The article “A Forcible Lover” was written March 23 1902.
“Attacks Sweetheart on the street and threatens her with a revolver”
“A Strange Case of Mistaken Identity”
Miss Mabel Clifford complained to the police on Saturday that she had been assaulted and her life threatened by a man named Charles Clifford, while walking along George Street Friday evening at about 8 o’clock.
Her story was that while in company of another young woman as she was walking out George Street, Chas Clifford, who is related to her distantly accosted her and seized her by the arm, and insisted upon her going with him. She refused, and he struck her on the side of her head, knocking her down. She screamed and the man drew a revolver and threatened to shoot her. Her screams brought to her assistance Messrs, Gowdie, Tancock, and Mayes and her assailant was compelled to desist.
It appears that Miss Clifford is engaged to a young man whom Chas Clifford is insanely jealous. He has written her several threatening letters that account telling her what he will do, both to her and her young man if she persists in refusing to marry him. Taking this and the assault committed on Friday evening into consideration Miss Clifford is afraid of this man.
A warrant was issued for his arrest and Saturday forenoon Chief Sarvis proceeded to Mr.Gregory’s where Clifford boards to make his arrest. He was told that Clifford had gone about an hour with the intention of taking the train to his home at Tilbury. His dress and appearance were described and the Chief started for the tunnel station to head this man off, expecting that he would take the noon train there. When the streetcar arrived Sarvis saw a man in it answering in every respect to the description of the one he was in search of.
He asked him if his name was Clifford and if he was going to Tilbury. He answered in the affirmative and the Sarvis arrested him. The prisoner denied all the knowledge of the affair; said he didn’t know the young woman in question and that a mistake had been made. Sarvis however brought the man to the lockup and sent for Miss Clifford to identify him. On her arrival she said he was not the man who assaulted her.
Explanations followed and the remarkable coincidence of names and residence were explained. The prisoner is a carpenter who lives in Point Edward, while the Clifford that is wanted is a mason and boards in Sarnia at Mrs.Gregory’s. Though from the same part of Ontario they were in no way related and did not know of each other’s existence. The man was immediately released and Chief Sarvis is still looking for the right Chas Clifford, who has disappeared from town.
The article was found in the Sarnia Observer Library Micro-feed by Nash St Amand, 2016 Coop student.
