New-York tribune., 1880-04-08
d MOTHER 1ESnfIES AG.IINSr Hne SON

HOW THOMAS BANKER NET MS DEATH On Ill,
NEIGmBOl's sGEPs--wuAr MRS. O'DUNNELL SAW
HER sos DO.
| The investigation by Coroner Herman Of tLc
death Of Thomas Barker. age sixty. whose body was
| found Sunday morning with the skull fractured:on
the steps of the dwelling occupied by Rlrhard B.
| VDonncll, at No. 923 rhird-avc, was continued
morning. in which the prisoner OD0nnrll,
became contradictory in his statements
compared with those Inade Sunday. that the
coroner committed him to the Ionb~ without bail.
| Thomas Mcmahon and Nirllacl SirI1 W-rc held ~
witnesses Through the exertions Of Captain Rob-
bins. of the Twenty-third Precinct. the following
Mrs Margaret e. ODonnrll, mother Of the pris.
oner testified that NJ | p. III. Saturday, on entering
the house she saw strange dog there. The servant
stated to her that the prisoner had brought hc dog
home. Mr.. Barker arrived at thu house M p. M
and took away the dog, saying that the animal had
been taken from hm "in joke" An hOnr
later her returned with the dog and told The
want not to give It 10 anyone He then lett tine
house, but returned between ! and - o'ci"ck aud
went to bed. About twenty minute Later ~. Bai-
krr went 10 the door anh began 10 ring Inc hci IL
tnuously. The servant went down and asking y hai
lie wanted rereIIcd the reply, want my 'rg. HAT
Is what want sac tOld him 90 wait l.nih iurill-
ing but hc continued to ring the hell. Mrs. OD,n-
nell then Went to iie unOT. ana beng unnbr ~ III
duce Nr. Barker to 60 away, went tn !ind the dog.
II met Richard my son. coming ont of lus
ringing the bell | told him To 20 back. but ne
pushed me aside and went d0wn H." opened :nc door
and sad. BaTkcI, 80 home. | duu't want 10 huit
yOn for you old man, hut If you were q Young
man wound strike you' Barker replied come aud
try me- could moi see MIR. Darker. think saw
my son make "A motion OF ms hand as if 10 push Mr.
Barker. Richard then slammed HE door and went
to he'd. | asked, Has he gone = Yea; ne
has gone WAS tho reply. did not sc. my Son
again until morning whc he went ont but cnume
back and sald Oh, my God, Barker is dead imnst
say that was OUT He told me TO say that was
our. but | SAID, 'Y0u killed him and / will not >
and told him to go TO the station house and tell ali
about it.n
Margaret Cannon, who lives with Mrs. ODonncll,
cOrrOb0rated this statement.
Dr. JAMES Neil, of MadIsOn-avc and One-hun-
physician III Harlem for nearly twenty years, said
to Tribune reporter that he had cx-
amincd the wound and did not believe that IL could
have been made by fall. but must have brcn tprO-
duced by blow. He added: 4 was returning from
visiting patient at 1910 p. III. Saturday, and was
III front of ODOnnells house whenI heard loud and
angry words passing between two the steps. |
One said must have it, and the oner replied as
as could make out - If you SHALL This |
was repeated after which heard heavy step. tho
sound OF blow striking some one. and then heavy
fall Simultaneous with this the talking ceased and
the door was violently closed. / waited over five |
minutes, thinking that | should hear q groan or |
some sound, and looked carefully over tho high |
fence, but neither nor heard anything"
Several men of Harlem spoke highly of tho quiet |
and peaceable character Of mr. Barker. He had |
many friends in the neighborhood. His widow has |
been an invalid for long time. aud his devotion |
and care Of her have been subject of remark. The
her for fear of the consequences. The funeral of |
Barker was held yesterday morning at the Church |
of tho Diciples of Christ, i'll Twenty y-eighth-st The
burial tohk place III Cypress Hill Cemetery.