The morning times., 1895-11-23
SARAH BARNES ACQUITTED
Coroner's Jury Held Her Guiltlsss
of Her Husbands Death.
Her Brother Proved II II A Alibi and A lso
Went Free-Barnes Fell and
Broke His Neck.

All, OF at least a great ma Jurity, OF the
Inhabitants OF the historic and classic
section of the city known as Bioodfieid,"
assembled at the Sixth precinct police sta
tion yesterday afternoon to attend The
inquest held over the body OF Robert
Barnes, one Of the recognized social lights
OF that section. Barnes wife and Ills
brother law were accused OF having
caused his death, but the jury, after listen
ing to the testimony, decided that neither
Sarah Barnes nor Andrew Williams, the
brother -in-law, were guilty Of the crime.
In The Evening Times yesterday it was
inadvertently stated that Williams alone
had been acquitted. ~
Mrs. Barnes, the evidence showed, had
made herself extremely unpopular in the
neigh borhuod. None of the witnesses could
tell the exact cause of her unpopulIrity, but
one ventured the opinion that she refused
TO attend parlur socials and drink hum
mers" with the other deniZens. of Nolan
court. The real cause, after all, uf Barnes
death, was too liberal potations OF the
Bloudfield article OF gin, which not only
inebriates but also causes trouble.
They told the coroner OF fights and quar-
rels between Sarah and Robert. Told how
Robert was not much OF fighter and how
Sarah used to beat him. The skeleton in
the closet of many OF the first families OF
Bloodfield was exposed, and even the
REALTORS wanted to see Sarah held for
the murder OF her husband.
The delegation swore all sorts Of things
against Barnes better half. After about
fifteen of them had vented their spleen on
the exile of Nolan's court little girl, Mary
SmallwoOd, n daughter of the prisoner, was
called. Mary is very small, even for an
alley child, but she is bright.
"Do you know what an oath is?'' asked
Coroner Hammett.
"Yes, SIR" replied the child, and then
she began to ten about the fight. Coroner
Hammett was not tn be put OFF on the oath,
however, So he called halt.
''what will become of you II you tell
q Hep
"send me 70 De reform school," replied
the infant prodigy from Nolan's court.
She was the only person there, and told
Just how 1t happened, how Barnes was
chewing Sarah's finger, and described just
how Sarah punched him. She also told
of the fall down stairs. The child made
an excellent impression on the jury.
Immediately after she left the stand Sarah
was put on and told of the occurrence.
She showed the coroner and the jury where
Barnes had bitten her finger. and although
she persisted in calling Coroner HaInmett
Judge" she made a most eloquent plea
for liberty She had witnesses called
back. and she eros s-eNamined them and
brought out the nl-reelIng they had Tor
her. She was the only one as to whose
guilt there was any doubt. Andy VIII
Jams. it was proved, was not even in the
house at the time of the accident, and
when she was allowed a chance at the
witnesses from Bloodficld she convinced the
jury that she was innocent.
When she was told of the verdict she
announced her intention of quitting that
part of the city at once.
Andy Williams, however. was not so
lucky. While he was acquitted of COM
plicity I'm the murder OF his sisters hus-
band. he was arrested on a Charge of
throwing stones. II seems that ANDY"
and some "Bloodficld'' friends had en-
gagged in a stone battle. and today Andy
will have a chance to tell Judge Kimball
how 1t occurred.