Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-03
THE BARNETT MYSTERY.
The Injured Woman Insists That Her
Son Did Not Shoot Her.

The shooting Of Mrs. Julia Barnett yesterday
is still q mystery, although Detectives Horne
and Mahon, who have been investigating the
case, say they are satisfied that the shooting
was done by Mrs. Barnett's son, whose mind
has been impaired for long time.
The son, Cornelius. whose arrest was pub
lished in yesterdays STAR, 10 still held at the
sixth precinct station. The officers have not
been able to get any intelligent statement from
him. The detectives mentioned visited him
this morning. They found him seated in . cell
with his clothing loosened and about ready 10
fall from his person. When told TO arrange his
CLONES his response was;
II am waiting till my mother comes"
=. When the question Of the shooting was men,
tloned he would hang his head down and
SIMPLY refuse 10 say anything. The prisoner
oispiayed some uneasiness when being ques-
uoned by the detectives. but was satisfied when
their badges were displayed and conversed
cell with him.
Tell me about the pistol" said the officer in
conndentlal way, but the only response made
why, you are worse than am"
INQUIRISa IN THE SEIaHBoRHoop.
The detectives visited the neighborhood Of
Mrs. Barnetts home on New Jersey avenue be-
tween II and streets. They found one of the
neighbors who saw the parties after the shoot
ing occurred
He said that the injured woman. her son and
colored man came out of the house together
and the son made use Of the remark Il done
1t. In conducting the investigation the
detectives learned that about a week or 30 ago
the son attacked his mother and beat
her badly. He also smashed the furniture and
broke several panes Of glass out of the win
dows, so they were informed
The detectives visited the injured woman in
Providence Hospital and found her doing very
well under the circumstances.
MRS. BARNETT REPEATS HER STATEMENT.
To the officers the woman repeated the story
that she had been shot by James Harrison, the
colored servant
"My boy was in bed upstairs" she said.
when Harrison came in the kitchen where l
was. He said, Money or your life and put the
pistol against me and fired" She said that her
screams attracted her son from upstairs.
did the colored man know you had any
money! one of the officers asked her.
No sir, was her reply.
Then why should he make use Of such a re-
Il don't know"
HIS SANITY QUESTIONED.
Six months ago Mrs. Barnett took steps TO
have her son sent to some institution. She
"a os "ohsco him semi 10 Oh Agnes HOSPITAL IL
Baltimore. but it was too expensive for her
and then she agreed to have him sent to st.
Elizabeth.
DIR. Hickling, who examined him. made a re.
port to the effect that Cornelius was a harmless
lmbecile, and the hitch came when the doctor
was to sign the affidavit. Among other declara-
tons In the affidavit which the physician has to
sign in such cases is one setting forth that the
doctor considers that the person examined ID
dangerous
The doctor took exceptions to the danger
clause. The matter, however, might have been
arranged without much difficulty, but Mrs.
Barnett concluded that if a public hearing had
TO be held she would continue to care for her
son ana Tor that reason he was not sent to the
asylum.
THE ACCUSED coIoRED MAN.
Jas Harrison, the colored man whom Mrs.
Barnett charges with the shooting, is described
as being twenty-one years old. feet IL inches
tall and nearly white The officers think tina,
ne has become frightened and is keeping on,
OF their way.