The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-11
HE KILLED HIMSELF
The COrOner'S Jury Confirms the Gen.
eral Belief in Barneyback'S Case.
EARLY LIFE OF THE SUICIDE
Jerome Williams of Livingston
Knew the Man Years Ago-Mrs.
CatIin's Conditlon-The Bull
let Not Yet Located.

No new facts were developed by the
inquest held yesterday morning into
the death of Oscar Barneyback, held
by Acting Coroner ]. NJ. Kennedy. The
verdict that deceased came to his
death by his own hand was returned.
]. T. O'Brien gave testimony as to
the shot Ohe heard fired on West Third
street, and the other shot some minutes
later further west.
Peter Sorenson told of how he had
followed the man and heard the shot
fired, which he thought was aimed at
him and how he returned home, got his
rifle and fired a shot from lit in the air
a few minutes later.
ID. b. Birran, j. G. Home, Chief
White. Assistant Chief O'Brien, w 5.
Cameron and others told of previous
events and of the finding of the body,
all of which have been printed here
tofore
George Bertsch testified that for
three nights last week Barneyback
hired rooms in the Delmonico hotel and
Mr.. Modinl said he had taken several
meals at the Grand restaurant during
the week.
The facts established left no room
for doubt that Barneyback died sui
eide, while fleeing from the scene of
his crime, and fearing capture.
Acting Coroner Kennedy was not in
the best of humor after hearing the
testimony, and he vented his righteous
wrath IN terms that bode no easy es-
cape for persons who in the future
needlessly invoke the services of the
law. Mr.. Kennedy said:
1T was not my intention to hold an
inquest In this matter at all. My opin-
ion was at first that there was no ne
e. II,
cause of the death of this man Bar
neyback. 1t seemed to me from what
] could hear that there was no ques-
ton but that the man died by his own
GTand. On Sunday morning, however,
j. II. Collins and other persons came
to me and requested that an inquest
be held to find out who had killed
Barneyback. Mr.. Collins claimed that
he had seen a man in a light overcoat
running after the deceased on West
Third street; that he saw the man who
was following Barneyback fire a shot
and that Barneyback fell Collins
seemed to be very positive that some
person who was pursuing the fugitive
fired the fatal shot. The story spread
around the city and a great many citi-
zens believed the rumor. In that
event of course, II would be my duty
as acting coroner to impanel a jury TO
inquire into the cause OF his death
Yielding to these demands, 1 impanel-
ed jury, and IT transpired at the in
quest that there wes absolutely no
ground for the statement made by Mr..
Collins to me the day before
Upon the witness stand to-day Mr..
Collins could not remember any of the
statements which he made TO me yes
terday in the presence of several wit
nesSes.
These are too important matters to
be lightly dealt with. At such times
the public Is in a state of excitement
and, Of course, II Ia always we'll in the
interests of law and order that the
facts be clearly understood. I regret
that there Is a tendency on the part
OF many persons in this city on occa-
sions of this kind to start sensational
Tumors that upon investigation prove
10 be absolutely groundless. Such
stories do infinite harm and are in my
opinion, nothing less than criminal.
Hereafter, l shall be very careful be-
fore take action in these matters to
inquire into the character and stand
ing OF the persons who are Offering
their testimony"