Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-08-06
BARNEs.cLAY TRIAL.
Concerning Rather a "Rare
and Racy" Witness.

Roodhouse, Ill:
The first chapter in a celebrated
trial was unfolded in Roodhouse
Thursday with incidents
both comical and sensational. It
will be remembered that in July, a
year ago, a street duel occurred
out at Mexico, Mo-. between Clar-
ence A. Barnes and Rhodes Clay,
both prominent young lawyers of
that city. 1t was a pistol duel at
close range. Barnes received two
wounds, Clay three, and Clay's
wounds proved fatal.
Barnes surrendered himself and
was held on bond to await trial. A
preliminary trial resulted in Barnes
being released on bond. At the
next term of court the grand jury
exonerated Barnes and he was dis
charged. Another term of court
passed by and no action was TAX
en- The next term being the
June term just passed, Barnes
was indicted by another grand
jury, the charge being only MUIR
der in the second degree,
The testimony taken here Thurs
day showed some new and hitherto
unknown witnesses appeared be-
fore the last grand, jury. 1t was to
investigate the character of
one of the new witnesses and the
circumstances under which he got
into the case that the testimony
was taken here.
The state was represented at
the taking of the dispositions by
Jno. d. Orear and IL. l.. Buckley,
while F. r. Jesse and p. Il. Gull
len appeared for the defense. The
testimony was taken before attor-
neys King and Strang, and about
twenty witnesses were examined.
1t developed in the testimony
that the new witness who appeared
before the grand jury was Arthur
Duffy of ROodhouse, who is a well
known character here.
He claimed prior to Thursday
that he was at Mexico the day of
the shooting and saw the pistol
duel, but he saw Barnes Thursday
morning and said he never knew
him or saw him before, and when
asked if he did not see Barnes
shoot a man denied it positively.
The attorney for Barnes intro
duced about twenty witnesses
whose testimony was mainly con-
corning Duffy's character and rep
utation, which was extremely I'M
favorable to the value of his testi-
mony in the case. A vigorous
cross examination by the state S
attorney did not materially add
strength to it.
The sensational feature of the
hearing was the testimony
showing the manner in which Duff
fly became a witness. 1t was sworn
to by a number of witnesses that
abont May LIST DR.. Bob" Crawford
came here and found Duffy, took
him before a notary public aud Sc.
cured some sort of a statement.
Crawford is said to be doctor
practicing medicine in a small Mis-,
souri, hamlet, but in Roodhouse he
dropped his medical pursuits vand
rounded up" Duffy. About the
time the grand jury met DIR. bob
Crawford returned here again. He
found Duffy He importuned him
to go back to Missouri and swear
The witnesses said Dugy wanted
compensation, at least So per day
and all expenses. The doctor sale
he had the money and would pay
Duffy wanted cash down. Craw.
ford argued for cash on delivery,
They finally compromised by Craw
ford agreeing to pay him on the
train so the witnesses swore. Blu
even then Crawford's trouble haC
not ended.
The doctor is cure all man. II,
prescribed for his patient new
clothes. He took him to Mellen'i
store and bought him pair O
pants, to Sawyer's store anC
bought him shoes. Duffy picked
out the clothes but Crawford PAL,
: for them, so the merchants swore
Dressed in this new attire the doe
tor took Duffy to Mexico, and il
these neat new clothes he appeared
before the grand jury and swore
and an indictment followed
Then the doctor paid and ex
actly how much was not develOpe,
but when Duffy returned he fiashe,
a roll of bills in the hotel and tn
proprietor swore that Duffy toll
him that he got $25 and neN
suit of clothes vfor testifying to