Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-02
NOTED CASE RECALLED
Settlement of the Suit Involv-
ing Insurance on the Life
of George Barber
HIS DEATH WAS SUSPICIOUS

Died in Colorado Under Circumstances
/ That Indicated He Was Poisoned
Woman Who Was Suspected and in
4 Whose Name His Life Was Insured
Settles With Company.
Webster City, Feb. 2.7,-The recent
settlement of the suit of Myrtle "A.
Wright against the Annuity Life Assoc
citation for $1,S60 viii. probably draw
1.-THE curtain over the varied life history
lof George Barber, OF Illinois, Iowa and
Colorado. The suit was for s5,os0 on
1.-TWO policies which the Wright woman
/ held on the life OF Barber. Women were
BARRIERS undoing. The life of Harry
Tracy, the outlaw, was not more siren
uous than that of George Barber. altho
the latter will not have to answer Tor
/ the taking of human life. His fondness
for women was his downfall, while his
| gulIible nature made him an easy prey
for confidence crooks.
George Barber was the son of a
wealthy Illinois farmer. Growing up in
jthe ouiet. healthy country George knew
| nothing of the guile OF the world. He
gave his close attention to the farm ana
ss emed to be one of the most exemplary
young men IN the neighborhood. He
married an estimabls woman ana was
| the pride of his aged parents. In
short time the elder Barber followed ms
wife to the grave in the supreme con-
tent Of years, happy in the knowieuge
| that his only son was Fulfilling eVers
hone. The will, Of course left all the
nroperty to George He sold the nome
4 farm for a large figure and moved 10
4 Iowa. where he re-invested part OF tue
money in Iowa farms and in city prop
artv in Webster City. The rapid change
1 from form to town life and the touch Oh
such a large amount OF money turned
| rsanrpe.s head and he began to pay
more attention to dress. He also pat
ran,yed the railroad frequently between
Nahster city and Chicago. giving his
wife the excuse Of business engage
n,ents in Illinois AT the ola nome.
tGeorge's business engagements were III
chicago. where he spent Father Bar
! hsr,s good money on women oil the Guy
/ In vine suppers, lake trips ana theatef
parties. ha,d
| The business engagement excuse neid
cood for time,. but his stops at nome
rrsw shorter and his trips away longer,
vrt,i the elimination was divorce SUIT
wrought nv his wife. George then threw
IN tho winds what little discretion ne
Yray have hitherto exercised that mace
his previous efforts look ume. Apou.
T this time his garments wouia hiahe =
\ fashion plate turn green Win envy. 's
hat was the taliest and sSiossies. a'ia
/ his clothes the most .correctin cut lhae
were ever seen on the streets OF "ep-
ister City. George Barpers eApsnse
account was pretty lsrg's III <hose gay s,'o p
ma while his divorce suit was pehuiIs
he Thought longingly OF certain notes
FOR some $4,000. which ne heio secuis.
nv good Illinois land. and whlch Woui'i
mot fall due for three years. ne ki'eM
| In the settlement OF the divorce ease
THAT all the property would De ilsteu' =, !,
ending these notes. HIS VIE "ouiu
,.et half of all. Was there any way ne
! cnuld heat her out OF the notes anu se
| cure the $1,000 for Himself Ieo.
/ thoupbt of the beautiful women IN Shi-
! 40 on Who wanted 20 marry MIN, anu
we're only waiting for the divorce sun
- ha settled. Barber went to see the
s,,.ar nj fine notes and offered ioerai
discount for cash Immediately ne
,,.o,,,d not only waive the interest,", pue
10 would throw off the $500 and tax
an even $4,000 in settlement. re sol
the money and was back in Snlcaso.
4 Threa DAYS later George walked INTO
49, oftice OF george C. Olmstead, eA-
sannty attorney of Hamilton county
=. webster. city. and handed him wnat
- nod left. some $500. Olmsteao
.,,.s 1,a,her's lawyer in the divorce suit
a,d ~ him Barber confided his plan TO
dafraud his wife of her share OF the
ao+as When the divorce suit came
N trial and the division OF the prop
ertv was being made, Barber took the
stand and swpre that he lost the So,VoV
~, ! street car in Chicago. Mrs. Bar
nor was granted the divorce and the
farms sold and money. divided.
/ Ba,ber's life was one continual gold
an sf1nset. He basked in the smiles
4 of the women OF his choice and lavished
bis oatrirnuny on them with open hand.
Gowns ana jewelry and sea shore
trims after time exhausted MS Tor
tune with the exception of the $1,000
he had given to the care of George G.
/ Olmstead. Barber drew on his attor-
new for funds and the drafts were
i d;shonored. With his pockets empty
his women friends turned their backs
lon him. Barber made his way to Web
ster city to see Olmstead. His attorney
laid not give him the glad hand, but
Hooked very chilly when Barber entered
1.-THE office. After much pleading he
Induced Attorney Olmstead to give him
a few hundred dollars and Barber
hurried back to the city to get once
Imore in the good graces of his women
friends. This money gone, he made
lanother demand on Olmstead and then
lanother, his attorney cutting down the
amount each time until a fiat refusal
to give him another cent followed Bar
ber's last request for money. Attorney
Olmstead had been thinking about this
money himself He had kept it so
Hong and had it so well invested that
lit came hard to hand 1t over to this
spendthrift for him to throw away.
lOlmstead needed it. Taking James #.
Howard, another young attorney with
|offices in the same building, into his
, 1,4x 1Ia nod ~l1k 81,