, 1904-02-09
MURDERED HIS
RELATIVES IN BED
FRANK BARKER CHARGED WITH
KILLING HIS BROTHER AND
SISTER.IN-LAW.
Held at Hastings, Nebraska, To Await
Action Of the District court-Love
Affair at Bottom of the Tragedy
Killed Brother That He Might
Get Possession Of the Farm.


to a close and the defendant wa:
bound over to the April term of distric
court. His ~16-year-old brother Guy
who has also been placed under arrest
will have his hearing nex Friday. Il
was given u that the boy was being
held as an accomplish, but this is er
roneous as Prosecuting Attorney Over
man says that the only object in hold
ing the lad is for the purpose of secur
ing more light on the murder.
All the evidence given by the sever
witnesses for the state went to show
that the dual murder was a most cold
blooded, premeditated affair, concocted
and executed by Frank Barker, broth
er Of Dan Barker, the victim. Every
Witness who testified for the state told
the same story, which was to the eff
feet that Frank Barker had said that
his brother a and wife were going
Dan had secured employment there,
Andrew Arnold, who is the owner OF
the farm which the deceased was rent,
ing, testified that he had met the de,
ceased on the road Sunday afternoon
and their conversation was about the
farm and its crops, and Barker did not
say anything about contemplating go
ing to Denver or any other place. Ar
mold also testified that he met and &C.
cused Tuesday morning and the latter
informed him that his brother II wife
had gone to Denver Monday, but would
return in time for the spring work.
Arthur Wolcott was with the accus-
ed Monday cutting ice ON the river and
the accused had volunteered the in
formation about the departure of Mr..
and Mrs. Barker and seemed anxious
to make the statement impressive.
Further testimony proved that the
last time Mr.. and Mrs. Dan Barker
were seer alive was at church Sunday
evening. Guy Barker. the ~16-year-old
ollIS VI lhC ooih lac
Ell Frank came home Sunday night
about l o'clock and after changing his
clothes he departed for his brothers
place. Mr.. Barker, father of the de-
PENDANT, also corroborated that state
ment. The crime was supposed to
have been committed early Monday
morning. The defendant had previous
ly stated that he had stayed at his
fathers home hal night. Circum-
stantial evidence is very strong
against the accused. In fact, he has
told SO many conflicting stories that
he has practically convicted himself,
while his father has expressed doubts
as to the veracity of his sons state
ments.
The true cause which prompted
Frank Barker to deliberately plan and
execute the murder Of his own broth
er and wife has come to light. 1t vas
a love affair. Miss Lizzie Rienkel has
been the dream Of Frank Barker's life
during the past eight months, during
which time he was a constant wooer
About two weeks ago he proposed to
Miss Rienkel and was accepted but
he was given to understand that the
marriage could not take place until
he had established a home for himself
and bride. This he promised to do
within a short period. Last Sunday
night, when he called upon his tiancee,
he informed her that 1t would be only
a few days until he would have every
thing adjusted satisfactorily to herself
and her father and then he would ask
for her parents onsen to a speedy
marriage. The superstition is that i'm.
mediately after departing from the
home of his sweetheart he went to his
fathers house, donned his working
garments, armed himself with a 49,
calibre revolver and went to the home
of his brother, resolved upon putting
his brother and wife out Of the way
that he might gain possession Of the
home which he had promised to estab-
lish for his bride-to-be.
Entering the house he found hus-
band. and wife asleep. Apparently, he
shot his brother when within q few
feet of the bed and then thrust the
revolver against the left cheek Of Mrs.
Barker and fired. The victims face
was badly burned with powder and
presented q horrible appearance. In
order to conceal the crime and carry
out the details as he had planned, he
carried the bodies to the cowshed,
where = rude grave was dug, four feet
long, four feet deep and two feet wide.
Into this hole the bodies were jammed
end carefully covered with dirt and
manure. All the bed clothes, carpets
and garments about the house were
then secreted In the haymow.
Escaped an Awful Fate.
Mr.. H. Haggins, of Melbourne. Fla.