Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-23
DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL.

The Barnes Woman Not Held Tor Her
Husbands Death.
The inquest held over the body of Robert
Barnes, colored. yesterday afternoon. as
published in The Star. was concluded late In
the afternoon, and the body of the dead man
was turned over to his sister to be shipped
to Charles county, where he was born. Az
ter The Stars report of the testimony closed
number of additional witnesses appeared
and were examined. They agreed upon the
statement that there was a club meeting
held in Young's house, but as to the state
ment made concerning what happened I'm
the house they differed.
Use all fusticated, boss" said one old
colored woman, land I can't think Cor a
minute"
She finally thought and then told what
she had heard and seen.
Il was in the meeting Said another wit
ness, put amt member of the club"
What club is it?" the witness was asked
THE Sisters Band of Rehoboth Baptist
Church." he answered.
What kind of an organization is it?'
The members go about singing and pray
ing"
II was in the meeting" said a colored
man, land when / heard the rumblng I
me. and went to see what was the trouble"
A young colored man named Matthews
thought that Barnes was drunk.
He was useless said witness, land
thought he must have been timber drunk"
One witness said he had heard Barnes
and his wife quarrel a number of times. hut
only once did he see them come to blows.
Did he strike herr" the witness was ask
ed.
mo, SIR" he answered, "she struck him.
He wasn't a fighter, anyhow"
Several witnesses examined said they had
never seen Barnes drunk, nor had any Of
them ever seen Mrs. Barnes under the IN
fluence Of liquor.
Mrs. Barnes TestiAes.
Mrs Barnes, the woman who was made a
widow by the death of the man, said sho
wanted to give evidence because she said
she knew she was not guilty. She testified
that when she got home Wednesday she
found her husba nd lying on the bed. Ha
was drunk. end she spoke to him about,it.
Then he charged that his money was gone.
She denied that she had it. and he insisted
that she did. When she went upstairs she
carried a window stick to use on her five
year-old Toy in case it became necessary to
do so to Put him to sleep. She had a quar-
rel with her husband, and he bit her fin
ger. As he did so she struck him in the
nose with her fist but did not knock him
down.
When he got near the head of the steps
she called to him. Look out, you'll fall
and he responded: eff I fall in hell it's
none of your business"
Had you been in the habit of having
these tloubies?"
I'VE didn't have any solemn. hard quar-
rels." she answered, but We did have little
'srutes."
When her husband staggered and fell
she jumped down the steps and grabbed
him by the seat of his trousers. and called
t" her brother: Come mere; Rods fallen
and broken his neck"
She said that the witness Sam Hill had
been angry with her for two years, and
gave one of his reasons that when she
embr raced religion she did not tell him of it.
Another reason was that she had made
statements about him when he left HIS
wife.
Sam Hill was recalled, and Mrs. Barnes
was permitted to question him. He denied
certain statements made by the woman.
Are you a member of this club?' he wa.s
asked.
Yes, sir" was his response.
Mrs. Barnes repeated her denial several
times, end DR.. Glazebrook explained that
when he spoke of the injury to the mans
head he did not mean to be understood that
the wound was the result of blow inflicted
by some other person. 1t may have been
inflicted by striking against a washboard
or a piece of furniture.
The jury deliberated a few minutes and
returned verdict finding that Barnes
death was the result of an accidental faH
and the wife and her brother were ex-
onerated. Mrs. Barnes was released, but
her brother, Andrew Williams, was arrest
ed on a warrant for disorderly conduct and
locked up.