The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-05
HANDS RED WITH BLOOD.
AN AGRD COUPLE OF CRFsWELL
VICTIMS OF A MURDERER.


Heavy Iron Shovel and Big Hiok-
orY SticS the Implements of the AS
sassiu.
GRIFFIN, Ca, Jan. 4.-Auother CORY
chapter has been written in the criminal
annals Of Georgia. 1t is written in ugly
letters Of blood, and is enshrouded in i'm
penetIable mystery. The prominence Of
the victims of the tragedy, its atrocity aud
other features mako it deserving OF a place
alongside the bloody Voolfolk murder. The
scene Of the murder is Creswell, eignt miles
west Of Griffin and forty miles south Of At
lantA. 1t is a small way station, situated at
the junction Of the Atlanta and Florida and
the Savannah, Griffin and North Ala
bama railroads. A few nice-looking
painted houses a store or two, stretch of
yellow fields and you have it. That's Cres-
WELL the scene Of one Of the most atrocious
murders which have been known in Georgia
since TomW oolfolk slew his fathers family.
The two victims OF the horrible midnight
assault are DR.. J. II. H. Barrett and his
aged wife the latter now lies shrouded in
the home, formerly the scene of happiness
and conteatment The former lies groaniug
in the last agonies Of death, and per haps
before these liles are read be too will be
dead.
DIR. BARRETT's PROMINENCE.
Mr. Barrett is one Of the most prominent
citizens Of Georgia. He is highly re-.
spected physician, 81 years of age. and if
he has an enemy on earth, no one knows Of
it. Mrs. Barrett was 81 years of age, and
was beloved by all her nelghbors for her
many lOvable traits Of character. This
aged and respected couple were living out
the evening OF their lives ina happy little
home 81 Creswell. Tuey lived all alone, ex-
cept for the presence Of win W. Nunnallv,
son of their only daughter. Mr. Nun
nally is brother to James II Nunnally, the
Whitehall street candy merchant. The Bar
rett house is nice, comfortable looking
country home. AROUND it stand number
of sturdy oaks Of O half century's growth
The house is typical farm home and has
five rooms. In one Of these rooms used as
sitting room, Dr. Barrett and his wife sat
last night WIN Nu8nally, their grandson
was away from home While seated by the
warm fire Soma one entered and murdered
Mrs. Barrett and fatally wounded Dr. Bar
rett, by bsating him over the
pin. Just who that some one
is, is a mystery, and just now no clew is
offered for its solution. Who dealt the
murdeTous blows may forever remain a
mystery. The inquiry before the coroner's
jury yesterday threw no light whatever
upon it.
STORY OF THE GRANDSON.
Will Nunnally eonfesses that he has no
reason TO suspect any one of the crime. ~
was away from home, y says hs, ION Sunday
night, and returned about 10 O'Clock and
started 10 bed. heard groaning In grand
fathers room and went in. A horrible
sight met my gaze. Stretched
fearful gaping wounds about their faces
and heads. A brass lamp was burning on
the table and by its light l could see the
terrible scene plainly, | ran into the room
and picked grandmother up and laid her
on the bed | then ran out aud called Felix
Weston, negro who lives just across the
railroad, and he came back with me. We
laid grandfather on the bed and sent Felix
for the neghbors, who came quickly"
Ass as possible after the murderous
assault had been discovered DIR. Gabriel,
the nearest physician, was sent for. He re-
sponded and upon examination declared
that Mrs. Barrett could live but few
hours, and that DR.. Barrett was fatally
wounded. Through the night they watched
by the bedside of Mrs. Barrett and at 1880
O'Clock this morning she died. DR.. GRoriel
says it is q question Of a very few hours be-
fore DR.. Barrett will die. The haor Of the
room in which the murder took place is
literally covered with blood.
Alter the Bmurder bad been discovered
heavy iron car coupling pin, heavy iron
shovel aud big hickory stick were found
in the room near the forms Of Dr. Barrett
and his wife. The iron handle If the shovel
was broken. covered with blood, and long
gray hairs we're attached TO IT, The muir
derer had evidently been well equipped for
his deadly work.
TWO NEGROES UNDER SUSPICION.
By II O'Clock last night possibly a hun
dred neighbors had gathered at the Barrett
homestead. "Who could have done itf'
was on everybody's lips. The question was
repeated a hundred times, but no answer
could be given until finally VIII Nunually
suggested a oiew. When he had irst entered
the room after discovering that his grand
parents had been assaulted, his grand
mother was uttering something which at
first sounded indstiuct. He listened for a
moment. She kept repeating the name
jerry and "Curran.n y This suggested to
him good cew. Jerry Holt and Curran
Barrett were the two negroes living
near by. He armed himself
tLilQ Win marry IOuHIB ana
Lon Parker went first to Jerry Hollis house
He called him out, and after talk with
him went TO Curran Barretts home, where
they called him out. With the two they
went back to the scene Of the murder, where
J erry Holt was placed under arrest and
Barrett was let go. With the dawn of
morning to-day the neighbors set to work
TO find some conclusive evidence as to the
guilty party. But as time progressed the
mystery, which at first enshroudsd the at
fair, grew deeper Then the small clew,
with Jerry Holt at one end Of it, became
weaker and weaker and he was turned
loose.
All day clusters of men stood around and
inside OF the house discussing the tragedy
and trying to invent plausible theory, but
all were at sea. II the guilty party had
been found. he would have Jared badly at
the hands of those determined men.
Sheriff Patrick aud Deputy Cunningham
were on hand trying to obtain some thread
Of evidence thar might lead to the capture
Of the hend.
THE COROEBR's INQUEST.
At 8 O'Clock in the afternoon Coroner w.
T. Latta impanelsd jury and began an in
quest over the body Of Mrs Barrett. The
following gentlemen were sworn as jurors
Joshua Hammond, foreman; w. II. Ham
mond j. r. Freeman, S. q. Cunningham
B. f. Morton and j. W. Peoples. The hear
ing OF the evidence occupied three hours.
VIII Nuunally was the first witness. He
told in substance the same story related
above. He said, in addition, that DR.. Barr
rett had he0n robbed aud that some silver
spoons and forks we're missing. He thought
the tragedy occurred about two hours be-
fore he discovered 1t. He was very partic-