The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-10-13
a STRANGE WARNING TER
KslEsLY FULFILLED.
The Murder OfFrauk Esasnam
of Kansas City.

4
gence was received here this evening
OF the finding, ne Sweet Springs,
| brownsville, of flie body 81 Mr.. Frank
Barnum, proprietor of B2riuui's Hotel,
Kansas City. The deceased had for
several weeks been in bad s.llth, and
on the 18th inst. passed til ongh this
city for the Springs to Teouparate. In
letter received by your corr, sponGent
q few days since he expressed himself
considerably improved in health. His
body was found to-day, with his head
beaten in, his watch, jewelry and mon-
ey stolen, in pond near the Sweet
Spring Hotel. Nothing was found on
his person but bunch of keys. There
is every evidence OF his having been
foully murdered. The deceased was
an old newspaper man, and was form
erly business manager OF the Kansas
City Evening News. There is consid-
cradle excitement ever the tragical
affair.
On the local page OF the Times we
find the following, which relates not
only the details of this most distressing
family bereavement, but also the sim
guiar warning which the murdered
man received, but 10 which lie seems
to have paid no attention. Had lie
been duly impressed by it, and gone
directly to his family, IN ost probably
he would not have been murdered:
The intelligence received here yes
! terday afternoon of the murder at
Sweet Springs, of Mr.. Frank Barnum,
OF Barnum's Hotel of this city, created
intense interest and surprise. Mr..
Barnum has been a resident of this
city Tor many years, was very general
ly known, and had hosts of
WARM AND DEVOTED FRIENDS.
For some time he has been in feeble
| health. In the hope of receiving ben
eht and repairing his wasted strength
he took his departure some weeks
since for the "Sweet Springs'' at
Brownsville in this State. Letters
received from time to time by Mrs.
Barnun gave the information that he
was getting stronger, and felt encour-
aged to believe that he would receive
permanent benefit from his visit to the
Springs. Recently, however. Mrs.
Barnum received from him a letter in
which he said he had of late been
suffering from terrible dreams. He
had dreamed of being
ATTACKED BY TWO MEN,
who struck him savagely upon the
head. He had also suffered much from
sIeeplessness. The letter also detailed
the strange appearance, the phantom
or apparitiOn that had appeared at his
bedside, of young Spanish lady whom
he knew when he lived in South Amer
lea. In one hand she held a cross, in
the other photograph with drops of
blood upon it. She spoke to him in
spanish saying, "Francis, your
LIFE IS IN DANGER!
May God help your She then dropped
the photograph upon the floor and
vanished from sight. He rose from
his bed, attempted to- pick up the
blood sprinkled photograph, when it
disappeared from view. Mr.. Barnum
after narrating the above proceeded to
say in his letter that he did not feel
alarmed at what he had seen. He felt,
ne wrote, no fear of coming danger.
His health was steadily improving and
ne spoke OF coming home at the last of
the week, meaning last Friday or Sat-
urday. Mrs. Barnum, therefore, on
Friday went to Lexington to
MEET HER HUSBAND
and accompany him home. Not meet
ing him there she thought
he might have come by the Missouri
Pacific. She telegraphed while at
Lexington to the proprietor of the
Hotel at brownsville, and received in
reply dispatch stating that Mr.. Bar
mum had started for Kansas City that
morning. Mrs. Barnum returned to
this city and as her husband had not
arrived, she felt anxious concerning
him, and at her request Mr.. Breach, a
bOarder in the hotel. left
on THE FIRST TRAIN
for Brownsville. Yesterday afternoon
Mrs. Barnum received the following
letter, written oy her husband the da1
before, Friday, and it has sadly
proved, the last letter he was ever to
write to her for whom he entertained
such fond and faithful affection.
OFFICE OF BROWNSVILLE HERAID1
BROWNSVILLE, Mo-, Oct. 6, 1864
MY DEAR DARLING WIFE: expect
now to leave here Tomorrow morning,
though all my friends are irving to
make me stay over, and perhaps l may
do so until Monday. l would not do
so but for one reason, which. az T am
so much better will tell you. On the
| night l had those terrible dreams I
had a slight nervous attack like I had
the night was first taken sick, and
since that time until to-day l have
been troubled greatly with my head.
| Today feel a great deal better, and
L think by Monday will be all right
again. would hate to return with
so little or no improvement from what
l was when l left. Don't WORRY about
me. will be all right in day or two.
You viii get this on Saturday morn
ing, ana II am not on the train Sat-
urday don't be the least alarmed, but
look for me certain on Monday. Till
then beliye me your loving FRANK.
| Z. 81 am feeling so much better
to-day and am so anxious to see YOU
that unless l feel quite different in the
morning shall put out. But yet if 1
DON'T you must not worry or think
anything serious has happened it will
only be because think 1t will be bet
ter for me to stay. a good kiss for
you and Emma, and my undying love
for you both. l am, forever, your
loving Franz.
| TERRIBLE TIDINGs.
During yesterday afternoon, in rapid
addressed to Mr.. c. G. Hopkins. M
Barnum's partner in the hetel business.
and to Mrs. Barnum. On recent of
the dreadful news Mrs. Barnum hur-
ried to the depot, but was too late for
the train for Lexington. The follow
ing are the disL atches in the order
received:
First telegram
| BROWNSVILLE. Oct.
c. G: Hopkins, Barnum's Hotel, KAN
sas City.
Mr.. Barnum's body was found in a
pond near Sulphur Springs TODAY,
GIVE instructions what to do,
| w. p. WALTON.
| Second Telegram.)
LEXINGTON, Mo-, Oct. 7th.
Mrs. NJ. Barnum, Barnum's Hotel,
Kansas City.
MIR. Barnum's body was found at
noon to-day in a pond two miles from
Brownsville. Come down the Narrow
Gauge road this evening and made
connection with the Pacific here for
Brownsville. J.H. BAYIIss.
(Third Telegram.)
BROWNSVILLE No., Oct. 9TH.
| PFnnFinfOr ~ Rar1uposS uosoI