The Cecil Whig., 1885-06-06
TRAGEDY AT WOODLAWN.
Charles Barnes Kills His Brother-in-L Law
and Son and Shoots Another Son.

Charles Barnes Kills His Brother -in-L Law
and Son and Shoots Another Son.
We this week have to chronicle one of
the most terrible homicides that ever oc-
Cured in Cecil county. While on
drunken debauch that had lasted for
weeks, Charles p. Barnes, living near
Battle Swamp Tavern and close to the
village of Woodlawn, in the Seventh dis
trict of this county, shot and instantly
killed his brother in law, Thomas Brown,
and his 15-year-o old son, ]. Arthur Barnes,
and wounded his younger son Earnest.
The shooting occurred about 6 o'clock
last Saturday morning. Barnes is about
40 years of age, and for years he has been
dissipated. He belongs to very respect
able family, and married - years ago
Miss Jennie Toulson, one Of the most es-
teemed young women of the county. He
have prospered but for his passion for
drink. Some months ago he began drink
ing heavily. His wife threatened to take
their five little children and leave him,
when he promised to reform. In short
time he went back to his old ways and
frequently drove his family from the
house. Finally, driven to desperation,
his wife decided, after he had beaten her,
to separate from him permanently, and,
placing some of the children in the care
of relatives, went to Wilmington. Del.
MANNER OF THE TRIPLE CRIME.
Barnes had eaten his breakfast on Sat-
urday morning and was standing in front
of his home on the Port Deposit road
with double barreled breech- loading
shotgun laying upon the rail of the fence
inside the yard when wagon approach
ed bearing his brother-in-law, Thomas
Brown, and James Toulson, his fatherin-
law. As it approached the spot where
he was standing, Barnes stepped toward
it with gun in band and said to Brown,
''Tom, I'm going to shoot you." Brown
replied, "Charley, give me chance" !"
and as he spoke stepped from the wagon
to the road. He faced Barnes, and said
"Oh, Charley, you will never shoot any
body" and as he (Brown) spoke, Barnes
stepped back two PAGES, put the gun to
his shoulder and fired. The load struck
| Brown in the breast just above the heart,
cutting clear through him. He fell to
| the ground dead
Barnes then started towards the house,
and Mr.. Toulson, the father-in-law of
both of them, left the wagon standing in
the road, and calling Barnes's two boys,
Arthur and Earnest, to follow him, hur-
ried in the direction of Abrahms's store,
two hundred yards away. Barnes, how
ever, stopped the boys and drove them
before him into the house, and as they
entered he gave Arthur, the oldest, a
shove, which-apparently by the sur
soundings, afterwards eXamined-forced
him back against the stove, and while in
this position his inhuman father shot
him, the load stricking him just above
the nose. tearing the whole top of his
head off and scattering his brains all over
the room.
Earnest, the younger, seeing what his
father had done and fearing for his own
life, asked, Papa, you are not gong to
shoot me ?" and at the same time seeing
his father making preparations to do so,
ran through the kitchen door, Just as
he did so, and while the door was only
partly open, Barnes fired at him. but his
aim was not good, (the load entering the
woodwork of the door) only few grains
of shot striking the boy on the head,
making triliing wounds. Barnes then
cody went up stairs and laid down upon
bed, previously, no doubt, drinking
from demiJohn which was found by the
side of his bed.
Meanwhile, on the outside Mr.. Joseph
Toulinson and farm hand named Kelly,
who were near by, took up the body of
the murdered man Brown, placed it in a
wagon and drove to the residence of DR..
Brown, but the doctor not being at homo
they conveyed it to his late home, and
strange feature of the case was, they car
ried 1t into the house and laid it upon the
floor before letting his wife, who was in
the second story, know anything about
the homicide.
The boy Earnest, after escaping from
his blood thirsty father, ran up the road,
met Cornelius S. Abrams, the postmas-
ter, and cried, "Save me, save me; papa
has shot Arthur and killed him.
When the affair became known people
collected from all directions, and threats
were made of lynching the murderer.
Word was sent to Sheriff VIM. J. Smith,