New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-08
SHOT THE GIRL HE LOVED.
THEN CHARLES BARBER BLEW HIS OWN
BRAINS OUT.
DOUBLE CRIME OF A PATENT ATTORNEY RUINEI
BY DRINK AND GAMBIING-A TRAGEDY
WHICH STARTLED PEOPLE IN
STREET IN WASHINGTON.

WHICH STARTLED PEOPLE IN A
STREET IN WASHINGTON.
Washington. June THE throng Of Govern
ment clerks and others hurrying up Pennsyl
vania-ave. shortly before 8 o'clock this morning
was startled by the attempted murder Of Miss
Dorothy L. Squires and the suicide Of Charles
Barber. patent attorney, who had gained much
notorety Of late by his eccentric actions.
The tragedy occurred at the intersection OF
an alley with Four and a -half-st., Just above
Pennsylvania ave. Miss SQuires was on her way
to the office where she is employed as stenog
| rapher and typewriter. She turned down Four
and a -half-st. and when near the alley met Bar
Der. who apparently waiting for her. She
attempted to pass him. but he accosted her and
they stood for a few moments in conversation.
His manner was excited as to attract the at
tention Of passers-by, and in a few minutes the
young woman turned hurriedly away and left
him. She apparently was frightened for she In
creased her speed she crossed the alley. Bar
Der took few steps after her and then, halting,
drew a revolver and fired twice at the girl. She
screamed and fell forward to the pavement. a
second later another shot rang out and Barber
dropped with the smoking weapon grasped In his
hand. Believing his victim dead. he had sent
bullet crashing through his brain. dying almost
instantly.
MISS sQUIREs NOT FATALLY WOUNDED
The street thronged with Government
clerks and ether persons on their way TO bus-
ness. and an immense crowd gathered. Miss
Squires was helped to physicians office near
by. where hCr injuries examined and
dressed. II waJ found that one bullet had en-
tered the back OF her neck, inhictng painful
but not serious wound. while the second shot
had struck her hand, merely breaking the skin.
An ambulance summoned and she was sent
TO the Emergency Hospital
BARRIERS persistent attentions to the young
woman have caused several scenes A few weeks
ago her brother attacked him on the street and
administered sound thrashing TO him. This.
however. seemed to have more effect upon
him than the letters she sent to him appealing
TO be left alone. In her final resort TO the courts
to have the persecution cease. she filed a petit
ton asking for an Injunction restraining Barber
from annoying her further. reciting that his at
tentons were a great annoyance. that he refused
TO heed her appeals to be left alone, and that
he threatened to ruin her character unless she
allowed him TO see her. Last week Barber went
10 New York and from Baltimore mailed letter
TO her in which he threatened her life. In the
communication he also said that he intended to
commit suicide. She turned the letter over to her
attorney, but IL is understood that no further
steps were taken in the matter.
THE CRIME WAS PREMEDITATED.
Barber was hard drnker and an inveterate
gambler, who made several futile efforts to re-
form at the instance Of friends who recognized
his brilliant talents but also his lack Of steadi-
ness and purpose In life. He left several let
ters showing that he had premeditated to-days
tragedy. He loved notoriety. In a statement
to the public he said:
''I shall Kill Miss Dorothy squires and myself
tomorrow If she will not consent to marry me-
over five years ago she came to me for work
as a stenographer and typewriter. employed
her She fell in love with me at once and l
with her. she is bright, accomplished ana was
devoted to me. but very jealous. Barber then
complained that friends of Miss Squires had in
huenced her against MIN, and continued:
am simply insane and dying for love OF her
have not always done right, but | loved her
better than knew. and always came back 10
her We are both sensitive and highstrung.
She is my very life and Will be my death
In postscript ne said: Il was born IN New
York was ar orphan at the age or three years
had a stepmother. and left there FOR Washing-
ton at the age Of fifteen; studied law and was
associated with General Benjamin f. Butter
for the last five years Of his life | nave Dright
prosp els to open up law Office with a good
man In New-York, but cannot live TO do it.
| gave President Mckinley st. Bernard dog
and stood we'll with MN. May uou ply anu
His reference to the President grew out Of the
fact that he sent him an immense st. Bernard
dog several weeks ago.
S,o,ber statement left by Barber reads:
"Sadness and anxiety seem TO be increasing
upon me- Like cattle in a burning stable. l
cling 10 what consumes me. to the solitary lie
which does me so much harm. | let myself he
devoured by inward suffering. My old se.f, the
dreams which used to haunt me. passionate
impulses, high aspirations, all revived IN me al
once with unexpected force. The dread lest
should have missed my destiny and stified my
true nature. lest l should have buried myseii
alive. passed through me like shudder; Inc
FREQ heing who abandOns the conduct or MN
seIf Yields himself to Satan; in the moral worId
there is no ground without a master ana the
waste lands belong to the Evil one. ! nave
carried these two conflicting extracts with me
tr,.inp 10 grasp the latter and control myself.
hut the struggle is too much cannot raily'
am sorry. and | am not. | believe act the
divine will"