The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-05-09
killed hy ElectricitY.

When nothing else will "fetch"
"bum" or "vag," electricity will do
the business nicely. We cut from the
Pueblo, Colorado, Daily Press an account
Of the death Of "Barney, the Bum" for
merly OF Cincinnati, Ohio, in that city.
Barney's running mate, known as "rom-
my, the Burro," was in Denver at work
while the fire in Pueblo was going on,
or no doubt he and Barney would have
crossed the line together.
During the fire in "real estate row."
corner OF G street and Union avenue on
Sunday morning, James Carney, an old
and somewhat notorious character in
Pueblo, was instantly killed under the
following peculiar circumstances 1t
seems that the electric wire running
from the pole to the alley just back OF
the burning buildings to the brick block
on Union avenue became broken and
grounded in pool of water possibly two
inches deep. OF course this water at
once became powerfully charged with
electricity, thin flame of blue fire
eminating from the end of the wire.
Carney was seen to attempt to enter the
back yard from the alley, and not know
ing the deadly nature of the electrified
water, stepped into the pool. He sud-
denly threw up his hands, fell forward
on his face and was not seen to move
again. Several persons who witnessed
the affair at once rushed forward to drag
the body out, but Officer johnson stood
forward and held them back, shouting
that it was sure death to approach the
water. hook was brought forward by
some OF the fremen and fastening it to
the PROSTATE mans clothes he was
dragged into the alley, when he was
found to be dead. There were no marks
on the body except where he is sup.
posed to have caught the wire in falling,
which was a severe cut and burn under
the right arm and well up on the muscle
and it is evident that death was instan-
taneous and painless.
The deceased was an old residenter of
Pueblo, having lived there great many
years. He was known to nearly every.
one as quiet, listless, Indifferent sort of
a man, seldom working and very fond of
liquor, yet perfectly honest. He was q
man of superior attainments, having, a
Press reporter learned, been educated
for Catholic priest. He was about 40
years of age and native OF Cincinnati,
Ohio, where his people are said to be
well connected and quite wealthy.
About four years ago the deceased,
while cleaning out DR.. Dorbin's drug
store, mistook some poison for whisky
and drank it. The dose was so large
that he escaped death after laying in
great misery several days. 1t was gen.
orally considered that neither poison nor
whisky could kill "Barney, the Bum,"
as he was famililary known. About
three years ago he had running part
ner called Tommy, the Burro," who is
now in Denver and at work. The de-
ceased has a sister in Central City in
this State.
The body lay at the morgue yesterday
and was viewed by quite a crowd OF
curious people. The features were
natural and no discolorations were to be
seen on the body, showing that his
death was sudden and painless.
During the fire several others nearly
became victims OF that deadly pool OF
water. Alderman George West was
stopped as he was in the act of crossing
it. Henry D. Morris had got so close
that he was charged by the electric cur.
rent, and felt himself falling forward
when he was seized and taken out by
Officer Johnson. Cheif Krague and AS
sistant Chef Kramer and other firemen
were more or less shocked before the
circuit was shut off and the death-dealing
wire removed