Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-09-12
DIED LIKE BILL SKIES.
A YOUNG MANS rArAL nxpaRIMsSr.
j. N. harry Lcses His Lille While Trying
TO prove How Dickens Famous
Character was hanged.


An inquiry into the circumstances
attending the death by hanging of j. II.
Barry, twenty four yeass of age, living at
Roxborough, Philadelphia, was made by
Coroner Powers Thursday morning. The
investigation brought to life remarkable
train of circumstances leading TO young
Barry death, emanating from discussion
upon the death Of Bill Skies, the murderer,
80 vividly delineated in Charles Dickeus'
"Oliyer Twist" The story was told by
Barry's father in the morning ut the
inquest. Tho young man was compIe'
hensive reader. He was in aftuent cir
oumstances, having been left comfortable
income by a deceased grandfather. he
proposed taking up the study of medicine
this winter. The only drawback to his
complete happiness was the fact OF his
being slightly crippled in one leg. or an
amiable disposition, he drew around him
many warm friends.
The circumstances that led to his tragic
death came about in this wise: On Tuesday
evening last, in conversation with Miss A.
z. Hahn, q member of the household,
young Barry spoke of Dickens novel OF
| ''Olyer Twist and recalled the death OF
| Bill Skies, which he explained frop' at
| engraving depicting the murderer's tate
| He read from the passage IN 'Olivel
1 Twist" where Skies, driven by the mad
| dened mob crying for vengeance, seeks n
| q last resort to escape from the old hous'
| overhanging the Thames by lowering him
self from the roof to the water by q rop'
fastened around a chimney. The murdere
stands upon the edge of the roof anC
| rapidly makes G running moose at the end
of the rope. He holds his knife ready tC
cut the rope when ho has lowered himsel
to its fullest extent. At the very instsn
he brings the loop over his bead, previou
to slipping it beneath his armpits, he look
behind. With q cry of terror he cries
"The eyes again y staggers as if strucI
by lightning, loses his balance and tumble
over the parapet. The moose is at hi
neck, Swift as an arrow runs the rope
The man falls for live and thirty feet
Then there is a sudden jerk, terrific con
vulsion OF the limbs and there, swayin
with the open knife clenched 10 his s.itfer
ing hand, the murderer hangs.
81 do not believe the incident COul
occur in that manner in reality it is nc
practicable, said young Barry's a6sorbe
listener.
II am satisfied that it could happen,
he replied in defense Of his fayorite autho
II will demonstrate to you soms time hor
it can be DONE"
''ShoTtly after the discussion tue friend
parted, young Barry retired to his room
He was found next morning by his father
hanging by rope thrown over his doc
dead.
The hypothesis of the manner of h
death was explained by his fathe
: Imbued with the idea that Dickens inc
dent of Skies death was perfectly pract
cal he determined TO construct an arrapg
ment by means OF which he coul
> convince his skeptcial young lady frien,
Getting pliablo Mexican rope he fasteD(
T one end to the outer door knob, an
, making n noose in the other end. threw
over the top of the door. He had evident
d calculated that the height at which Il
moose hung would enable him to touS
the floor with his toes. HIS death sho '
n that he Ind unfortunately not taken in
II account his infirmity. Climbing upon {
:, door, he evidently placed one foot up,
the inner door knob for support, threw {
. moose loosely over his head and tin
y jumped TO the floor. The moose tightene
s the crippled limb refused to touch t
!. floor and young Barry demonstrated fata
the practicsbility of Bill Skies deaf
The coroner's jury returned verdict
o accidental death.