The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-04


the story of child not by her husband,
and then the gossips accused her of an in
ordinate fondness at times for stimulants.
That Barnaby believed that his wife was
unfaithfui was also well known. He left
an estate werth several million dollars,
giving the bulk OF IL to his two daughters.
and cutting of his wife with $500. The
vigorous efforts of Mrs. Barnaby's lawyers
induced the heirs to compromise. The sum
of $l0S. 600 was allowed the widow and the
legal proceedings ended. Mrs. Barnaby
was then "outn with her children, and
she followed her natural bent In selecting
her associates. Among the latter was ons
who acquired strong influence over her
in the person of DIR. T.. Thatcher Graves,
who came to Providence from Danielson-
vile, Conn.,, about the year 1885.
Mrs. Barnaby's acquaintance with DR..
Graves began in 1888, when she consulted
him for treatment for a nervous affection.
He had come to Providence and an
nounced himself as aneurologist. Through
their relations as doctor and patient
DIR. Graves became her adviser in legal
matters and finally took almost en-
tire control of her money affairs and
real estate as financial agent. During the
winter of ls90-9i the widow became some
what tired of Graves. She had fallen I'M
der other influences. In company with a
Mrs. Worreil, of Chester, Pa, Mrs. Bar
paby journeyed westward to Denver and
visited son OF the former. who lives on a
ranch. s.
Tho moment of the ending of this singu-
lar chain of incidents arrived on April ID,
1891. On that day Mrs. Barnaby and Mrs.
Worrell arrived at Denver from the
ranch and took rooms ut a hotel.
Ten days Previous Mrs. Worrell's son
received package by mail addressed to
Mrs. Barnaby. 1t was postmarkedr
"Boston." Mrs: Barnaby removed the
wrappings and disclosed a small bottle of
fluid supposed to be whisky. On label
was written: Wishing you happy New
Year, from your friends in the woods"
The bottle was not opened at the
time of its receipt, but after the long
journey from the ranch TO Denver
Mrs. Barnaby thought she would support
herself by drinking some of the contents.
Accordingly she quaffed a moderate por-
ton. and Mrs. Worrell joined her. The
other people present-there were five in
all-decilned. Mrs. Barnaby and Mrs.
Worrell were both taken sick and ply
stefan was called IN. Mrs. Barnaby died
with all the symptoms of arsenical poi
soning. but Mrs. Worrell, after short
illness. recovered.
The writing upon the package resembled
that of DR.. Graves. He was beneficiary
in Mrs. Barnaby's will TO the extent
of $4,000. He protested his innocence,
saying If he had wanted the money
he could have taken all, as the $780,
o0o was under his control, and he
need not have murdered her to get il.
The Worrells were also left $i0000. and
for long time suspicion was directed to-
ward them. but nothing came of il. On
an analysis of the liquor made by Dem
yer chemist, it was found TO contain
large quantities of arsenic.
About this time DIR. Graves turned up in
Denver, leaving Rhode Island without
notifying the relatives of the dead
woman of her death. He paid visits on
his way West to people in Chicago.
and arrived In Denver the day after the
inquest was held. He asked but few
questions. and TO all appearances was
very badly affected By the death Of Mrs.
Barnahy. lie avoided as much as possible
investigating the causes which led TO the
death of the woman who had made
life easy for him. He fastened hack
to Providence with the remains OF Mrs.
Barnaby, aud arrived there on April
=. and then made the statement that
he knew great deal of the plot behind
Mrs Rarnaby's death. and would tell
much when the time came. DR.. Graves
then set to work TO build up story that
Mrs. Barnaby had been the victim of
blackmaiiers and had ended her life at
their hands. lie named no names, but
limited vaguely AT secrets which he claimed
to possess. lie denied all knowledge OF the
contents OF Mrs. Barnaby's Will and said
he did not know what she had left him.
and did not Gaze as he had lost more hy
her death than he bad gained. This was
al Immediately after his return to Proyi-
dence
In the meantime the grand jury at Dem
yer had indicted Graves rs Mrs. Barnaby's
rsFs
which Graves was indicted were secured
hy sarewd detective work. IL was ascer-
tanned that Graves had stolen money from
Mrs. tarnabY's estate; that the stamps
used on the packages we're Of the old
style, and that the only New England of
ice there they had recently been sold
vas Providence. A Pinkertoa man, act
ing IN the pseudo role of brother-in-law
OF the husband al Mrs. Barnaby's
dangh;er. Mabel. claims to nave in
dueed Dr. Graves 70 acknowledge that he
sent bottle OF pure whisky TO
his friend, Mrs Barnaby. lie averred
mat The contents had been removed
by some unknown person and the solution
CT arsenic substituted. DIR. HFaTes yolnn-
teered TO so 10 Denver TO clear his name,
and he went, bat with q shadow of deiec-
tfves during the ghoie journey. Upon his
ARRIVAL IN Denver DR. Graves was placed
N lasl. but released under 5000 bonds.
The chief witness against Graves vas the
son-in-law of Mrs Barnahy. John Conrad,
OF Montana. and the Pinkerton detective,
Hauseofn, 70 whom, tsey alleged, he
confessed sending the whisky 10
Mrs Barnaby The trial occupied
ave weeks and resulted in the conviction
snd sentence ~ death Of Dr.. Graves on the
@ed CAV OF January, iss1 Ia JaaRary.
lsSS, the supreme cart of Colorado set
ss':s Toe verdict on the ground OF errors.
aud the murderer was released on SO 90