died.

Ray testified that his brother said after striking the father “He always sleeps off a drunk and that’s what he is doing now.” Clayton testified he thought he was 43 years old and that eight or nine years ago he spent three months at Independence state hospital because “he got riled up” and thought that was the best thing to do.

He also testified that all four had been drinking and that he had “Five real small drinks of whiskey” while his father apparently had more. Wayne testified that he and his younger brother had only one drink of liquor while the older men drank more.

Ray and his two sons testified that they were at the scene when the father was struck, Ray reporting that he attempted to step between the two men and stop the trouble. Both Clayton and Poole are reported to have told that Ray and the two sons were not in the house when the blow was struck.

Testimony tended to substantiate the fact that Clayton was quick-tempered and had been in trouble in the past because of his temper.

Death was due to a fractured skull it was reported. The deceased is survived by three sons, Joseph, a patient at Knoxville Veterans Hospital, Ray and Clayton, and two daughters, Mrs. Bertha Smith of Clinton and Mrs. Myrtle Caven of Miles. Funeral service will be held Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Buchner chapel with burial in Streets Cemetery.

Streets Cemetery
 

Jackson Obituaries maintained by Nettie Mae Lucas.
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