The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-22
Oklahoma Man Found Dead
in Tennessee.
UNDER AN ASSUMED NAME
Because He Had Once Injured
a Negro on the Mississippi.

SuiIeO name mas Deen IOund dead near
Cleveland, Tenn. An account of the end
of this man who had hidden, through
fear for years from the authorities is
given in the Tecumseh Republican, which
says: Charles Meade and James r. Mea-
cham left Tecumseh the latter part OF
May for Bradley county, Tennessee.
Charles Reed-aS he was known here, but
whose true name was Posey Barker-was
going to Tennessee to pay his four chill
dren, whom he had not seen in twenty
years, a visit. Meacham, who accompa-
MED him, was merely a companion to the
overland trip. Reed, or Barker, was a
strictly sober man and had lived a bache-
Tor life in Tecumseh since the opening of
this country to white settlement, was
saving his money and attended strictly
TO his own business. His manner and
ways were those of a man who might
have had a few hundred dollars or he
might have had a few thousand dollars.
while Neacham was addicted to the IL
quor habit excessively and was man
who was considered unsafe. He had no
money, owned no property here, and lived
as best he could by an occasional days
work at carpentering and the assistance
of his friends. He had also been here
several years. Neither of the two men
took any part in society or public gath
erings yet they were quite generally
known by the inhabitants of the city as
Uncle Charley Reed" and "Old Jim
Meacham"
Reed, or Barker, was an uncle to the
Barker boys, Scott and Ben, of this city,
but until bis death was made public.
hut
Barker. His business transactions were
made in the name of Reed, and the rea-
son he passed under an assumed name
is said to have been that he had, at one
time run a steamboat. After the boat
landed one day on the Mississippi river,
he and negro sheriff had a few words
and Barker threw weight at the negro
which came in contact with his head and
felled him. The settlement was thick
ly inhabited with colored people, and
through fear of being lynched by them
Barker hid OUT and has since passed
under the name of Reed. He never
learned whether the blow killed the ne
gro.
The following information regarding the
horrible murder of Reed-Barker has been
received by the officers here from CIeve-
land. Tenn:
\ dead body, supposed to be that Of a
man, was found this afternoon six miles
west of Cleveland by some young men,
The body was lying in a fence corner by
the side OF the road and was covered
or rather wrapped UP in a quilt, and only
the feet could be seen, but they were the
feet of a man. The body was so often
sve that the young men could not go
close to it. SO they hurried to Cleveland
to notify the coroner who, with several
men, left for the scene.
The body of the dead man when exam
ined by Squire Lauderback, acting as cor
oner, and a jury of seven, proved to be
that of an old man about Co. His face
was covered with gray whiskers. He
weighed about 100 pounds, was about five
feet, eight inches tall and had apparently
been dead for a week He was dressed
with a blue striped shirt and brown over
alls with socks on, but no shoes. The
body was wrapped in an old quilt and
the head in another quilt was tied on
it was found he had a rope tied very
around his thoat. There We're two large
gashes in the back of the neck, evidently
made with an AK or Ratchet and large
hole was found on the left side of the
skull in front, and an inch or more in di-
ameter. His skull had evidently been
crushed by a blow from a hammer He
was a stranger TO every one. The YER
dict Of the coroner's jury was that the
deceased was unknown, but had been
murdered
It is very singular that any one would
quietly place a dead man in such place
but it is believed that the person who did
this is known. For the past several days
a stranger has been going up and down
the road from Cleveland to where the
body was found and past it. This man
may be 30 or may be 20 years old. He is
and straight, wears full gray beard. ap-
pears TO be an old man but remarkably
well preserved. He drives a wagon with
two ponies attached. He has been seen
in Cleveland several times during the
past week. He got supper and breakfast
here Monday night and Tuesday morning
ing at Duff's restaurant, had plenty Of
money. but was roughly dressed and talk
ed roughly. although saying but little
He said he was from Oklahoma and was
travelling through the country for his
health. Last Monday night he kept his
wagon and team at Liuard & Browns
yard. Mr. Brown noticed the bed clothes
and a shot gun in the wagon. While this
man was in town IL was noticed that
there was something about his wagon
that smelt very offensive and for the last
day or two as he would pass along the
road people living near the road were
satisfied there was dead body in the
wagon from the terrible doors that came
.
west Of where the body was found and
asked where he could find a good place
10 camp He was directed to about ore
mile nearer Cleveland. near where the
body was found. Now what would any
one suppose except that this man has
been carrying dead body around in
wagon for the past week and at last Il
ecame unaearable and in desperation he
left It by the side Of The read. The body
had been dragged from the road 10 the
fence correr-not carried. The old man
with the wazo1 has disappeared from
these parts He was last seen west Of this
place, evidently going toward Lauder
back Springs. Offlcers have started IN
pursuit q the man with the wagon.
The following communications in re-
gard 70 the above have been received
oy County Treasurer Durham.
Cleveland. Tenn. July 70. 800
I ". VI Durham. County Treasurer.
The inc}osed Kill explain what mas hap
( peaed- We have the driver arrested hat
he refuses &c saIk We thi1k. the muir
dared man is P7sey BarSeF. WHO was
raised in this coUatv near the coaEe-
mines al Ducktowu. We ind in yhe was-
on a TAX rece-pt, 10. +s5t s.Eue5)nv yoa
( FOR taxes ~ r. l. Smo7t. VII you E-rl-
Is Iet nae SNOW ~ return mail Was L.