The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-08-14

after noon Lorbeer died from shock
and hemorrhage.
The dead man has q father, mother
and several brothers and sisters liv-
ing in Pomona, California, where he
was very well known and had held
several positions of honor and trust
before coming here. His death was
shock to his fellow workmen and
employees by whom he was greatly
liked. His body will be embalmed
and held, awaiting the orders of his
relatives. The facts In relation to
the case follow.
The coroner's inquest in the killing
of John A. Lorbeer. by Samuel Barney,
ON Sunday, was held yesterday in The
deputy sheriff's Office.
Nine witnesses were called. who gave
their version of the affair. 1t would
appear from the testimony that al
though Barney had made threats TO
fix Lorbeer. the latter had started
the fight on the occasion OF the shoot
ing.
DIR. Wood, the autopsy physician, was
the first witness called. His testi-
mony and the stories of the other wit
nesses called are substantially as fol-
lows:
DIR. C. B. WOOD, Sworn.-On Sunday
morning, about half past nine, j. W.
Lorbeer was brought into the Queen S
hospital in a state Of collapse. There
were two wounds which | was sure mad
perforated the abdominal cavity. There
was very slight chance for the mans
life. told him what should be done
and he consented TO the operation.
We sewed up the nine wounds in the
intestines and those in the stomach.
One of the kidneys was shattered he
died at 90 minutes after II. Death
was caused from shock and hemorrhage
resulting from a gunshot wound in the
abdominal. cavity, perforating the
stomach. intestines and left kidney
ANY one of the wounds could have
been a cause of death. One bullet was
removed from the back. The other
bullet could not be found. The revolver
when fired was held very closely. Some
of the grains of powder had penetrated
the wounds and were inside. There
were no scattering powder spots. Had
the revolver been held further away the
powder would have scattered.
Deceased did not make any dying
Statements. Before being put under the
| asked Lorbeer if anyone
had seen him shoot and he replied
that plenty people had seen it.
GEO. P. DENNISON. Superintendent
o. r. & l.. Co.-Have known Lorbeer
since 1887 Have never known him to
take a drink. Had he been a drinking
man | would have known it. He was
about thirty-five to thirty-eight years
of age and an American. He has been
in the employ OF the railroad since
1899. l have known Barney since July
On Saturday afternoon Lorbeer, who
was the yardmaster of the o. K. & l..
Co. told me that he was going to dis
charge Barney for incompetency. l
have never seen Barney under the m
fIuence of liquor. He told me when we
hired him that he was not drinking
man. Barney was the conductor on the
work train. He has been living in The
boarding house car in the yard. don't
know that there was any i'll feeling be-
tween the men. | have been told that
Barney said that Lorbeer had it in for
him and he Barney was going to fix
him.
GABRIEL CABRAL.-I was on the
engine at work Sunday morning. Bar
ney came on the engine and asked me-
why | had not done something about
the train about week ago. As had
nothing to do with the engine he was
talking about, l asked him to get on
the engine. and he would not do so.
Barney came into the engine and l
guess he was looking for trouble. He
said: If you get saucy to me some
of these days I'll smash your head.
After growing some time he left and
went to the dining room car of the
construction train. l got down and
was standing by the train and Barney
came along behind me and struck me
from behind. | fell on the track and
a train was coming up on the track and
had to get out of the way, so got of
the track on the opposite side. The
train came along and Lorbeer was on
the end of it. He jumped off and stood
by Barney. The train kept going and
separated me from the two men, /
heard two shots and thought they were
directed to me, SO l ran away and got
ON another engine. Barney was feeling
good. There was going to be picnic
and he had been preparing for it, Lor-
beer saw him strike me, and that is
why he got of the train where Barney
was
HERBERT HUGHESI saw Bar
ney and Lorbeer. They were talking
What they were saying I don't know.
| saw Lorbeer make move towards
Barney and Barney drew his revolver
and fired Lorbeer stepped back and
said. You've got me. He then made
another jump for Barney, and as he
took hold of him the other shot was
fred. The two men fell TO the ground
with Lorbeer on top. His knees were
on Barney's chest and he was holding
Barney's hand that had the revolver in
il. He told me TO run and telephone for
the police and hack. ran up TO the
ONCE and on the way up spoke 10 some
Of the train boys. telling them that
Lorbeer was shot We telephoned for
DR.. Cooper three times before we could
get him. and finally sent hack for
him.
BENNIE HOPIl.-I don't know what
the cause OF the trouble was between
Lorbeer and Barney. / saw Barney
strike Cabral and saw Cabrai run
away. | then saw Lorbeer jump on
the end Of the car and jump on Barney.