The news & observer., 1905-09-07
Durham Man With Pistol
in Marlborough House.
PLANS ALL DETAILS
Goes to Barber Shop for Shave, Sham
poo and Mustache Trim, Sends Out
to Buy Underwear, Studs, Pistol
and Cartridges, Goes to Room
and Shoots Himself.

His head lin a pool of blood and
brains, his form outstretched, his eye
lids closed, his hands lying by his
side and near the right hand a new
pistol, William A. Barbee, of East
Durham, was found dead by Mortified
bell boys in his room at the Yarbor-
ough House yesterday.
He had died the death of a suicide,
and every detail of the terrible deed
had been carefully planned, even to
the leaving of a note in his pocket
directing that his bodv be sent to
Durham. Preparing for his death he
had seen to it that he be clothed
properly, shaved and that money be
left to have preparations made Tor
his burial.
The deed was committed yesterday
afternoon between half past four and
quarter to five o'clock in n room on
the second floor of the Yarbarough
House in the eastern wing. Shortly
before this Mr.. Barbee had come to
the hotel where after registering as
"W. a. Barbee, Durham and paying
in advance he went to his room. A
lew minutes later he came down and
gave the clerk, Mr.. Arthur Corpening,
a roll of bills, saying when l asked L
InInk there is ABOUT $125. Mr.. Cor
$3.50. Then Mr.. Barbee said: Give it
to any of my friends who ask for it
and went to his room.
Very shortly after this there came
the sounds of two pistol shots, one
clear, the other indistinct Bell boys
near hurried to the room and saw the
man prone on the floor. They hurried
to the clerk, and notice was given the
police, Officer Buck first coming. He
entered the room, picked up the e-pistol
and placed it on the bureau, while
Chief Mullins coming later had the
door locked and DIR. T. NJ. Jordan, the
coroner, summoned.
1t was after half past five when DIR.
Jordan came, hurrying from pro-
fessional call. He went to the room
with the. officers, Mr.. Howell Cobb,
proprietor of the Marlborough, several
reporters, and some men from Dur
ham. who were called to identify the
dead man.
As the door was opened a gruesome
sight was seen. With limbs out
stretched the suicide lay with his
head near the door in pool of blood,
his body being Immediately between
the foot of the bed and the bureau,
the glass of which was broken by a
bullet The pistol lay on the bureau,
and by it was a box of 32-calibre CEN
trail fire cartridges, the top partially
torn off and five cartridges missing
from it, An examination of the plS-
toll new Smith & Wesson, showed
two empty shells and three loaded
ones in it, this showing, in addition
to the pistol Shots that the man shot
twice.
The suicide had chosen a place on
the side of his head which insured
quick DEATH The blood had washed
away any stains there might have
been and there on his right temple,
lust above the ear, was the wound
that had brought a quick death.
Whether the first or second shot did
this there can only be a Surmlse as
none saw the rash act. If it was the
first shot, then the second that crushed
fell and his fingers convulsively
clutched the pistol. If the second
shot brought death, then the first
that broke the mirror must have been
a test shot to see if the pistol would
act. This is the surmise as from the
position i'm which the body lay he was
standing with his right side to the
mirror and as ne fell backward his
right side lay close to the bureau.
A search of the pockets of the coat
brought clear proof of intended sui
eide. for in the left-hand lower pocket
was q double sheet of note paper, and
at the top of the first page there was
written in lead pencil please send me
To Durham, n. c. The only other
piece of paper found on him was a
deposit slip of the Citizens National
Bank of Durham. Later at the un-
dertaking establishment of John w.
Brown $5.35 and some tobacco was