The morning call., 1891-01-10
WEARY OF LIVING.
John j. Barnett Kills His Mis-.
tress by Request.
The Shooter Then Turns the Weapon on Him
self-Wounded in the Stomach, He Is
Not Expected to Survive

The second murder Of the year 1891, ac-
companied by attempted suicide, was re-
corded last night. John Joseph Barnett
shot and killed woman known as
''Mignon." but whose proper name is Mar
guerite Castrine.
The tragedy occurred in Room of the
lodging-bouse at Mason street just before
10 o'clock aud as soon as the shooting oc-
CURED Officers Flynn, Campbell and Glea-
son rushed up to the room and found the
man standing ND in a nude state and the
woman lying face downward On the floor.
The police patrol-wagon was quickly sum-
moned, and Barnett was conveyed to the
lower Receiving HOSPITAL, where 1t was
found that he had shot himself just to the
left of the navel, and the wound was at once
pronounced mortal by the surgeons in at
tendance.
RELIEVED BY DEATH.
In a few moments the woman was con-
veyed 10 the Receiving Hospital in a car
riage. She was tenderly lifted in and
placed on the operating-table where she
died within one minute. The unfortunate
is not known to have spoken word after
the fatal shot was fired.
Barnett bore the empty title of "Maior."
and had until the last three days been a
guard at the House Of Correction. Henry
Smit h, the proprietor of the house, said that
he did not know either Of the parties They
applied for room about s O'Clock, and one
was assigned them by his son.
About 10 o'clock he heard couple of
shots and rushed up to the room that was
occupied by the couple. The door was
open, and Barnett, standing over the form
OF his PROSTATE victim, said: 81 have shot
that woman and / have shot myself. There
is the pistol on the waShstand"
HE SAID NO MORE THEN.
That was all he would say at the time.
The woman was gasping ana unconscious.
She was wrapped in bed-olothing before
she could be removed from the room to be
conveyed to the hospital. The shot had
taken effect in her left breast, and had evil
IDENTIFY struck vital srOt, as she ceased to
breathe within twsnty minutes after the
shot was fired.
Barnett is "a years of age and q native OF
Ireland. Those who have known him speak
well OF him as man and express surprise
that he should commit such a deed He
was once prominent citizen of Vallejo,
where he lived many years ana exercised
some influence in politics. He was for
years close friend of Christopher Buckley,
whom he had known from boyhoOd. He
did state, though, that Marguerite asked
him to kiss her before the shooting and he
did so.
DETECTIVE ASKED FOR.
After having been taken into the Citv
Iiouu anu pidCeu III lie ola hospital Bar
nett became restless and repeatedly asked
to see Detective Robert Hogan. When that
officer came the prisoner, between the gasps
caused by the pain he was suffering, gave
him the following account of the tragedy.
u" We had been drinking together for the
past three days, ever since left the House
of Correction last Tuesday. We vera aid
acquaintances She repeatedly has asked
me TO kill her and then myself FINALLY /
agreed to do so tonight.
p" She pointed out the exact spot where
she wanted me to shoot her, and did so.
am very sorry | made such bad lob of
myself. L am suffering great agony"
BARNETT's POOR VICTIM.
The dead woman was native of Liver
pool, England, and about % years of age
She was slightly under the medium size n
blonde and passably good-looking. For
several years she was an inmate of houses
of ill-fame in this city.
Her true name was Marguerite CastrIne
though she was better known as Mignon
and May Sidney.
The surgeons do not think that Barnett
can survive many hours as internal hem
orrhage had set in.
At 80 O'Clock this morning Barnett was
still alive.