Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-16
WILL CAUSE WIDESPREAD RUIN
AMONG SMALL INvEsTORS.
BURSTS THE AFRICAN BUBBLE.
HARD DRINKING FASTENED THE
DOWNFALL OF THE "KING."
Made n Public Exhibition of His In
sanity in Johannesburg Six Weeks
AgO-CIeyeIand Woman to
Claim n Share of HIS
Estate.

World from London says:
Barney BdrnatOs suicide must cause
widespread ruin among small investors,
They had pinned their faith TO him. The
big spectators, having had inside knowl-
edge Of his serious condition, have either
cleared out or have been manipulating his
stock with profit. Barnato's tragic end
has convinced the public here of the utter
rottcnness of the South Africa boom,
which now easily takes rank as the biggest
stock speculation scheme on record. Barn
ato's securities were quoted months ago at
a capital value of $50 900, but in the last
six months they had fallen 10 about $l5,-
OO0,c0J though recently improved on bet
ter accounts from South Africa
Mrs. Joel, Barnato's sister, told the
World correspondent last night, before
anything was known by her of the death,
that friends intended to land Barney Bar
nato at Funchal for months rest, as
his health was not yet such as to render
his return to London advisable.
No secret is made of the fact that his
breakdown was accelerated by heavy
drinking, which began when the Kafiir
slump started, even before his departure
for South Africa, which was hurried and
private. His mind showed signs of failing
under strain eight months ago, on which
account he was sent away from England.
There had never been any sensible i'm
provement in his condition.
His responsibilities weighed heavily on
his mind and he sought 'solace' too fire.
quently. His naturally robust constitution
had been undermined by his labOrious, ex-
citing life, and symptoms of softening of
the brain manifested themselves. His fam
lily and friends became alarmed at the
probable eject on his securities If this
were known, as they were believed TO be
dependent solely on his personality.
SO they used every effort to get him on
to the Cape and place him in seClusion for
a time, in the hope that ne would recover.
He did not want to leave London, but by
a ruse they induced him to go on board
steamer to see a nephew off to the Cape,
and he was kept talking in the cabin until
was thus shipped away against his will.
This explains a story, made much of at the
e ana now reVlseq IhS1 so me Went 5S
that he had only the clothes he stood in.
His condition became worse instead OF
better, and he made a public exhlbltlon OF
insanity at johannesburg about six weeks
ago, but il was attributed TO temporary
causes. His friends knew better, however,
ard a good deal OF selling his securities Tor
a fall has been INDUCED in during the
slump by well informed spectators.
The collapse has not been as great as
er big South African houses nave COM
bined TO keep up prices. At the same time,
il has been more than sufficient TO prevent
ties on which the Stock exchange has been
reckoning for few weeks.
After Barnato began building i4rdIy
palace for himself on aristocratc Park
lane his phenomenal good fortune deserted
him. Barnato's house cost, ii is estimated,
100000. 1t is now approaching completion
and the interior decoration is partly done.
The exterior IS ornate in the extreme, Bar
nato having given unlimited discretion 70
the architect TO embellish it with tracery,
london. June i5.-To-day's papers pub
lish columns of obituary, "reminiscences and
history of the late Barney Barnato- 1t is
said he thrice attempted to commit SUI
eide before he left Cape Town.
The Pail Mall Gazette says he has been
mentally unwel for about three months
and that he has been under constant sur
Barnato, who had been in Ill health for
some time past. seemed to improve after
leaving Cape Town, but he was never LEFT
alone and some one was constantly detained
to watch him. Yesterday, after lunch, he
seemed to be in very good spirits and was
walking up and down the deck on passen-
gers arm. Suddenly Barnato asked his
to tell him the time. But before
he received reply, he Wrenched MS arm
away and Jumped overheard. The fourth
officer jumped overheard after him immed-
lately, but failed to save the life of the
South African speculator, as heavy seas
We're running and the vessel was steaming
at the rate of seventeen knots an hour. So
soon as possible the steamer was stopped,
a lifeboat was lowered and pulled to the
SPOT where the two men were last seen. The
fourth officer was rescued in an exhausted
condition, and later the body of Barnato
was recovered. floating head downwards.
His remains have been embalmed and Will
be brought to England.
Cleveland. O., June 15-Mrs. Blackman,
of No. 405 Perry street, who claims to be
the legitimate daughter of Barney Bar
nato, will at once take steps to acquire a
share of his fortune. Mrs. Blackman and
her husband will at once proceed to Lon
don for the purpose Of demanding her in
terest in the fortune. Mrs. Blackman
claims to be a daughter of Barnato by his |
first wife, whose maiden name was Anna |
Esther. She says the couple lived to-
gether in London for fifteen years and |
finally went to Poland. Later a separation |
occurred and mother and daughter came |
TO this country. Mrs. Blackman is de-
termined to go to johannesburg, If neces-
sary, TO prosecute her suit. |