Moroni Jensen Clark
1896 - 1931
VETERAN

Early Life: Moroni was born January 1, 1896, in Lima, Montana, the son of Daniel and Christina "Eliza" Jensen Clark. When he was young, his family moved to Provo, Utah, living there for many years.
Life's Work | Service | Interests: On November 4, 1919, Moroni married Ethel Irene Bailey in Salt Lake City, Utah. They had one son together, Barney B. Clark, age 10. Moroni was a veteran of World War I serving in the United States Army. He was employed with Hansen Catering company for several years. At the time of his death, he was working as a traveling salesman. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Moroni was described as a man of cheerful disposition and had many friends. Moroni Jensen Clark took his own life after shooting his friend, James Laurence "Larry" Innes, 41, on the morning of May 2, 1931, in Pocatello, Idaho. He was 35.
Survived By: His wife, Ethel Irene Bailey Clark, Pocatello, ID; his son, Barney B. Clark, Pocatello, ID; and his mother, Eliza Jensen Clark, of Provo, UT.
Preceded In Death By: His father, Daniel Clark.
Obituary: The Daily Herald | Provo, Utah | 3 May 1931
Service: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Location: Provo Sixth Ward Chapel
Interment: Provo City Cemetery

Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
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POCATELLO, Idaho, May 2. (U.P.) -- Angered over a trivial remark made by his friend, Moroni J. Clark, traveling salesman, shot and killed Larry Innes, 41, early today and, a half hour later, took his own life.

Clark returned to his basement apartment in an intoxicated state early this morning. He ordered his wife to call Innes and ask him to come to their apartment. Mrs. Clark complied and then started to call police. She failed to complete the call but the telephone operator in the apartment house called officers.

Clark Shoots Self--
Several policemen rushed into the apartment house just as Clark shot and killed Innes. Clark crawled out of a window onto the street, apparently wandered about the town for a half hour. Finally, he shoved the revolver inside his mouth and committed suicide in front of the Elks' club.

Mrs. Clark was in a state of collapse. She was unable to give a coherent account of the murder but did say her husband arrived home in a drunken condition and pointed the revolver at her several times. She said that Clark and Innes had been good friends. A short time before, the two men had quarreled over a trivial remark made by Innes. Clark demanded an explanation. Apparently, authorities said, Innes refused to retract or apologize.

Both Clark and Innes were former residents of Provo, Utah. Innes was wounded in the right arm and abdomen. Both men were married and both were traveling salesmen. Clark is survived by his widow and a son, aged ten; Innes by his widow and two daughters.

Clark did not die immediately. However he succumbed before reaching the hospital. Officers were unable to obtain a statement as the man was unconscious.

This afternoon, County Coroner A. W. Hall and police officials were engaged in a systematic investigation of the tragedy.

--Source: Sunday Herald | Provo, Utah | 3 May 1931 | p. 1 | transcribed by Annie Duckett Hundley | 26 Aug 2019

Excerpt from larger article: Pocatello officers who worked on the case all day Saturday are at a loss to find a motive for the murder and suicide. Late Saturday, the officers announced that no inquest would be held, a careful investigation pointing to the fact that Clark was temporarily insane at the time of the crime.

Friday evening, according, to the story of Mrs. Innes, her husband and herself and a group of friends attended a show and dance, returning home before midnight.

Clark Comes In--
Clark, who lived in the same apartment house, came in from Wyoming a few minutes later. Witnesses at the police investigation state that Clark had a pint of whisky [sic] with him, and gave evidence of being slightly intoxicated, but in no way appeared objectionable. The witnesses stated that when Clark went into the kitchen to pour himself a drink, that Innes asked them if they had ever seen Clark when he was drinking, as he was hard to handle.

Clark remained until after most of the guests had gone, and finally Innes remarked to him that he had better leave as they were going to bed. As he went out of the door, Mrs. Innes stated either Clark slammed the door or was blown shut.

One witness testified that while Clark slammed the door or it was to a woman guest and made the remark "I don't' think the rest of them around here think very much of me."

Clark then went directly to his own apartment. According to Mrs. Clark, he slammed the door and when she came to greet him his eyes were blazing and he appeared as though insane. After going to an adjoining closet to get a gun he told Mrs. Clark to call Innes. She refused to call him unless he put the gun away which he finally promised to do.

Apparently Angry--
When Innes entered the Clark apartment, Clark was standing in the doorway leading, to the bathroom. Clark spoke to Innes, saying, "What did you mean by saying what you said about me?" Innes did not appear to pay much attention to Clark, but walked over to little Barney Clark and patted him on the head.

Clark then opened fire, shooting three times, one bullet striking Innes in the right arm, one in the abdomen and a third going wild after striking the floor. Clark then made his way out through a bath room [sic] window, and walked down the street. He was found in the entrance to the Maytag shop a little later with a bullet hole through his head. He had evidently killed himself with the same gun with which he shot Innes.

— Source: The Daily Herald | Provo, Utah | 4 May 1931 | p. 1 & 6 | transcribed by Annie Duckett Hundley | 26 August 2019