A SOUTH DAKOTA MURDER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 196, 19 August 1899, Page 5 (Supplement)

A SOUTH DAKOTA MURDER.

TRAGIC SEQUEL TO FAMILY DISSENSIONS. A crime of an extraordinary nature was committed at Armour, South Dakota", dur- ' ing Juue last. S. 11. Clark, a prominent farmer, living four miles out of the town, murdered his wife, his 15-year-old daughter, and, after lighting his way through pursuing officers, escaped into the hills, where he was at latest reports still at large. The shooting occurred at the home ! of a farmer living near Clark's, named Hun- i dy, while the Bundy family and Mrs Clark j and daughter were at dinner. Clark and his wife were divorced about four years ago, and were re-married In June, IS'JS. They had four children, the daughter who wan killed and three smaller ones. For some time Clark and his wife have been separated, and Mrs Clark has recently instituted proceedings for divorce. The daughter lias all the time kept house for her father and the little ones. The day of the murder Clark was ploughing near the road on his place, when his wife drove past in the direction of the Buudy homestead. Clark called to her to stop, but she made no reply, and drove on. Shortly afterwards the daughter came to the iield and requested permission to go to liundy's to see her mother. Receiving no reply, she took the little children and repaired to the Bundy residence, where sue was soon followed by Clark. Entering the house, Clark demanded of his wife why she had not stopped when he called to her. "1 had nothing to say to you." "Did you sign any papers at Hooper's yesterday?" asked Clark. Mrs Clark refused to affirm or deny this, whereupon Clark drew a revolver and shot her. The ball entered the left side of her neck, passing clear through. Turning to the daughter, lie sent a ball into her right shoulder, it passing through the body and coming out under the right arm, breaking it. A second shot entered the back of her head and came out in the forehead. Both died the same night. Clark then returned to his home, changed his shoes, unharnessed a horse, and, armed with a rifle and revolver, started on horseback in a north-westerly direction. Ho had a five hours' start when the county officers arrived on the scene. By hard riding they headed him off, but the determined nature and courage of the murderer showed itself, for in a running fight, in which the. fugitive shot two of his pursuers' horses, he escaped.