The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, September 20, 1906 'This is a Romance in Real Life By People Whom We Know.' ------------------------------- As in the Blydenburgh case, liquor is said to have been the means used by a married man to achieve the destruction of a young girl, so liquor is charged to have been the means by which a single man near Chariton tempted a married woman into an elopement to California. At least D.H. CLARK of Benton Township in Lucas County has secured the arrest in Los Angeles of his wife and D.C. STOKESBERRY on a charge of adultery, and alleges that after STOKESBERRY began to tote beer to the CLARK home in the absence of the husband, the wife became nonresponsive to his affection, but favored STOKESBERRY and went with him to California. CLARK, who is 45 years of age, married MISS CARRIE FREEL Feb. 4, 1905. In his statement to the office of the Governor in support of an application for the warrant of requisition for the return of STOKESBERRY and MRS. CLARK to Iowa, CLARK declares that she was a good and loving wife up to Dec. 1, 1905. Then, he says, STOKESBERRY and trouble appeared on the scene, hand in hand. A little more than a month ago the wife took her husband's 5-year-old daughter to Chariton and sent her home by others, and disappeared. An affidavit is attached to the papers furnished to the executive office, in which a nephew of STOKESBERRY says that he was directed by him to buy two tickets to Indianola, and check STOKESBERRY's trunks. The young man claimed that he wanted to go over to get some beer, which is a joke because Indianola is a temperance town. From Indianola it is easy to quickly come to Des Moines and thence to the west. Another affidavit declares that STOKESBERRY had boasted to people that he had acquired complete influence over MRS. CLARK and that he proposed to steal MRS. CLARK and go west with her. But he denied intimacy with her. At the time that she disappeared at Chariton, STOKESBERRY also was gone. Immediately theretofore he had disposed of the ten acres of land that he owned adjoining the 160 acre farm of MR. CLARK in which the woman owned her wife's share. This land was disposed of at a ridiculously small price, and in a great hurry. Several affidavits have been filed with the executive office relative to the liquor incidents. STOKESBERRY seems by them to have been carrying beer to the CLARK home all of the time. CLARK says that he never knew of the woman drinking anything of the kind until STOKESBERRY began coming to his home when the husband was absent. The children of CLARK testify to the liquor incidents and it appears that empty beer bottles usually decorated the CLARK domicile after a visit by the fascinating Romeo. JOHN CLARK testified that he had heard STOKESBERY speak of the woman as "(?) Spot," and had heard him boast of his power over her. A telegram from Los Angeles yesterday stated that the two were under arrest in Los Angeles, on the warrant secured by the husband in Iowa, but that they would appeal to the Governor of California not to recognize the warrant of requisition issued by Governor Cummins. The defense is not known here, except that it is said that a denial of the charge of adultery, in toto, will be made. The couple were not living at Los Angeles as man and wife and the arrest was delayed because there was no evidence to show elopement or that the two had gone together, except that as to the tickets. Affidavits filed by the husband state that STOKESBERRY never boasted of intimacy with the woman, but always said that he had none. ---------------------------------------------------------- (In another column of the same date:) 'To Return Elopers' E.S. Wells, county attorney, armed with a requisition from Gov. Cummins, and in company with DAVID CLARK, of Benton Township, started on Friday night for Los Angeles, California, to secure the elopers, D.C. STOKESBERRY and MRS. DAVID CLARK who are held there in custody. It will be remembered that they were missing and it was supposed they had eloped, which proved to be the case. STOKESBERRY and MRS. CLARK will be brought back to Lucas County and proceedings against them instituted but it is understood that MR. CLARK only desires a divorce from his wife and a settlement of property interests and will not file criminal charges against her. It is likely STOKESBERRY will have to suffer more seriously for his part in Cupid's game. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert September 3, 2004 [email protected] *Would this be anyone's Stokesberry ancestor?? I will post the results of their escapade as the news evolves.