Evening journal., 1889-05-27
PAYS S1OO, 900 FOR SINS
The Dual Life of the Late De-
mas Barnes.
FROM POVERTY TO AFFLUENCE.

Friends Of this Beautiful Cora Belle Knapp
believe That Her Story Of Marriage
with the millionaire Is True-whers
They Met.
NEW York, May 27.-Though the beauti-
ful and bewitching Cora Belle Knapp, who
wants $3.50, ,0JO Of the late Demas Barnes ea-
tate in Brooklyn, is in hiding from the i'm
quisi tive reporters, the latter have not been
idle. One of their number, amid a sulphur
Gus atmosphere rendered stftry by emphatic
repudiations secured an interview with Cen
John n. Knapp, Of Auburn, the distinguished
chairman Of the state executive committee,
and prints it In The Brooklyn Eagle
The young lady is vehemently denied as
being niece Of the doughty Cayuga county's
lieutenant of Roscoe Conkling by no less
parsonage than the general himself How
ever, she is well known to the people OF
Auburn.
Positive Information.
William Pangburn, a wealthy resident Of
Clyde, has a distinct recollection Of Miss
Knapp. He says her postotice is Clyde, in
Wayne county, and that she is the daughter
Of the late Sylvester Knapp. Her mother is
also dead.
Mr.. Pangburn Is In possession of informa-
tion which leads him to firmly believe that
Cora was married b. Barnes
He represented himself to her as a single
man. Their meeting Is believed to have 90
eurred at Lake George, where Cora was en-
ployed as a domestic In one of the large
hotels She was then a surprisingly beauti-
full woman, and must be now 80 or 81 years
Of age though not apparently over % or "a.
She is pleasant voiced, vivaciouS and has a
superb figure, which, through her daily
tasks, is very muscular.
They believe He Married Her.
Barnes had handsome cottage at Lake
George, and his wife was with him there
when he was paying attentions TO Miss
Knapp, and, learning OF his liason, indig-
nantly left A year and half before his
death Mrs Barnes refused to live with him,
and they only appeared together to prevent
their family skeleton stalking about in the
open day.
His friends yield that he maintained Miss
Knapp In handsome apartments up town in
this city, and win not be surprised II at the
proper time she produces marriage certii-
cate
Ii is said that Miss Knapp approached Mrs.
Barnes ON the subject of a settlement, which
was advised by deceased's friends, but all
overtures were dhcountennnced by that lady.
A Four Headed Defense.
The defense will be under four heads, and
hold; First, Barnes held unlawful relations
with the plaintiff; second, plaintiff held un-
lawful relations with other men; third,
plaintiff knew that Mr.. Barnes was married,
having been installed in both his homes dur
ing the absence Of his family in Europe, and
that plaintiff had even gone through the
effects OF the latter and taken what caught
her fancy; and fourth, Barnes is not the
father Of plaintiffs child, and that all obli-
cations ceased with the death of Barnes, tho
relations between them being business ar
rangement
Made His Money from Patent Medicines.
Barnes hailed FROM Palmyra, n Y, and
drifted to New York poor boy. He made
his money out Of patent medicines, his most
thoroughly advertised being his Plantation
Bltters. His daughter Cora, by his first wife,
owns Castoria, and cleared $3.50, 900 by 1t last
year
His first wife answered his advertisements
for a wife She was the daughter OF Judge
Dewey, Of Rochester, romantic and impress
sionabe. One daughter, Cora, was the re-
suit of their union The second Mrs Barnes,
the defendant Of the sensational suit now
pending, Is a St Louis girl, two years
younger than Miss Knapp. She is beautiful,
accomplished and ambitious socially. There
is daughter from this second marriage
Mrs. Barnes is rich in her own right, having
inherited $500, 900 worth OF st. Louis prop
erty.
Lifelong Duality.
The deceased at all times led a dual exist
ence. He was as clay in the hands of the
fair sex, and was continually in hot water.
His weakness IN this respect was the paradox
Of his personal nature.
First his boarding house mistress sued him
for breach Of promise and obtained judg-
ment The gang who fought his political as
pirations ia Brooklyn found their readiest
weapon m a womans wiles, who successfully
hlackmailed Barnes Again charming ad-
ventures was found by coRfederates closeted
with Barnes at the United States hotel in
this city, and it cost the latter 81, 900 TO hush
the matter.
| Pays R1OO, 600 for Social Sins.
Next he had a liason with Nellie McHenry,
one Of his pretty pillmakers, and the strenu-
Gus efforts Of the firm were required TO avert
heavy suit for damages
He was also infatuated by young woman
named Josie Williamson, and had her and
her mother installed In handsome brown
stone house on Keep street, Brooklyn. He
sent her abroad, and 1t is reported that she
there met a man she liked better than Barnes
She did not return to the latter. At one
time he settled a suit for social SHINING for
S3O, 600 and paid it hurriedly that it might
not reach the ears Of his affianced-the sec
ond Mrs. Barnes. He is known TO have
spent over $lOe, 600 in cash settling varioss
suits brought against him by women.
He Was an Editor.
He teemed with ambition, impudence and
daring, and much of his money was made in
speculations He was for a time proprietor
Of The Brooklyn Argus, and many ludicrous
incidents are told of his conduct Of that
sheet Il was his vandalism in advertising
his bitters which led TO the passage of the
law forbidding the DETACHMENT Of natural
scenery with advertise nents