Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-22
MURDER INTIMATED
Coroner's Jury Investigate Death Of
Robert Barnes.
WOUND ON THE HEAD
Testimony as to a Family Quar-
rel.
NJ E ICA AL EVID EN- G E

Sarah Barnes and Andrew Williams were
present this afternoon at the inquest held
at the sixth precinct police station over the
remains of Robert Barnes the woman's
late husband, whose alleged suspicious
death at his home in Nolan's court. South
Washington, was mentioned in yesterdays
Star. Present at the inquest were several
neighbors of the deceased, and some of
them were there witnesses.
Deputy Coroner Glazbrook was the first
witness examined, and he told of the au-
topsy made yesterday. The deceased was
in a healthy condition and his organs
showed no evidences of his having been
drinking man. His skull was unusually
thick, but blow upon it had been inflicted
with such force that the conclusion had
produced hemorrhage and this had caused
the mans death. The wound was not such
a one as would probably have been inflict
ed by fall down the steps. but there vas
another wound which might have been
made in this way. Beneath the skull,
which was half an inch thick, there was
blood clot on the brain. This was about
the size of silver dollar. Witness descrb-
ed the contents Of the mans stomach,
which, he said, contained no Odor of al
cohol.
Policeman Tcstihes.
Policeman Romeo r. Bowie, colored, tes-
titled that he was called to the house We'd
nesday night, and Mrs. Barnes said she
wanted her husband taken to the hospital,
saying he had fallen down the steps and
had hurt himself. Witness looked at the
man and saw that he was dead and had
his body placed on a shutter.
Mrs. Barnes told him that her husband
came home drunk and she tried to take
him upstairs and he fell down. She denied
that there had been any alteration what
ever. but there had been a quarrel. Wit
ness said he examined the premises and
found blood stains on the floor of upper
room. He found a broken curtain pole in
the room. on which We're blood stains and
scattered about the floor he found 81 cents,
indicating. as witness said, that there had
been a fight.
Witness also told Of a converse ton he
had with Andrew Williams, who told him
that the deceased had come home intoxi-
Gated and he (Williams> and others had
assisted in getting him In the house.
Not Il Drinking Man.
A colored girl named Ladonia Griffin, who
lives next door to the house in which the
Barnes family lives, testified she last saw
Robert Barnes alive on Sunday. She said
that there WAS club meeting held at her
house Wednesday night, and she heard
Barr es and his wife engaged In a quarrel
in front of the house. This was about 8
o'clock. Witness heard the Barnes couple
talking, but she did not pay attention
erorgh to them to know what they said
She remembered that on one occasion the
man Barnes came home and his wife would
not let him in the house.
WAS Barnes a drinking man." she was
asked
Il rever saw him drunk in my life." was
her response.
WAS 1t house at which many persons
congregated"'
No, sir"
The Quarrel.
William Young. colored resident of No
lan's court, who lived next door to the house
in which Barnes lived, testified that he saw
Barnes Wednesday morning. He was pres
ent at the club meeting mentioned by the
last witness, and he heard the quarrel men
toned by her. When the Barneses had gone
in tho house he heard a noise that sounded
like chairs and other household effects
tumbling ever the floors and down the steps.
Presently he heard them in the yard. and
he heard Barnes say: Eliza, where's my
money!"
Barnes and his wife went In the house and
in few minutes he heard what he described
as a ''rumbling" sound. Andrew Williams
vas not in the house then. Some of the peo-
pie in the alley wanted him to go in the
house. but he declined to go, and one of the
men who did enter came out and said: "Bob'S
dead"
Witness had never seen Barnes drunk
He and mis- wife had frequent quarrels.
Just before he heard Barnes fall some
body screamed, Lord, have mercy"
''Who uttered the cry?"
Il think 1t was Barnes"
She Got Out.
Mary Williams, sister of Mrs. Barnes, tes-
titled that she was in the house when her
sister and Drnther-in-laU started tho ouar.