The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-06-03
mrs. BARNES DIVORCED
Another Chapter in Trenton's
Unsavory Scandal = Frank
Mcgowan Said to Be Pre-
pairing to Marry Her.

TRENTON, June 8, 1S36.-The an
nouncement here that Mrs. John A.
Barnes, whose career in Trenton had so
many sensational turns, has been di-
vorced, was a theme OF general town
talk last night. The divorce was ex-
pected and to many it is an explanation
OF Frank A. Magowan's mysterious dis
appearance for the past ten days. while
rumor that prevails that Mrs. Barnes
and Mr.. Mcgowan have broken.
The ex-Mayor is on one of his famous
whirlwind trips, and 10 one has any
definite idea just where he is. He has
been traced as far as Chicago, but there
the trail is lost. He disappeared about
the same time that the story became cur
rent that Mrs. Barnes and he were out.
There is no way of verifying the story,
for Mcgowan knew we'll that his Tren-
ton friends were not insympathy with
his sociable schemes and he took nobody
in his confidence whatever. The news
came from New York that Mrs. Barnes
been seen with other male compa
ions and when this gained currency
Mcgowan himself disappeared. Then the
Sheriff hung on the big paneled door of
his quarter Of a million colonial man
sion a poster announcing a Sheriff
sale on tune IA. This was for the UNI
satisfied Judgment obtained months ago
by the artists and workmen who had
helped to beautify the place.
Nobody knew of his departure and his
lawyers have been trying to trace him
SO as to get him to satisfy these judg-
ments and save the property. He knew
of these judgments before his departure,
for the holders were pressing him for
money. Mcgowan openly expressed his
infatuation for Mrs. Barnes and did not
conceal his strong affection for her. 1t
was generally accepted here that he was
making a desperate effort to save the big
house, so that he could eventually place
her at the head of the g~orgeously appoint
ed establishment as the triumphal act of
which the two have played 1t is known
here that Mcgowan has been short of
1t is said that his shortness of cash
caused a curtailment of the expenditures
for Mrs. Barnes and family in New York.
This Is the reason given by those who in
sist that there has been a break between
them. His intimate friends expect that
ne will be in Trenton within forty-eight
hours and that he may bring Mrs. Barnes
with him as his wife. The fact that the
oa4t " PlOVfVOO ddllioSCS liiSIltutCd ny
Mr.. Barnes for alienation of his wife's
affections is likely to come up any time
in the Mercer Court would not deter him
from making such a move.
1t is less than three years since Ma
gowan met Mrs. Barnes IN the West and
became infatuated with her. He gave her
husband a position as manager of the
Eastern Rubber Works in Trenton. Mrs,
Mcgowan and Mrs. Barnes became fast
friends until the summer of 1894. when
Mrs. Mcgowan, while at Spring Lake, be-
came incensed at the conduct of Mr.. Ma
gowan and Mrs. Barnes and cut her ac-
quaintance. Later Mr.. and Mrs. Barnes
were placed in the old Mcgowan home adj
joining his mansion. Mr.. Mcgowan was a
frequent caller. Mr.. Barnes began to OBJ
ject to his calling. and 1T resulted in an
assault and battery case which was aired
In the police courts. Mcgowan and Mrs.
Barnes disappeared, and during that mys-
went into the hands of a re-
ceiver, who was subsequently discharged,
and the house was seized by the Sheriff.
When Mcgowan returned he had been to
Oklahoma and establishing his residence
for his divorce, which he secured later.
Mrs. Barnes never returned to Trenton,
lived in New York, where she was
frequently visited by Mcgowan.