Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-29
K0SSEBAUM SUICIDES.
The Murderer of Photographer Barnes
EyadeS fIros' by Putting a Ball
1hroi a His Brain.

Meridian, Miss. Sept. 2S.-J. C. Kasse-
baum, who assassinated A. S. Barnes in
his studio Thursday night, was found in
the city late Saturday night and placed
under arrest but before he could be re-
moved from the premises in which he was
found, placed pistol to his head and
hered ball through his temple
hasSebaum, 1t seems, after committing
the murder Thursday night, went to the
residence of Mrs Frank Howard, where
his wife and child boarded, and removing
ms shoes, secreted himself under the ad-
dining residence, where he remained
lie came out Saturday night and went
to Mrs. Towards and met his wife and
Mrs. Morris, lady who, in Mrs. How
ards absence. has charge of the house
hold. He asked Mrs. Morris if he could
remain there, and received negative re-
ply.
Paul d. McRoy, city editor of the Daily
Herald, who also had rooms in the house,
was Informed of Kassebaum's presence,
ana he went at once for officers to effect
his capture. Upon the arrival of Chief of
Police Nelson quite a crowd had congre-
gated and surrounded the house. and
kassebaum's escape was thus rendered
impossible.
Nelson entered the house and demand
ed his surrender, telling him that there
was no chance for him to get away.
Without any effort at escape Kassebaum
drew pistol and fired a shot through
his temple, and died.
The only statement that Kassebaum
made, so far as can be learned was made
to Mrs. Morris.
He told her that he killed Barnes in
self-defense, and that Mrs Barnes was
the cause of the deed. No one can con-
cefve any theory, however, in which Mrs.
Barnes could in the remotest manner
have been the cause of the murder of her
husband.
The ladies in the Howard residence be-
ing afraid to remain in the same house
with the murderer, went out to the house
of a neighbor Officers stationed around
the house saw Kassebaum enter, and inn
mediately closed in on him to effect his
capture. Every outlet to the house was
properly guarded, and in a few moments
detachments of officers arrived on the
scene. The house was then completely
surrounded and two officers went to the
front door and knocked for admission.
The knock was answered by Mrs. Kas-
sebaum, who inquired what was wanted
When told that her husband was wanted
and that the house was surrounded, she
hesitated to open the door. In a moment
they heard the report of pistol, and
thereupon Mrs. Kassebaum threw open
the door, saying: Come in; he has killed
himself"
The lady was standing and the body
was in full view of the men, and they
GERS hurried to Kassebaum and found
him lying on the floor beside the lounge.
The bullet had entered the brow through
the right temple, and when the officers
reached him the brains were ozzing out
on the floor around and the lounge was
covered with blood. Kassebaum was still
breathing, and physicians were sent for
post haste in the hope that the mans life
might be saved. They arrived in a few
minutes and began work on him. but he
died.
Mrs. Kassebaum tainted at the sight of
her husband lying dead on the floor, and
was carried to an adjoining room.
A pair of shoes belonging to Kasse-
baum were found on the back gallery of
the Howard residence Friday morning,
and IS he was in his stocking feet when
he entered the house 1t Is known now
that he has never been off the block on
which he lived and has been hiding I'M
der some neighbours house, and If that be
the case he has been without food for
over forty-eight hours, and was, of
course, physically exhausted when he
went into the house.