The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-02
SHOT In own DOORWAY.
AtrOeious Assault on Owen Barker in
Lynn.
ROBBERS OPENED FIRE WHEN
VICTIM RESISTED,

Now Thoughr To Be Slight Chance for
/ His Recovery-Not the Slightest Trace
| of the Highwaymen-Barker Bar
| Keeper at West Lynn.
| Lynn, August 1.-Another ATTEMPTED
robbery and assault that bids fair to re-
suit in murder, occurred shortly after mid
night on Alley street, which borders on
the harbor front. Owen j. Barker, q
| teamster, about 80 years old, was return
ing to his home about 12. l5. When he was
near his house he was confronted by two
men who sprang from behind fence and
demanded his money. Each man had
revolver in his hand and each had a hand
kerchief over his face. One of them shout
ed, "Give us your money, quick, or
will shoot" Barker started to run when
| the highwayman ran after him and
grabbed him by the shoulder. Barker
turned quickly and struck the man
stinging blow in the face and the latter
dropped to the ground. The second rob-
Der thenscame up and exelai1ning with an
oath, THAT settles you" fred at Barker
and as the latter ran towards his door,
three more shots were fred at him In
rapid succession. The noise Of the shoot
ing aroused the family of Barker and
their neighbors, who saw as they looked
out of their windows the form of the two
fleeing highwaymen, who leaped over the
fence to the marsh and made their way
| across the marsh to the railroad track,
disappearing in the direction of Boston.
The police were notified of the shooting
as quickly as possible and upon their ar
rival Barker was removed to the hospital.
There it was found that the bullet had
struck him under the right nipple, passed
through the lower lobe of the lung and
lodged in the back, just under the skin.
His wound is considered very dangerous
and he is expected to die. All the local
police available were at once set at work
in an effort to apprehend the men and
the police of all surrounding cities and
towns were notified of the crime and
| asked to look out for the perpetrators.
The men are described as follows: One
was quite stout with full beard and
wore black slouch hat The other was
about feet 10 inches in height, some
Wu5t suouU, DflStiy InOuSUacne.
No Trace of the Highwaymep.
Lynn, Mass, August 1.-The atrocious
assault and shooting by two masked high
waymen of Owen J. Barker early this
morning. is the talk of the entire city
This afternoon the bullet was extracted
from Barker's back and he has a slight
chance of recovery, although his
physicians do not have much hope The
police have thus far been unable to find
the slightest trace of his assailants.
Barker was not a teamster as at first
claimed but bartender for Thomas G.
King of West Lynn. Mr.. King has been
sick for some time and it has been Bar
ker's custom to carry the days receipts
home with him at night. Last night,
however. he carried the money to Mr..
King, at the latter's house, and when the
assault occurred Barker had only his own
money, and very little of that upon his
person.
The police think that the men who
waylaid Barker were familiar with his
habits and with the business methods of
the saloon A night watchman who is
employed on Alley street says that about
11.20 he saw two men going down the
street, who answered the description
given of the highwaymen. Their action
were somewhat suspicious and he followed
them some distance until he saw them
turn into Barker yard. Then he thought
they might be dodgers there and SO con-
tinued his investigation no farther. When
Barker entered his yard his assailants
sprang from behind carpenters bench
and as Barker struck at one of them he
noticed that the man wore q rubber coat.
Today the police found rubber coat in
the rear of Barker's house. They also
found an oil skin jacket and mask. The
latter was bag shaped and on the front
had been sewed white faced mask with
holes cut for the eyes, the sewing being
roughly done and evidently the work of a
man.