Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-07-17

4 N-S 49,
a 3S-caliber I~yer-Johnson.
A. J. Winscott: 81 am In the life
insurance business. l know Rhodes
Clay and Clarence Barnes. saw the
alteration between the two. l was a
few feet from the granitoid sidewalk
directly southwest OF the front door Of
the l~nfeRigenoer office, not over 8 or 10
feet from the middle Of the street.
This was during the alteration. Pre-
eeedlng the trouble | thought Clarence
Barnes had gone home, | saw him a
second time as be was a few feet from
the iron grating across the gutter
north from the post Office. He went
in post office and | think went to the
mail box nea the call window and
mailed some letters. at this time he
was momentarily out Of my sight. Saw
him again almost directly behind the
iron post inside Of the post office. Mr..
Clay had come in the main entrance OF
post office and was walking toward the
iron post. at that time l had gone
out on the granitoid walk In front Of
the bltiliegsacer office. Mr.. Barnes
came almost face to face with Mr..
Clay illustrated with Coroner Bridg-
ford and did not see him until right
upon him. Looking up Barnes seem
ed to jump sideways and around the
post. Mr.. Barnes backed northwest
in the direction of the west door OF
the post Office. Motioning his left
hand toward Mr.. Clay illustrating the
sign ''go awayw with his right hand
on his right hip. When they came
out Of the west door Mr.. Barnes was
walking in 4 ~northeasterly direction,
walking backwars, Mr.. Clay was some5
orc feet from him, walking more in an
easterly direction with his face rather
inclined to the southeast. They had
taken 6 OF ! steps, that is Barnes had.
/ could see Mr.. Barnes jerk his arm up
but could not see the revolver, but al
most Instantly / heard a shot, | think
two and then the general fusillade. l
was In the middle Of street then. Mr..
Barnes fred the first shot. Mr..
Barnes either struck his heel on a cut
of water plug II stepped of of the
walk with his right foot. He fell on
his back and his revolver dropped out
Of his hand. While he was down Mr.
Clay pointed his pistol at him, held it
there momentarily, seemed to look at
him, turned around and walked up
the street south. BY the time l got
within about 20 feet of Mr.. Clay l
hollooed at Mr.. Barnes. l said, Clar-
ence, don't shoot any more; I'll take
care of Rhodes He replied, i haven't
got any more loads Sidney James, l
think, arrived at Barnes side just as
he got up and when / spoke to him
(Barnes) he was standing on the cross
ing with his revolver in his hand. Just
after speaking to Mr.. Barnes ! spoke
to Mr.. Clay and said, Rhodes, give me
that pistol He stepped of Of the
granitoid walk just beyond the tele-
phone pole, took about two steps
toward me, with revolver laying in ex-
tended hand, l~lllustrated). He walk
ed up and handed it to me and said,
Andy, l would give you any
thing that I've got on EARTH.
AS l turned Mr.. Clay around toward
the east door OF the p~ost-office, / caught
him by the left arm, | saw Latney
Barnes running up the street. l yelled
at Frank McCOrd TO catch him and
not let him come up there. | took
Clay into the postoffice and through
the other door leading into the back
office. Just as | closed the door MI.
Clay said: Andy, I'm done for Il
said: Are you hit, Rhodes?' He said:
Yes / then asked him where. Hell
said: Il think IN the stomach Wei
walked south through the post office
into DR.. Crawford's office. Just as we
got inside he sank to his knees. II
kept him from falling. After Mr..
Clay first spoke to me in the post Of
fee he repeated that four or five times.
After he fell Jas. Haskell helped me
put him on a lounge and the doctors
took charge"
Under questions Mr.. Winscott said
that he could not tell whether Barnes
and Clay were talking, but that Barnes
motioned Clay back. He also said that
Barnes fired once as he was falling.