The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-08-02
MORTALLY
WOUNDED.
Owen Barker Shot in His
Own Yard at Lynn by
Highwaymen.
He Bravely Resisted Two Des.
peradoes Who Attempted
to Rob Him.
STORY OF MURDEROUS ASSAULT.
Barker Was a Bartender and Usually Carried
Days Receipts Home With Hlm--No Clue
As to the Identity Of the Hlghwaymen.

Lynn, MASS, Aug. Z.-OWen J. bdrker,
the victim of the murderous assault and
attempted robbery early yesterday
morning, is still at the Lynn hospital
In a very precarious condition, with
slight chances Of recovery. Yesterday
afternoon Dr. Herbert Newhall. assisted
by City Physician Little and Hospital
Surgeon Davis, removed the bullet from
Barker's back.
The attempt at robbery was one OF the
most daring ever perpetrated In Lynn.
1t seems hardly possible that In a thickly
settled community. surrounded by
houses peopled with occupants, that a
citizen, almost at the threshold Of his
own dwelling, could be submitted to
such q savage assault, in which four
pistol shots were discharged, without
at least one of the desperadoes being
captured But this Is a fact, neverthe-
less.
Barker was found in the yard by
neighbor and was removed to the Lynn
hospital After considerable probing
the bullet was removed. His condition
Is critical. and in the opinion Of the hos
pital surgeons he will probably die.
The highwaymen escaped. Captain
u -
Immediately went to the scene Of the as
sault. BY the time they had arrived
Barker had partially recovered consci-
BUSINESS and was able to tell the officers
something about the shooting.
He said that as he started TO open the
gate leading to his house from Alley
street two men who had been hiding be-
hind the fence jumped out in front Of
him. One mans face was covered with
a handkerchief and both had revolvers.
lone of the men placed a revolver close
to his face and demanded that he give
up his watch and money.
Barker Immediately showed fight. He
~ q strongly built, athletic fellow The
man whose face was covered began to
beat Barker over the head with the but
end of his revolver. The other fellow
placed his pistol close to Barker's head
and pulled the trigger. He missed his
aim, and followed up his effort with two
more shots, with no better result, al
though the fellow was not more than
three feet away from Barker as he fired
The other fellow was in the meantime
struggling with Barker In an attempt
to rifle his pockets. Barker was fight
ing desperately all the time, and man.
aged to keep the highwaymen busy.
Suddenly, and with an oath, the larger
of the two men leveled his revolver at
the breast Of Barker and fired. This
shot took effect. entering the body of
Barker as above described. Further
than this, Barker remembers nothing
more until he was picked up, except that
- he fell the men kicked him repeatedly,
and one OF them took 81 from his pock-
cts. all the money he had.
The shots and Barkers cries awak-
ened the whole neighborhood, and in a
short time q score Of men and boys
were securing the neighborhood for the
highwaymen. Barker could give only
q slight description OF his assailants
One he described as being about s feet
inches tall, OF dark complexion and
wearing dark clothes. The other fellow
was about an inch or two taller also Of
dark complexion.
Barker was bartender for Thomas G.
King Of West Lynn. Mr.. King has been
sick for some time. and II has been Bar
ker's custom to carry the days receipts
home with him at night. Saturday night
however, he carried the money to Mr..
King At the latters house, and when the
assault occurred he had only 81.
The police think that the men who at =
tempted to waylay Barker were familiar
with his habits and with the business
methods OF the saloon