Mountain State Mysteries contains adult content that may not be suitable for all audiences.
Listener discretion is advised. I'm your host Mark and I'm Courtney and this is Mountain State Mysteries.
The case we have for you today is about a woman whose life tried to bring her down so many times,
but she always came out on top. That is until one night in August of 1953.
This is the case of Juliet Staunton Clark. Juliet Staunton Clark was born on January 30th,
1894 to Florence Buffington and Edward Staunton. We will go ahead and answer this one question
that we know you probably have. Yes, Juliet Staunton Clark and Juliet Buffington-Inslow
were related. They were first cousins. Juliet Staunton Clark grew up in a family
that included several of West Virginia's most influential and prominent names.
Her mother's father was Peter Klein Buffington, the first mayor of Huntington, West Virginia.
Her father is remembered as one of Connell County's elite Republican leaders and one of the men who
helped mold a fledging street railway system into the Charleston Transit Company. In 1960,
Juliet graduated from Smith College, a prestigious women's liberal arts college,
which holds a special place in the hearts of its alumni. In September of 1960, Juliet married
Buckner C. Clay, who was an attorney at what is now Spillman Thomas and Battle in Charleston.
The couple would have two sons, Buckner Woodford Clay Jr., who was born May 23rd,
1919 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Lyle Buffington Clay, who was born December 15th,
1924 in Baltimore, Maryland. On November 23rd, 1923, Buckner Clay passed away from a lingering
illness. In the Hinton Daily News, it's said, quote, he was one of the most prominent members
of the West Virginia Bar and was known well by the legal fraternity throughout the state. He always
took an active interest in the civic affairs of Charleston, and his passing away was a sad blow
to the best interests of that city. Clay came from an old Kentucky family, being born in Paris,
Bourbon County, December 31st, 1877. He graduated from University of Virginia and located in from
the College of Law at the University of Charleston in 1893, where he has been permanently located
ever since. Funeral arrangements were not yet completed this afternoon, end quote.
On August 13th, 1929, Juliet married Walter Eli Clark, former governor of Alaska, from 1909 to
1913, and a well-known newspaper personality. In 1914, Walter came to Charleston, West Virginia,
and purchased the Charleston Daily Mail, turning it into a respected and strong newspaper publication
that continues to this day. In 1931, the two's welcomed a dollar. Julia Clark, the family moved
into a home on Virginia Street in Charleston. As the years went on, Juliet and Walter both became
prominent names in Charleston. Juliet played a very active role in local politics and served as the
president of the Charleston Garden Club in the Charleston Junior League. Walter was known for
his love of horticulture and flowers. On February 4th, 1950, Walter Eli Clark passed away from a
heart attack. His obituary read, quote, Walter Eli Clark, 81, owner and editor of Charleston Daily Mail,
died in a Charleston hospital at 1 27 p.m. two hours after suffering a heart attack at his home,
1598 Virginia Street East. He had been in comparatively good health recently. Mr. Clark
suffered recurring heart attacks in recent years. One of the city's most prominent civic leaders,
Mr. Clark, came to Charleston April 16th, 1914, and a proprietor of the Charleston Mail,
which is now the Charleston Daily Mail, column widely read Mr. Clark's personal editorial column,
quote, at this hour, end quote, which appeared on the front page of the Daily Mail was one of the
most widely read columns of the state. Born in Ashford, Connecticut, January 7th, 1869, the son
of Orrin Andrus Clark was graduated from Wesleyan University when Mr. Clark came to Charleston a
year later, he began to campaign to make Charleston the quote, Rose City of the East, end quote, and
was the founder of the Charleston Rose Society. Serving as its first president, he took an active
interest in the society and took part each year in the annual rose show. At the time of his death,
he was the society's honorary president. The success of the rose show won him wide recognition,
and he was elected president of the National Rose Society, serving from 1928 to 1929. He also was an
ardent believer in the Charleston community chest of which he was one of the founders. Mr. Clark was
a member of the Canal Presbyterian Church, the Canal and Edgewood Country Clubs, and the quote,
Metropolitan and Chevy Chase Club in Washington, DC, end quote. Mr. Clark's first marriage was
to Lucy Harrison Norville of Washington, DC, and Lynchburg, Virginia, who died in 1920. He married
Mrs. Juliette Staun Clark Clay in Charleston in August of 1929. She survives also as a daughter,
Miss Juliette Clark, at home. Service will be 4pm tomorrow at Canal Presbyterian Church. Dr. Bernard
E. Vander Beek, minister, will officiate and burial will be in the Mountview edition of the
Spring Hill Cemetery. Pau bearers will be Jack Morris-Savant, Jennings, Dick Hudson, South Hall
Burke, J.B. Martin, Howard Wolfe, Clyde Jenkins, Arthur McQueen, Robert Thompson, Frank Polk,
all employees of the Daily Mail, end quote. After the passing of Walter, it was just Juliette in
the house on Virginia Street, so she decided to sell her home and build a house on Staunton Road.
Not only did she build a new home, but she also took over the day-to-day operations of the Charleston
Daily Mail. It's said that she led an uneventful and peaceful existence in her new position.
Juliette's life seemed to be going as well as it possibly could, that is, until August 21, 1953,
which started out as any typical day for anyone in Charleston. Juliette went to the Daily Mail
office on Virginia Street, where she did her typical day of work. After work, Juliette returned
home around 7pm. Lyle Clay arrived at the residence and stayed for an hour, not too long after 8pm.
Arch Alexander Jr., who was the husband of Juliette's daughter, arrived at her home to
check on his two-year-old son Archie. Arch was staying with Juliette for a while because his
mother was in Canal Valley Hospital, where she had a difficult birth to twins. Sadly, one passed away.
Alexander said that he talked to Juliette for a while before he left the house around 9pm.
Alexander was the last person to see Juliette Staunton Clark alive. After Alexander left,
Juliette talked to Miss J. Honor Davis on the phone. The call would end around 10.30pm.
At 11pm, Miss John Merrill, the wife of Juliette's half-brother, was walking in her home when she
overheard what she described as Juliette's raised voice. Mind you, they lived about 70 yards away,
so she would have been screaming for it to be heard. She just thought that Juliette was saying
goodbye to someone who was visiting her, so she didn't think too much about it.
On Saturday, August 22nd, 1953, a little bit before 9am, Bessie Smith and John Woodson,
Juliette's maid and housekeeper, arrived for what they thought would be another typical day of work.
They both noticed that the outside lights were still on and the front door was slightly open.
They decided to enter the home through their entrance. When Bessie entered the home,
she looked into the kitchen and she was surprised by what she didn't see. In one of Bessie's
interviews, she told authorities that Juliette was in the habit of making her own coffee and breakfast,
but Bessie noticed that there were not dishes in the sink. Bessie walked out of the kitchen and
into a hallway, which led into the living room. While looking around, Bessie noticed that one of
the rugs was messed up. Bessie walked into the living room where she saw Juliette Staunton-Clark
laying face down, dead on an area rug about a foot away from a wooden coffee table. With the
discovery of Juliette, both Bessie and John went out of the house and flagged down a passing car
who turned out to be Thomas Fleecin, another relative of Juliette. Thomas was driving by on
his way into Charleston. Thomas was the first one to call and let police know what happened to Juliette.
When police got the call, Lieutenant Joseph Crafts, who was head of the detective division
and Chief Dewey Williams rushed to the crime scene. Not too long after they arrived, Sergeant Carl
Sean Holster and Canal County Corridor, Golf Lily, arrived to the crime scene. When the news of the
murder of Juliette hit the city of Charleston, reporters from the local radio station, television,
and newspaper were on the scene as soon as they could be. And just like at any crime scene,
a crowd of people started to show up to see what was going on. During his investigation, Lily noticed
injuries to Juliette's head and face, thinking that at first she was shot with a pistol. Quote,
Ms. Walter E. Clark, 59, the principal owner of the Charleston Daily Mail, was found dead on the
living room floor of her Loudoun house home today, and police said she had apparently been murdered.
She had been slain by a pistol shot wound through the right eye. The left eye was blackened and
discolored. Chief of Police Dewey Williams said that it looks like murder. End quote. Williams said
that, quote, a final official verdict would await on autopsy at Charleston General Hospital
by Dr. Walter Putzcar. End quote. Later, it was revealed that it wasn't a bullet hole that killed
Juliette. It was actually a small penetration caused by a heavy blow from a blunt object. So
basically like a knob, hammer, or something with a sharpened edge. Juliette's autopsy revealed that
she had at least three blows to her head, which any other three could have been the fatal blow
that killed her. Her skull had been fractured in three different places. Sadly for Juliette's death
was an instant. She died from internal hemorrhaging, which could have taken up to five minutes.
The floor around Juliette's body was covered in dried blood. With this and other evidence,
Lilly placed her death between 11 p.m. and midnight, 10 hours before her body was found.
While looking around the house, officials noticed that the house was not ransacked.
There was evidence of a struggle in the living room. The corner of the coffee table in the living
room had a corner dented and one of the legs had been split. This basically told officers that when
Juliette hit the ground, she hit hard by hitting the coffee table. You can see images of it and
any other picture we reference in this episode on all of our socials at Mountain State Mysteries
or on our website, mountainstatemisteriespodcast.com. There was also an ashtray on the coffee table that
had been overturned with a burnt cigarette that fell out of it. In the hallway leading to one of
the bedrooms, officers found Juliette's purse. Around the purse, officers noticed a few things
laying on the ground. Receipts, envelopes, and two pairs of glasses. At first it appeared to officials
that nothing was taken from the home. Some of Juliette's jewelry was found on her along with
some that was still in her home. The only thing that seemed to be taken was a red leather billfold,
which was always had a little bit of cash in it. So with this, they kind of thought maybe they were
dealing with a robbery gone wrong. Authorities began to search the house to see if there was
any forced entry. From the open kitchen door to the front door, there was no sign of a forced entry.
So they started to think that maybe the killer left the front door open while they left the
house. Authorities noticed one of probably the most important pieces of evidence in this case,
laying at the corner of the living room on the right side of Juliette's head. A small piece of
vanished oak stain with blood that containing a few strands of Juliette's hair. Authorities believed
that this piece of wood came from whatever object was used to kill Juliette. During the search,
Bessie Smith found Archie Alexander, Juliette's grandson, in one of the rear bedrooms. Archie was
just waking up and was unharmed from what happened the night before. After authorities searched the
home and found Archie safe in his room, they sent off the piece of varnished wood that they found.
Later, the state police announced that the lab results confirmed that the piece of wood was,
in fact, part of the murder weapon. After this, it seemed that the investigation stalled. Authorities
were not afraid to say that they had no idea what the motive to Juliette's murder could have been.
However, the Charleston Police Department did question those less known to have seen Juliette
on the day of her murder. And when they called her son-in-law, the press took this and ran with it.
In an article, it said, quote, Police quiz Miss Clark's son-in-law, Arch Alexander Jr.,
fresh after ordeal lasting 12 hours. The son-in-law of socially prominent Miss Juliette Stanton Clark
was questioned continuously for more than 12 hours yesterday about her murder. The longer deal
was recessed at 11.40 p.m. last night and Arch J. Alexander Jr., who married Miss Clark's only
daughter three years ago, was released unconditionally, end quote. In the book, Murder on Stanton Road,
the violent death of Charleston Daily Mail owner Juliette Stanton Clark, it said that, quote,
newspaper reports said Alexander looked fresher than his interrogators. The composed young attorney
repetitively refused to reply to questioning from reporters except to ask that he not be photographed.
He repeated the same phrase over and over, no comment. I do not want to be quoted on anything,
end quote. We also want to say that her own son, Lyle, who was known to be with Juliette hours before
she was murdered, was also questioned and the questioning was shorter than what Alexander's was.
With the questioning of Alexander, officials made it clear to the public that he was just being
brought in for routine questioning and that they should not make any conclusions with him being
brought in. Mayor John T. Copenhager said in an article from the Charleston Daily Mail, quote,
It would be most unfortunate to point the finger of accusation at one who was examined merely because
of the examination itself. Loose talk with no factual bias should not be included at this time,
end quote. The next day, Mayor John Copenhager held a press conference where he displayed a ball
peen hammer. In an article it said, quote, Yesterday at a press conference in his office,
the mayor displayed a ball peen hammer on his desk in City Hall. There were no apparent blood
stains or other matter on the hammer, end quote. Police Chief Williams said that they were pressing
ahead with their investigation on the thought that the hammer may have been used as a murder weapon.
Williams added that the hammer had been found in no other than Arch Alexander's basement,
but it was quickly determined that the piece of wood at the crime scene was different than the
hammer that was found in Alexander's basement. Williams said that the findings were conclusive,
but Mayor Copenhager basically took offense to this statement and said that the hammer had not
been ruled out as being the murder weapon. And to no one's surprise with how things were going
between Mayor Copenhager and Chief Williams, Copenhager put out a statement making it clear
that he felt the police were handling the investigation the best they could, but that
they should require outside assistance it would be made available to them. A few days later,
Fred Embaugh, who was an early criminologist who helped elevate trickery and deceit to a high art
of police interrogation arrived in Charleston. To me, since he was so well known for all of his
work with polygraphs, it was a big deal for him to come to Charleston and look into the case of
Juliet. I mean, this man was known around the world for all of his work. While Embaugh was in
Charleston, he ministered the polygraph examination to at least 20 people of interest in the murder of
Juliet. Testing ended on September 10th, 1953. You would have thought that with almost every other
case we have covered that after questioning things would quiet down some. However, on the same day,
September 10th, 1953, officers with the Charleston Police Department were seen in the Canal River
in diving gear, which this isn't like the Westseats we have today. Patrolman George Nulley and future
chief of police Sergeant Dallas Byas refused to comment on why they were actually searching the
river. In an article for the Charleston Daily Mail on September 13th, 1953, it said, quote,
the long search for some tangible clue that would lead to the baffling murder of Miss Juliet Staunton
Clark continued on three separate fronts. A professional diver progressed with his tedious
search of the Canal River off of McCorkle Avenue between South Ruffner and the Chesapeake and Ohio
Station. City detectives assigned to the slaying pushed their probe of what information was at hand
and Charleston Street Department workers were checking sewer openings in the area in the area
of the Clark home in Luden Heights. The quest in the river and sewer openings is for a possible
murder weapon used in the brutal killing. Mayor Copenhaver said the search along the river is
being made by Tom McGuffin, a professional diver from Point Pleasant. Mayor Copenhaver said it was
possible that the killer in the driving from Luden Heights had disposed of the murder weapon in the
river after reaching McCorkle Avenue or while crossing the Southside Bridge. He said it is
possible that the river will be searched from bank to bank beneath the bridge, end quote.
Around this time, Emba sent his final three page report to the Charleston Police Department on September 16th, 1953.
In an article for the Charleston Daily Mail it said quote, a written report of the findings of Dr. Fred Emba of Chicago during the six days he's been here,
aiding in the unsolved murder of Mrs. Juliet Staunton Clark was received here today. Mayor
Copenhaver announced the report contains a three pages, a single space typewritten copy and its
dissemination and analysis of the nationally known criminologist conclusions that Mayor Copenhaver
said he would not make the report public. A few days later the search of the canal river ended.
We want to say that during our research we actually found that some people came up to the
river to watch them search the bed of it. We can only imagine what they found at the bottom of the river.
Honestly, I feel like if we were in Charleston at the time we would have totally been there.
I know for a fact we would have been there and good god as nasty as what it is today.
Oh I could only imagine. I would say probably and I don't know why I feel like it would probably be
10 times nastier back in the day. Oh yeah. There's probably like three head of fish in there. So true.
And on September 20th the investigation took another turn. In a Charleston Daily Mail article
police announced that they were looking to identify everyone who purchased a copy of a
magazine called Air Progress. They refused to say why they were looking for anyone who purchased
the copy but in an article from the Charleston Daily Mail said quote, a semi-official publication
dealing with advances in progress in aviation catapulted into the spotlight yesterday in the
month-old investigation of the murder of Miss Juliet Staunton Clark. Without elaborating the
city detective bureau announced that it was trying to locate purchasers of the magazine Air Progress.
The annual publication was placed on sale at newsstands August 21st the night of Miss Clark's
death the night Miss Clark was beaten to death. In a prepared statement investigating officers said
quote, the city detective bureau in its investigation of the murder of Miss Juliet Staunton Clark
urgently request that all persons having purchased in the city of Charleston the magazine Air Progress
of which there were not too many copies distributed. Contact Lieutenant Joe Craft, Sergeant
W.W. Fisher or Detective Mayford Haynes either in person or by phoning the detective bureau
at 2-5403. The magazine retails for 50 cents and its title is further explained by a footnote which
says quote, history of aviation by the editors of air trails end quote. The 1953 to 1954 issue
contains 500 illustrations and concentrates heavily a military aircraft. The cover shows a military
jet in flight with the label quote, today end quote. A second picture of an old-fashioned biplane
labeled quote, yesterday end quote and a third picture of a futuristic jet aircraft titled quote,
tomorrow end quote. Almost everyone who purchased a copy of the magazine was located and questioned.
Nothing really came from this search at the end. After this not much happened in the case however
the public kept pressure on Charleston City Hall and the police department because they wanted the
killer to be brought to justice and to no shock the combination of public and political pressure
led to backlash and following the backlash Juliet's brother who took over the Daily Mail after her
death he put a statement in the paper quote, with a little over two months time since the brutal
slaying of Juliet Staunton Clark a sister of the undersigned it is pertinent that a brief review
be given to the public of the facts that is in the subsequent investigation looking towards the
apprehensive and conviction of the murderer some may think the reward of $2,500 too small a sum
this newspaper and members of Mrs. Clark's family are able and willing to increase the reward many
folds is such would in any way expedite apprehension of the criminal the amount was arrived at after
consultation with authorities with proven experience advice was given against the adoption
of a larger figure from the outset the family has preferred financial and other aid in the employment
of the outside investigators or anything else of help but repeated conferences with able
representation of the municipal and state authorities and the federal bureau of investigation
as well as Dr. Fred Embaugh a nationally known criminologist we have concluded that the
investigation is in able hands we have intimate knowledge of the tremendous amount of work which
has been done we know what is being done and we know much of what is planned the newspaper has
published all the pertinent facts but it has not seen fit to publish all of the rumors and the
hosted details in the investigation which might well damage reputation of innocent people also
helped to render the work of the authorities it is foul business it is heartbreaking business
but it will be solved the authorities are determined to solve it we have the family and
newspaper known it will be solved it is an extremely baffling and difficult case but much
has been accomplished a solution will not restore our beloved sister and gracious working partner
but is now known but it is now the first and last order of business our heavenly father does not
plan that this crime go unpunished Fred M Staunton publisher in October the Charleston Gazette
posted their own article quote two months ago Juliet Staunton Clark prominent Charleston
socialite and publisher was found murdered in her South Hills residence for several weeks
following police and city officials conducted a relentless investigation in the effort to find her
killer but now the search seems to have ended or if it's being continued there is nothing new to
report there are no new clues no additional persons are being questioned the clamor for the killer
or killers a miss Clark is dying down an aroused community is no longer demanding
that no stone be left unturned and aroused community is no longer demanding that no stone
be left unturned to bringing them to justice oh when the quiet of a thousand living rooms
it may still be the number one topic of discussion when the rest of the day's news has been scanned
but the dreadful truth is the bludgeon slaying is being forgotten yet here was a murder so dreadful
that only two months ago housewives who have been previously neglectful were suddenly bolting their
doors securely before retiring for the night newspaper editorial writers were joining the
public officials civic and church leaders in promising that Charleston's most sensational
killing in 20 years or more must be solved police were moving fast in those hours and working around
the clock persons acquainted with miss Clark or even remotely suspected of being in the area of
the murder the night it occurred were being subjected to long hours of questioning worse
still submitting to lie detector tests conducted by an expert of national recognition a section
of the canal river was dragged several items were examined as possible weapons the house and grounds
were carefully gone over several times in the wake of such a diligent investigation may well
rest the reputation of every person who had been consulted questioned or apprehended at later
release what the future holds for them cannot be settled until the tongue stopped gossiping
or the murder itself is solved the rumor mongers will never be silenced for they thrive on the
like a dashal attitude of the police and their bosses when the newspaper headlines are burned
with the last week's trash they look for new more positive glories to most of them the Clark murder
is as dead as the woman herself the gazette does not believe this should be permitted to happen
in fact we think we are safe in stating that neither does the Daily Mail of which Miss Clark
was a principal owner but we are not handicapped by the proximity of the slang as in our competitor
so we do not have to hesitate to say that justice is not being accomplished here if it is as the
police say there are no new clues and the trail is cold then let us start afresh to do this may
require a brand new set of investigators public or private should they require additional funds
then let us hear so if there is not a sufficient amount in the city's treasury then let us have a
public subscription this is a rich and growing community its citizens for the most part are
honest and respected they should not permit this crime to go unsolved the solution of this murder
is not the only thing at stake there is a safety and integrity of the living to consider too end
quote and you guys may be surprised about this but Mayor Copenhaver has something to say about
this article as well the article title was Mayor Ribbs Gazette over Clark probe quote promising
that the Clark murder investigation will continue until the killer has been brought to the bar of
justice Mayor Copenhaver accused the Charleston Gazette of demagory yesterday in a blistering
answer to the front page editorial in its sunday's edition the mayor charged number one the gazette
editorial was not written in good faith number two it represented another step to unjustly
embarrass the family of Juliette Stoughton Clark the Daily Mail the police department
and the present administration number three the gazette writes itself a letter when something is
too bad for even the gazette to print as its own a quote cowardly was to strike at an adversary
a competitor or a political cowl but that does not delir the gazette end quote number four the gazette
does not believe in law enforcement to the extent indicated by its editorial he went on to defend
the actions of the police and city hall by talking about the hours and dollars that have been put
into the investigation he included the in search of the canal river and bringing in dr imba he
also said that the investigation was far from over on october 27th the gazette had a reply for
mayor Copenhaver quote mayors should leave Clark investigation to the police quit seeking political
gain the mayor of Charleston in an obvious moment of wrath has endeavored to discredit this newspaper
while defending his administration's handling of Juliette Stoughton Clark's murder case the
procedure is an old one with the mayor next week when we write something he likes he will use the
same number of words while praising us but we are not interested in his opinions of the press at this
moment and we suspect that the public which has been extremely patient is not either what everyone
hopes for and has a right to expect is a solution of the most sensational killing in a generation
or more for the city's chief executive to roam all over the lot in trying to protect his political
record and not take definite action is becoming more tiresome by the day to put it frankly the
mayor's chickens have come home to roost when the Clark case broke more than two months ago Mr.
Copenhaver immediately installed himself as the poor man's Mickey Spilling and to the confession
of both the public and the police department he has been hamming up the act ever since now the
murder has gone unsolved and because the gazette mirrors the thinking and alarmed sit-insery is
expressing growing impatience he has seen it fit to question our methods of publishing a newspaper
we are content to leave his decision without readers and we think that the mayor should leave
the business of trying to find the killer or killers of miss clark to the men who have been
trained to do this work if they are no nearer a solution which they have indicated for the past
several weeks then we can see nothing wrong with the proposal that they seek additional help we
join with the mayor in sharing his concern of the cost of the Clark case we repeat that if the city's
finances are endangered because of it then the public's description is in order he needs only
say the word and the gazette will do everything in its power to further such a campaign end quote
on february 9 1954 Juliet's brother posted a new reward on the front of the Charleston Daily Mail
Clark's reward raised to fifteen thousand dollars leading to finding the killer of his sister
the case seemed to die down a little bit that is until october 6 1954 while addressing a fellowship
dinner at the Boyd memorial christian church mayor copenhaver was asked a question about the murder
of Juliet Clark and responded quote the police in city knew the identity of the killer but lacked
the evidence to make a conviction end quote he also said quote unless some new piece of evidence
is turned up there is a little chance that the person guilty of the crime will ever be prosecuted
end quote his words were printed yet again in the Charleston Gazette and he of course fired back
he claimed this time that the publication was not playing fair in printing remarks he described as
casual and not on the record and what's crazy this entire time more than the Charleston Gazette had
his statements in the paper i guess he only wanted to go against him for some reason the hard times
during 1953 to 1954 caused a strain on the marriage of Julia Clark and Arch Alexander
four months after the death of one of her twins and the murder of her mother their son Arch
Alexander died in the hospital in a newspaper article it said quote Arch J Alexander three
year old grandson of late miss Juliet Staunton Clark dies tuesday night in Charleston Memorial
Hospital from complications resulting from burns suffered 15 days ago the child's death follows
less than three months of the murder of miss Clark in her Luden House home he was the only other known
occupant of the house at the time of the murder the murder remains unsolved end quote in August
of 1954 Julia and Arch filed for divorce time went on during the years but through the 1950s the case
would make headlines three different times each time was brought up by a phony confession either
out of wanting to reward money or just out of them thinking that they actually did it when they did
not mayor copen haver and the Charleston police department followed each and every single lead
with each confession but always turned up empty-handed as time went on the investigation
into the murder of Juliet Staunton Clark it was cleared it would never be closed this August will
make 71 years of the unsolved murder of Juliet Staunton Clark the legacy of Juliet has not left
Charleston the Daily Mail is still in operation and her family still has a legacy in Charleston
the Clay Center was built in honor of Buckner and Lyle Clay today the Charleston Daily Mail and the
Charleston Gazette have merged and became the Charleston Gazette Mail the home that Juliet built
and where she was murdered still stands on the heels of Charleston West Virginia
Courtney do you have any final thoughts on this case in all honesty I think it was just
odd that they never released Dr. Emba's report
and I honestly feel that the that they knew the entire time who it was
and I feel because they didn't have the murder weapon but they didn't feel like they had enough
evidence to convict the person and in all honesty I can say shame on them I don't care how much that
they spent on this case or whatever it's just a shame on them Mark do you have any final thoughts
honestly my only final thought is that I believe it was Arch I fully believe it was Arch I fully
believe it was a hammer don't know how he got rid of the hammer or where the hammer is but I fully
believe because he was a prominent member of Charleston and his family was prominent members
that it's kind of just like the other cases he kind of just got away with it and money talks
stay tuned for our next episode where we will be telling you about a murder
that has left people asking more questions than they've been receiving if you find yourself
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on Instagram Facebook and TikTok all at Mountain State Mysteries do you have a case you want us
to cover email us at mountainstatemisteries304.gmail.com for the show notes check out our website
mountainstatemisteriespodcast.com
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