New-York tribune., 1879-10-13


Clark took his revolver, and going to the rear
hall entrance, found it open. and some one
pushing the door from without. Giving due
warning and receiving no reply, Mr.. CLARK
fired twice. He found that he had shot and
killed his uncle Joseph ID. Barker.
49,
DETAILS OF THE SHOOTING.
Joseph ID. Barker, a highly respected resident OF
New-Rochelle. age seventy-hye years, came 10 "
shocking death about a. IN. yesterday under pc
culiar and painful circumstances. lie was shot 10y
his nephew, who mstook him for burglar Mr.
Barker was a brother of james W. Barker who was
the Know-NOthiDg" candidate in opposition to
Fernando Wood when he ran for Mayor OF this city,
some twenty twenty-three years ago. Another
brother Is Stephen II. Barker. of Iuckahoe, where
he has a rGbber factory under tho firm name OF
Hodgnan 81 Co., he also carries on an extensive
wholesale and retail dry-goods business at Louis
vile, Ky. Joseph D. Barker was formerly engaged
in business in this city, where h. conducted store
in Chatham-st. known tho Big Boot" For
some time he has lived in retirement with rcla-
tives.
Benjamin s. Clark, Mr. BarkcTs nephew, law
yer Of This city, and his wife recently purchased
cozy dwelling-house at Main and Hugnenot-sts..
short distance south of the Presbyterian ChuTch, at
New-Rochelle, and with them Mr. Barker lived, and
also his sister, Sarah Clark, and one or two other
near relatives. Among thom all the most aifec-
tiOnate relations existed. Mr.. and Mrs. Clark slept
In a front room on the first stony. About o'clock
yesterday morning Mr.. Clark was aroused by his
wife, who had heard some noise which led her to
suppose that burglars were trying to effect an en-
trance iuto the house. Mr. Clark Immediately
sprang from his bed. armed himself with revolver
and cautiously went IN the direction from whence
the noise came. After examining the dInng-room
windows and the stars running to the basement
without making any discovery he went TO an ell
trance leading to the rear piazza and found that the
inside door, which Is haif glass and opens
into the rear hail, was partly open and that
the outer door was unfastened. 1t appeared to
move as if some on the outside were trying to
open or close it tightly. Mr.. CLARK took hold of this
door and called out to the supposed robbers;
"Whos theref Speak or | shall fire."
He then pressed against the outer door to open IL,
but his efforts were resisted by some one outside.
Mr.. Clark again called out!
speak or shall fire."
Again he received no response The door was not
fully closed at the time, and by pressing against 1t
Mr.. Clark succeeded in thrusting the muzzle of the
revolver into the aperture. Seeing no object out
side he fired twice, with view of frightening
away the supposed burglars. The charge of the
pistol each time scorched the side of the door. ln-
mediatey after the last shot the pressure against
the door outside ceased, and Mr. Clarks pressure
against II from the inside caused 1t to open. Ihen
Mr. Barker entered the rear hall, attired only In
aannel shirt. Mr. Clark, on recognizing him. ex-
caimodi
My God, unclc, Is that you' What are you
doing here / might have hurt or shot you"
Mr. Barker placed his hand on his nephew's shoul-
''a benny n',,S think you have shot me-"
He then fell forward with his hand. upon the
stairs. Mr.. Clark. on attempting TO INT MIN. dis
that had shot
from his LETT arm. DIR. Well was immediate sent
for, but when he arrived Mr. Barker was dead.
THE CoRoNER's INQUTsr.
Coroner Nordquist of fuckahoe. being sent for,
began to investigate the circumstances. He en-
panelled a jury composed of Gideon w. Daven-
port, foreman George B. A. Herman John Harmer,
Amos f. Corwn Aaron Dederer and Henry Thomp
son.
Mr.. Clark told the following story: 81 am. n
nephew Of the deceased man. | sound asleep
last night and do not know az what time It
when my wife awOke me- saving there were thieves
at the dnng-room door. | sezed my loaded re-
volver The hall lamp being lighted, started for
the place from which the sounds came and went TO
the door of the back hall leading to the piazza
where heard the noise. | saw that the door was
shaking rs though some one was trying To open or
shut il from without IsIid. IS held NY pistol IN my
hand: Who goes thercf an going 10 fire. took two
stems forward, unlocked my pistol aud cock n.
think the inside glass door was open. tried tO
push the outside door OPEN II yielded enough Tor
To put the mu1zic of NV Dstoi INTO the crack OF
the door. | then said: Fair warniug-quick-wh
goes there am gong 20 SLoot.'
"This remark repeated three times altogether,
and there was no answer to II. hUt there was stu
a pressure against the outside dee saw 'o:hgg.
then fired twice. Ait"r irng the second tlme iAy
weight against the outside OOr iorceu II open tnd M
stepped my uncle, M. Barker / said t0 him Ny
God, uncle, what are You dong here! mlcnt have
hurt You lie passed me one step ana sah 30 M,
i a.. Hy.f
hand Oh the STAR railing and slowly lowered hlln-
self his knees on the iloOr, ~ the foot ol the
stairs. sad to him 'Oh! no, ulcic, might have
killed you, but ! have not hart aoI. loU are
scared / passed my arm under him IN raise HIN
up. aud in so dong | felt something warm on II.
and saw blood on nv sleeve. then called 10 my
wife, have shot uucle.' scnt iol nep to several
of my neg glbor~ who came in. Or. els was a.sO
sent tor Ny wife heard mt give the warning three
times"
In reply to a question Of the foreman of the jury
as TO whether h- saw any one h"n he iiIed Nh.
Clark saId: " dad not see an, D0ul when nIcu,
but fted 90 warn ana scare tli' lulIlucf, as l
Thought. Il uad never 1een The habit Of my uncle
to g out al night alone III that way; he never did
50 before He bad Oh f'npel ,hirt, nothing else.
lie was ventv-nve Y ars old"
Mis- Clark corroDolaics tie evidence given by
her husband IN every respect. Nh. sarah clark,
sister OF :nc dead man, testified iha MI Barker had
lived ia the iamilg Tor thirteen years, during winch
period ihe most friendly attachment had existed
between her son, Mr. Clark. and her brother.
stephen j. barker, nephew, Miss Il. u. Barker
ami VI 81 \. I. Barker also testlcd TO The friendly
ing winch existed between Mr. Barker and bis
nephrw. The jury. aitera brief consultation. gave
| a verdict fully cxoucraung Dir Clark from any in
tentIon 20 take tnc life O s uncle OF to nJure biln
IL bad been the ma ut Oi Nj. Barker, whenever he
went out OF tno holse IN Che night To call Mr..
Clark to accompany him but 1t Is believed that
tins occasion ho wished to spare his nephew the
trouble. hc ent by himself IN his nightclothcs.
1t was evident that he had gone no further than
the piazza. Mr. Barker had often said to his
nephew; If any burglars come around this house.
be sure aud shoot them"
AJUDGE MURDERED IN WISCONSIN.