Mexico Missouri message., 1902-07-17

over and got up"
Sheriff Quincy James exhibited
the revolver purporied to belong to
G.. a. Barnes; also had shells.
The revolver was a 3S caliber Iver-
Johnson.
A. J. Winscott: ri am in the
life insurance business. know
Rhodes Clay and Clarence Barnes.
| saw the alteration between the
two. | was few feet from the
granitoid sidewalk directly south
west of the front door of the In
telligencer office, not over eight or
ten feet from the middle of the
street. This was during the alter
cation. Preceding the trouble
thought Clarence Barnes had gone
home. saw him second time
as he was few feet from the iron
grating across the gutter north
from the postoffice. He went in
postotlice and | think went to the
mail box near the call window and
mailed some letters. At this time
he was momentarily ont of my
sight. Saw him again almost di-
rectly behind the iron post inside
of the postof1ice. Mr. Clay had
come in the main entrance of post
office and was walking toward the
iron post. At that time | had
gone out on the granitoid walk in
front of the Intelligencer office.
Mr. Barnes came almost face to
face with Mr.. Clay illustrated
with Coroner Bridgford) and did
not see him until upon him.
Looking up Barnes seemed 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 away") with his right
hand on his right hip. When
they came out of the west door Mr..
Barnes was walking in a northeast
erly direction, walking backwards.
Mr.. Clay was some ) or 6 feet from
him, walking more in an easterlv
direction with his face rather in
cllned to the southeast. They had
taken 6 or I steps, that is Barnes
had. | could see Mr.. Barnes jerk
his arm up but could not see the
revolver, but almost instantly |
heard a shot, | think two and then
the general fusilade. was in the
middle of street then. Mr.. Barnes
fired the first shot. Mr.. Barnes
either struck his heel on cutoff
water plug or stepped off of the
walk with his right foot. He fell
on his back and his revolver out of
his hand. While he was down
Nv. Clay pointed his pistol at him,
held IL there momentarily, seemed
to look ut him, turned around and
walked up the street south. BY
the time got within 20 feet of
Mr.. Clay | followed at Mr.. Barnes.
! said Clarence don't shoot any
more; I'll take care of Rhodes
He replied, I haven't got any
more loads. Sidney James, |
think, arrived at Barnes side Just
as he got up and when | spoke to
him (Barnes) he was standing on
the crossing 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 off of the
granitoid walk just beyond the
telephone pole, took about two
steps toward me, with revolver
lying in extended hand, (illustra-
ted). He walked up and handed
it to me and said, Andy, | would
give YOU anything that I've got on
earth. AS | turned Mr.. Clay
around toward the east door of the
post Office, | caught him by the
left arm. saw Latney Barnes
running up the street. yelled at
Frank McCord to catch him and
not let him come up there. took
Clay in the postoffice through the
other door leading to the back
office. Just as ! closed the door
Mr.. Clay said: Andy, I'm done
for ] said: Are you hit,
Rhods?' He said Yes | then
asked him where. He said: I
think in the stomach We walk
ed south through the post office
into DR.. Crawford's office. Just
as we got inside he sank to his
knees, | kept him from falling.
After Mr.. Clay first spoke to me
in the post office he repeated that
four or five times. After he fell
Jas. Haskell helped me put him on
a lounge and the doctors took
charge"
| The cOroner's jury was composed
of the following: p. M. Morris,
NJ. X. Wise, William Atkinson.