The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-02

~, 1911 every article OF clothing she wore
on one occasion, about three months ago,
MISS barrett remained away from home
| an night She had engaged suite of rooms
at the Thorndyke Hotel for herself and
| MISS Wheelwright. The latter was going
be near the depot. She failed 10 appear,
| however, and Miss Barrett remained ali
| night at the hotel alone
| The day preceding her death Alice Bar
Tett Went shopping. She left the Office of
Goldman 4 Goldman shortly after the noon
| stand is at the corner of State and Com
| gress streets was accosted by Miss Barrett
| shortly after o'clock. She got into the
| carriage and was driven to a iewelrv store
near Winter street. In twenty minutes She
| returned with several little parcels. which
| she placed in the carriage Then she went
| TO a dry goods store short distance away.
! and came out in a short time with more
| bundles She was then driven by Ide to a
| fancy goods store on fremont street in
| which she remained until it closed When
| she came out she inquired as to the closing
hour of the cutlery stores. and said II
want to go to the Union Station We will
| go past L1ovells gun store and if it is
| open will go in Lovells store was OPEN
| Miss Barrett went in and bought a small
| dog collar. Then she asked for revolver
and was shown a Smith & Wesson thirty
two-caliber, which she bought for 81. She
also bought box of cartridges.
SURPRISED THE CABMAN
Their the cabman drove her to the Union
Station. Although the cab fare was only
$50 she gave the driver a 81 bill, and told
| him to keep the change. A half-dollar tip
for shopping service was something almost
unprecedented in the cab drivers expert
ence, and he noted the woman carefully
| and afterwards identified her photograph.
Miss Barrett took the first train for Wal
tham. Her mother noticed nothing unusual
during the evening. The girl appeared to
be in good spirits and laughed and joked
with her brothers.
The morning Of her death rode down
town with Miss Meehan girl friend. The
| testimony of Miss Meehan, given to the
nre inspector afterwards was as follows:
Miss Barrett seemed very pleasant ard
cheerful and not in the least Respondent.
| she remarked how prettily my hair curled,
ana made other light remarks She told
| me further that woman had called at
her ONCE on the previous afternoon, and
| Miss Barrett said she did the shopping in
a carriage. She also told me that some
| time ago an Italian fruit vender called at
! the office, after everybody else had gone
| nome, and had stolen $14 from the drawer
while she was busy at the telephone. She
| said she had pistol with her and in
tended to face the robber, as she had To-
Miss Barrett parted from Miss Meehan
and went directly to the office of Goldman
d Goldman. There was nothing unusual in
| her appearance to attract her employers
attention. But events took place rapidly.
| 1t was noted by one of the members Of the
nrm that the books had not been posted
| FOR some time 1t is said that he asked
| did so, it is alleged, in a way that brought
| a reproof She began to work at them
again. and continued until 1:$O p M, when
she prepared to go home. She put on her
| hat, closed her desk and went away, leav-
ing Mr.. Briggs, the confidential clerk, the
sole occupant of the office.
Here the deepest part of the mystery be-
| gins, and the numberless Sherlock
| Holmeses working on the case have not so
| after the departure of Miss Barrett Mr.
Briggs also left the office, locking the door
behind him. Some time afterward, no
body seems to know just when, Miss Bar
rett returned. Was she alone? During the
AFTERNOON terrific thunderstorm broke
over Boston Il was Immediately after
terrific peal that shook and rumbled
through the entire city that an alarm of
set by lightning" was the verdict of
the firemen, who hurried to the blaze
through the rain grumblng at the anoma-
dozen streams playing the
flames and the storm still ragged, the body
hat had fallen in the safe. Her clothing
was arranged nicely to her ankles
THE TRUE STORY DEVELOPS
There was no thought but of a death by
lightning among the firemen as they carried
her downstairs and into a nearby cigar
store. The fire was soon extinguished.
After the removal of the dead girls body
one of the firemen picked up revolver
floor. These were turned over to Superin-
tendent Abbott of the fire department. Still
the word went forth that Miss Barrett had
been killed by lightning The following
day the true story developed. In the mean
time the fire marshal had begun inquiry
into the cause of the fire. The firemen
stated that they had found a lot of torn
leaves from blank book burning in the
toilet room Of the office, and that they had
dumped this debris out of rear window.
The police had gone over this rubbish
thoroughly and had found nothing that eX-
planned the shooting. Fire Marshal Whit
combs pulled the debris apart and got
down into the interior of the charred heap.
The result of their Investigations was
startling. They found quantities of the
charred leaves of the cash book of Cod
man & Goldman. They found portions or
the ledger.
The fire marshal summoned the members
of the firm and the family of the dead girl
for an investigation. The following facts
were developed. About $500 was missing
from the safe. The books had not been
posted since June 20; except for the unsuc-
cessful attempt of Miss Barret to post them
Saturday afternoon. The mother of Miss
Barrett told the fire marshal in confidence
the name of man to whom her daughter
had given $500 for investment 1t was set
fled that the fire had been burning fifteen
minutes before the alarm was given. Was
Miss Barrett dead when it started? II was
settled that the fire had been started for
possibly, the building. Inc door or the
closet where the fire started was closed
when the hremen arrived.
When the investigation was hnished. the
opinions of various interested persons were
as follows: Deputy Superintendent Of Po-
lice Burrill: 1--WE are satisfied that the girl
committed suicide. There is no criminal
case, and that ends it, so far as we are
concerned.
Fire Marshal Whitcomb; THE fire started
in the closet with the leaves of the cash
book That is as far as am authorized to
speak. The name Of the person to whom
Miss Barrett gave the $500 was told me In
confidence by her mother, and l cannot di-
vulge it."
w. c. Goldman. jr.: Miss Barrett was
a faithful and efficient clerk. and never con-.
suited my father in regard TO other matters
than those which concerned the business Of
the firm. We think the girl was murdered.
Mrs Barrett Il am sure my daughter was
murdered by robbers. ] know the person
to whom she gave the $500 for investment,
but I cannot divulge the name.
And now ii has been found that Alice
Barrett had not loaned the money to the
man whose name she gave to her mother.
and that probably she spent 1t on herself.
HISGRACFD HIS MOTHER.