New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-30

location TO cause Senior Barca the slightest
ANXIETY. He had no doubt but that he was insane
at the time OF his suicide, his reason having been
affected bv thinking how lonely he would md his
work here when his wife left him to 40 to Spain;
Senior Barca was devOtedy attached to bis wife and
regarded her departure as great misfortune
STATEMENT OF THE CONSUL-GENERAL.
REQUESTS LIFT BY THE DEAD snNIsTER-BURIAL
IN THE GROUND AND REQUIEM MASS.
Miguel Snarez Spanish Consul General. conversed
for some time with TRIBUNE reporter yesterday
afternoon in regard to Senior Barca, in the Abe
marie Hotel. 81 have known him only about two
months" said Senior Suarez, as | have only been
the Consu-General here for about that time, and
was formerly ir Central America Senior Barca has
been about twenty mine months in this country and
has been in tho city ten days. / have seen him
occasionally during the time, his last visit to my
office being at about noon yesterday, He has not
seemed despondenta as tar as could tell, though he
was serious in demeanor often. AS for
suicide, he never said word of it
to me nor to any one as far as I know.
He had considerable trouble in selling his team and
carriage which he brought here from Washington.
Dealers offered him only 1900 for the horses, which
he said were worth $1,000. He bought a pistol
yesterday afternoon. having never carried one be-
fore. lie sar up with his private secretary until
o'clock, writing letters and ordered coffee at 1890
a. m. After his secretary went away he shot
himself
When did you hear of the affairr
AT about M; and l came down to the hotel
and found him dead. l went away 10 send some
kilograms and cable messages and came back at
noon, having sent word to Mrs. Barca who with an
unmarried daughter is staying with Jose Navarro
at SeabrIght. N. j."
"Wbat Is your theory of the motive for sucider
\ do
opinion. HIS domestic relations were entirely
happy. lie loved his family, and there nothing
between them but love. In the letter he wrote to
Inc he recommended them particularly to nv care
and wished me TO aid them in starting for Europe.
Mrs. Barca IS expecting to become a mother soon,
and wished to he with her mother at Madrid. They
we're TO sail by the French Line August l. He also
requested that there be fuEera ceremonies except
a requiem mass, and that bis body be buried in the
ground. He instructed me to pay his coachman and
several little debts. lie stated a cause for his act IN
the letter. but will not tell 1t at present"
His political fortunes being good and his do
nestle life happy, it would appear to be financial
trouble ~ suggested the reporter.
4" You bad better not state it so, for it is only
guessing, and you want facts
What other letters did he leavei"
There was for his wife. one for the hotel
DtBglng paIuOn loT III
the hotel one fer the Secretary of State in Spain.
one for his married daughter in France. for
Jose Navarro and letters for several friends in
Span-abOut twelve in all. will keep them locked
up until Mrs. Barca arrives"
"W hat do you know of his historyp
+" he was bern IN Porto Real, Spain, and was at
bis death fifty-two years old. lie came of good
family. and a successful lawyer and politician.
For two years nc held important office under the
Secretary of the Interior. HIS wife Is also of a
good Spanish family. His married daughter. lsa-
bella; is the wife of Daniel CLAIR de Lasalle. and
lives in France. | think this was his first diplo-
maize service. H. was mucn liked by the various
Ministers at Washing on aud was very social, CIV
ing dinners. parties and other entertainment more
often than he could afford. He was thinking sumo
al going to Newport but decided not to- as it was 50
difficult Tor bln 10 speak English. He had few
quainiances IA tins oIty his most intimate one being
Jose Navarro. HIS private secretary, Manuel ).
Suarz was almost always with him, partly be-
cause OF his slight acquaintance with the eity
streets and also to act interpreter. senior Barea
had eydrntl decided sOmr days ago 10 end his liie
His death viii cause sensation III Spain as well
as among diplomatic circles IN this country"
A SHOCK TO WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
CONJECTURE RESPECTING THE MOTIVE FOR SUICIDE
Br TELEGRAPH To THE raIBUSgI
WASHINGTON. July 29.-With the exception of
President Garield's ASSASSINATION no event has hap
pfned III the last three years winch mas Il
greater shock to Washington society than the sui
eide OF the spanish Minister. Senior Barca, with his
accomplished wife aud BEAUTIFUL young daughter,
came 10 Washington In May, 1881. They at once
became great fayoutes in society. and since that
time no social incident has seemed perfect without
their presence. The Minister was man IN the
prime of life aud possessed Of large means.
The strong social instincts of his wife and
daughter led TO the giving of frequent
expensive and magnificent entert Iinments at his
residence.
Several months ago. after Washington became
dull, the Minister'S wife and daughter grew much
discunented and expressed strong desire to return
to Europe The Minister. it seems. was at the time,
and has been down to the present time, engaged i'll
important official duties in Washington. Neverthe-
less he applied TO his Government for leave OF abb
sence. His application was disapproved, and con-
Siderable correspondence the subject took place.
The Spanish Government however. renamed firm,
and insisted that he must remain in the United
States until the matters in which he engaged
should be concluded. Ills wife. it Is said. insisted
quite rs strongly upon carrying out
her purpose TO visit their only other child
a married daughter. who lives in France. 1t Is re-
ported that several rather stormy domestic scenes
were the result. SenJr Barca was man OF excit-
able temperament. One who has had opportunities
to sce hun daily in the last two years sand to- night
that if any thing went wrong with the Minister he
would flush up with anger aud appear ready to de-
stroy himself or somebody else. He was neverthe-
less a man Of the most generous impulses. aud his
passion subsidized almost rs quickly as 1t became
aroused. One who knew Madame Barca WELL said
that her temperament strongly resembles that OF
her husband.
The Minister felt deeply disappointed when he
..wl.e. sfufaI
turning to Europe after a residence here of only
n little more than two years. and when he could not
accompany them. THIS seemed 10 prey upon his
mind and il IL said shat after thew had packed up
and lett Washington, some two weeks ago, ne
sno wed great depression of spirits They were to
sall from New York next Wednesday, and on Thurs