Ivan Julius CLARK [1382]

  General Notes:

Julius Jottings. No. 1 January 1900.
The Grange,
Matfield, Kent.
October 8, 1899.
My Dear Cousin Julius,
I am very glad you are going to start a Julius magazine. I expect I am the youngest Julius to write for it, but I hope, if I am a clergyman, as I want to be when I am bad, I shall be as good a Julius as my grandfather and ancestors were.
From your affectionate cousin,
Ivan Julius Clark.

They had, issue

COLCHESTER RESIDENT'S DEATH.
Child's discovery in gas-filled room.
Mr. Ivan J. Clark (42), of 26, Capel Road, Colchester, a resident as well known in Stanway as in the borough, was on Saturday morning found dead at his home in a gas-filled room.
The discovery was made by one of his young children, and it is stated that deceased had overnight visited his wife at the Essex County Hospital, where she had undergone an operation that day. The police were informed, and the facts reported to the Coroner.
The Inquest
On Monday at the County Hospital was conducted without a jury by the Deputy-Coroner (Mr. F. J. Smith), who heard medical evidence showing the cause of death to be coal-gas poisoning.
Mr. G. E. Tompson, solicitor, represented the family of deceased.
Malcolm Clark, a solicitor, of King's Bench Walk, Temple, London, brother of deceased, said he last saw his brother alive in London about a month ago. Deceased's health was very bad indeed: he often complained of pains in his eyes and of lumbago, and of late his state of health had been getting worse. The fact that his wife was in hospital undergoing a further operation had depressed him very much.
Replying to the Deputy-Coroner as to the deceased's financial position, the witness said he had sent his brother remittances of about £350, and in addition he had paid the rent and rates. Further, if deceased wanted any money for extraordinary things, such as doctor's fees, etc., witness always remitted it.
The Deputy-Coroner: Although there were underpaid bills in the house he need not have worried about them? - No: he would only have to tell me. He added that there was no insanity in the family.
George Julius Clark, aged 10, son of deceased, said on Friday night, when his father bade him and his two younger brothers good-night, he said to him (witness), "Be a good boy to your mother." Next morning witness and his brothers went downstairs to take the papers up to their daddy's room and noticed the smell of gas. Witness went upstairs into the bedroom and saw his father lying dead in bed. The gas in the room was on, and witness turned off the tap and called for assistance from neighbours.
Mrs. Mabel Gorman, who has been employed as a daily help at deceased's house, said during the last few weeks she noticed her employer seemed awfully worried. She left the house on Friday night at about 9.15 or 9.30 and the windows of deceased's bedroom were then open.
Chimney and the keyhole blocked
P.C. (35) Clark, of Audley Road, said he was called to deceased's house at 9.30 a.m. on Saturday, and was admitted by Mrs. Gor[h]man. He noticed a strong smell of gas, and found deceased lying in a single bed with his forearm over his face, as if asleep. Rigor mortis had set in. The keyhole of the door was blocked up with paper, as also was the chimney of the register stove situated behind the gas-fire. The windows were open when witness arrived. From an examination of the gas-fire tap he did not think it possible for it to be turned on accidentally.
Dr. Reddington said deceased was one of the most imaginative men he had ever met, and his was a typical case of neurasthenia. Recently deceased went to London to see a nerve specialist. Mrs. Clark's operation - the second - at the hospital had a great effect upon her husband: in fact, he worried more over the second operation than the one previous. Witness was called to the house at 9.15 a.m. on Saturday, and was the first person in the bedroom after the boy's discovery. The windows were tightly shut, and deceased had been dead four or five hours.
In returning a verdict that deceased took his own life whilst of unsound mind, the Deputy-Coroner said Mrs. Clark's continued illness undoubtedly had an adverse effect on the state of deceased's mind. He expressed very real sympathy with the widow, and he trusted that the little son would follow out the wishes of his father and make up to her what she had lost by the death of her husband.
The funeral of Mr. Clark took place on Tuesday, the ante-grave service at St. Mary-at-the-Walls Church was conducted by Rev. R. H. Chattey.
The Essex County Telegraph

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 5 Apr 1891, Southampton Lodge Friern Barnet MDX.
Ivan is recorded as a son aged 1 born Oakleigh MDX

Ivan married Elsa GUNTHER [23875] [MRIN: 8569].