The news & observer., 1905-09-07
ound in the pants watch pocket.

! learn the anne of the man eXcep
| from the hotel register, as the mef
| from Durham, one of them Mr.. Alec>
Ramsey. said that the deceased name
was Barbee and that he was nephew
| of Reuben Barbee, of Durham, ano
worked in the Bull Durham factory
Only after telephoning a description OF
the man to Durham was it found thai
his name was William A. Barbee,
aged 35, a widower, son of Squire
Gabriel Barbee, who lives some siS
miles from Durham.
From Mr.. Corpening, clerk at the
Marlborough. the information as to his
arrival and actions at the hotel was
obtained, Mr.. Corpening on being
asked stating that Barbee did not
seem much under the influence OF
whiskey, though he had evidently been
drinking. Mr.. Aleck Ramsey stated
that he had seen the man in the af-
ternoon in company with some friend
at the restaurant of Mr.. John U.
Smith, next to the dispensary, and that
he seemed a little drinking" or dopey
AS all information clearly proved
the man a suicide Coroner Jordan
stated that no coroner's inquest was
necessary and directed that the body
be turned over to the undertaken. This
was done and the body was taken to
Mr.. John w. Browns establishment
where it was prepared for burial. A
brother of the deceased, Mr. Walter
Barbee, came to Raleigh on the OK
ford and Keysville train and at 1:30
this morning left with the remains for
Durham, the money of the deceased
being turned over to him.
Finding that the dead man had but
lately been shaved a visit was made
to different barber shops, and at Otey' s
it was learned that the man had been
shaved, his face maSSaged his hair
ShampOOd, and his muStache trimmed.
all at his request The BARRIERS there
said their customer did not seem to
be under the influence of whiskey.
They stated that he had sent out the
boy, Frank Twitty, with a$5 bill with
instructions to bring a suit of under
wear a white shirt and collar, pair
of socks and seven shirt buttons. Get
the best there is was his order, and
the boy went to the store of Whiting
Brothers on Martin street and re-
turned with the things ordered. After
the BARRIERS had finished their work
Mr.. Barbee went into the bath room
and put on the things bought for him,
leaving the other clothing.
In investigating the new pistol used
visit was paid to- the Hart Ward
Hardware Company, where Mr.. Gra-
ham Haywood said he had about 3
o'clock sold a $1,000 Smith & WesSon
32-calibre and a so cent box of centre
fire cartridges to negro boy who
brought a $40 BILL and that he had
given him $3.50 change, the boy say
ing that if the pistol did not suit he
would bring it back. This information
necessitated another visit to Otey's
barber shop, and there it was learned
that Mr.. Barbee had sent the boy out
also to buy a pistol and cartridges,
saying he was going to have a little
fun" 1t was later learned from Mr..
James NJ. Edwards, salesman at Whit
ing Brothers, that he had sold the
clothing to the negro boy, but that
first he had sold a night shirt, and
that this was returned and the other
articles bought.
In further tracing out the events
leading up to the suicide it was learned
that Barbee came from Durham on
Tuesday and that shortly before leaV-
ing that place he had $3.50 in cash. on
Tuesday afternoon he was in John T..
Smiths restaurant with a friend, SAID
by Mr. Smith to be one of the bar
bers from the Kimball barber shop.
Here he and his friend took lunch,
Barbee eating two orders of ham and
eggs, and drinking two cups of cof-
fee and a bottle of beer. After eating
kept $40, saying: Il am going to
East Raleigh to spend the night and
wont take more than So" Mr.. Smith
agreeing that this was best He went
to East Raleigh, and by a hackman II
is stated that he visited two houses
there, spending the night. CIhe city
authorities seem unable to locate these
scarlet places, or if they know where
thev are. are not closing them up.)
NJ
peared at Smiths and as MI Smith
said He seemed to be little dopey.
and not as if he had been drinking.
Mr.. Smith in the presence of witnesses.
shortly before three o'clock, gave Bar
bee back his $50 and Barbee left the
place. saying he .would hurry to the
hotel SO as to go to the train Tor
Following this came the visit to
the pistol and the clothing. the regis
tering at the hotel and the suicide in
the room.
Barbee was a rather fine looking
man. something over six feet tall and
well porportioned. His skin was
swathy, his hair heavy and black, his
muStache trimmed close. He was
dressed inea dark suit of clothes. with
a small fleck of white in it, his coat
a short one. and no vest. His white
shirt had a pleated front and as he
Law dead there were spots of blood
on it. the new gold plated studs show
ing up bright. His high turn over
collar was spotless and the craVat was
a little bow of dark N'''". AT the
the tattooing of female
figures, American flags and other de-
vices on his chest and arms showed
that he had been a sailor.
hi inf a brought
Raleigh his brother, Walter F. Barbee,
who said that his brother had been at
his house on Sunday and seemed in
GOOD S1liritS that MOndaX be had