E.E. Clarke, 55 year old typewriter repair man, was jailed in default of $2,000 bond Wednesday afternoon following is arrest on a charge of abuse of a girl under 14 years of age.
Clarke came to Elizabeth City about five years ago, claiming to be a former Y.M.C.A. secretary and a boy scout master, and opened a typewriter repair shop. Previous to coming to Elizabeth City, he had spent some time in Plymouth and Edenton, but the only thing against him in those towns seemed to be a matter of some unpaid bills and a bad check or two. Two years ago he came into prominence when he materially aided the State in securing a conviction in the Winder case. He has himself been under mor or less suspicion since that time but local authorities were never able to get evidence against him until this week.
The arrest was made on a warrant sworn out by County Welfare Officer Mrs. Anna Lewis. Mrs. Lewis and the police have been developing evidence against the defendant all this week, and the police say they are confident that they have a clear case against him.
The preliminary hearing is set for Saturday. Clarke’s alleged victim is only 10 years old. Clarke is a native of Pittsburgh and has a sister in that section.
From the front page of the Elizabeth City Daily Advance, Thursday, May 29, 1924
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Clark Bound Over to Superior Court
E.E. Clark, 45-year-old bachelor, was bound over to the Superior Court on four warrants charging serious offenses under bond of $1,250 in each case, Saturday morning. Clark made no statement other than to request the bond be made $3,500 instead of the total of $5,000. Judge Spence denied the request.
The court room was packed at the preliminary hearing. Two little girls testified against him, verifying statements made to Mrs. Anna Lewis which led to his arrest on Wednesday evening.
The prosecution was conducted by W.L. Cohoon and T.J. Markham in addition to P.G. Sawyer, County prosecutor.
Mrs. Lewis accompanied the little girls to court and sat near them during the trial. Both girls are slightly built and are not developed beyond their years.
It is not expected that Clark will be able to make bond. He appeared at the preliminary hearing without counsel.
From the front page of the Elizabeth City Daily Advance, Saturday, May 31, 1924
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Elizabeth City, Aug. 22—Two sentences of 60 years each and three of 15 years each, all to run concurrently, were imposed this afternoon in the case of E.E. Clarke, 55-year-old typewriter repairman, when, through counsel he offered pleas of guilty in two instances to crimes against nature and in three instances to the crime of attempted assault upon a female child under the age of 12 year.
From page 5 of the Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., August 25, 1924
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Elizabeth City Man Draws 165 Years in State Prison. . . E.S. Clarke Pleads Guilty in Court to Indescribable Crimes
Elizabeth City, Aug. 22—Two sentences of 60 years each and three of 15 years each, all to run concurrently, were imposed this afternoon in the case of E.E. Clarke, 55-year-old typewriter repairman, when, through counsel he offered pleas of guilty in two instances of crimes against nature and in three instances to the crime of attempted assault upon a female child under the age of 12 years.
Thus suddenly came to its conclusion the most revolting case in the annals of Pasquotank county.
The defendant was charged with rape.
“I think you have acted wisely,” judge Lyon told counsel for the defense, “in advising our client to submit, for I am confident that this jury or any sensible jury, after seeing and hearing the evidence in this case would have found the defendant guilty of a crime for which he might have been called to answer with his life.”
“I am aware,” the court went on to say after the sentence had been imposed, “that this will mean that this defendant must pass the remainder of his life within prison walls. That is where he ought to be. He is undoubtedly a sexual pervert and perhaps cannot restrain himself. He needs protection from himself as well as to be put where he can not further prey upon society.”
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, August 23, 1924
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Serve 165 Years for Crime Against Girls. . . Clark, Typewriter Repairman, Pleads Guilty, and Is Sentenced on Five Counts
Elizabeth City, Aug. 22—(By the Associated Press)—E.E. Clark, typewriter repairman, was given prison sentences aggregating 165 years in superior court at Elizabeth city today on charges of committing crimes against two girls, each of whom is 13 years old.
After the state had concluded its case, Clark changed his plea from not guilty to guilty, throwing himself upon the mercy of the court. Judge Lyon then imposed sentence, giving Clark 60 years upon each of the two principal counts and 15 years each on the three lesser counts.
The principal witnesses of the state were the two girls, who said the crimes were committed when they went to Clark’s rooms to show him some post cards which they were selling in order to win a doll offered as a prize.
When Clark changed his plea, the case was automatically taken out of the hands of the jurors, and decision then rested with the judge. The defense offered no evidence.
From page 8 of the Messenger and Intelligencer and Ansonian, Wadesboro, N.C., Sept. 4, 1924
E.E. Clark or E.S. Clarke or E.E. Clark, who was 45 or 55 years old, was charged with raping two 13-year-old girls, unless they were actually younger.
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