Williaam D Clark 1863 - 1921

CLARK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/14/2022 at 01:55:39

The Correctionville News
29 September 1921

Mr. and Mrs. J. Williams and two children of this city had a most shocking experience Sunday afternoon when they called at the home of Mrs. William's father, W.D. Clark and found Mrs. Clark lying on the sofa with her throat badly gashed and weakened by loss of blood. After help had arrived it was discovered that Mr. Clark had attacked his wife and following the attack had gone to the barn where he hung himself from the hay track with a rope. Although it was thought for a time that Mrs. Clark would not live she is now greatly improved and it is hoped that she will recover. There have been many conflicting stories with regard to the tragedy.

Mr. and Mrs. Williams and children were the first on the scene, rather than Mr. Anderson, as the daily newspapers stated. The Williams family had been to Kingsley that afternoon and decided to stop at the Clark home on their return trip. When they drove into the yard, they saw no one about and thought that nobody was home. Mrs. Williams and the two children went into the house to see if there was anyone there. They discovered Mrs. Clark lying on the sofa, blood streaming from a deep gash in her neck. Mr. Williams was called in and the wounded woman gave him directions to get to the neighbors on the telephone. She said that Clark had tried to kill her and had then gone to take strychnine. It seems that just after he attacked her he called R.G. Anderson, a county supervisor, and asked him to come to the farm, that there had been trouble and that he himself would not be there when Anderson arrived.

Mr. Anderson did not understand what the trouble was but Clark told him to hurry out and get a lien on the property. Mr. Anderson is owner of the farm on which the family lives. He arrived soon after the Williams family got there. As soon as Mrs. Clark had been given medical aid a search was made for her husband and the lifeless body was soon found hanging by a rope from the end of the track in the hay barn. He had climbed to the platform at the end of the track and tying the rope around his neck and his hands to his sides, he stepped off the platform to his death. The body was cut down and taken to an undertaking parlor in Moville.

On account of the serious condition of Mrs. Clark it has been impossible to learn much in detail about the tragedy. An examination of her injuries show that she was struck over the head twice with a hammer and that her throat had been cut with a razor, part of the blade being left in the wound.

Friends can find no motive for the crime and many believe that Mr. Clark was at least temporarily deranged. His telephone message to Mr. Anderson would almost prove that. It is thought that more will be learned about the tragedy when Mrs. Clark recovered far enough so that she can be questioned.

Mr. Clark was very well known in this community, having farmed in the vicinity of Correctionville for many years. He is a son-in-law of Mrs. Sarah Smith of this city and Mrs. J. Williams is his daughter. Other children are Mrs. Mabel Peters of Schleswig, George Clark of Moville and Lela Clark of Moville. There were also two stepchildren, Lester Steers of Kingsley and Mrs. Arthur McNaughton of Moville. Mr. and Mrs. Clark had both been married twice, and are 55 and 50 years old respectively.

Two children have been born to them, Marcella and Wynona.

Funeral services were held at the Bethel U.E. Church on Wednesday afternoon with Rev. J.S. Deedrick of the local church officiating, assisted by the Moville pastor. Interment was in Bethel Cemetery.

Burial: Bethel Cemetery, Rock Twp., Woodbury Co., Iowa