New-York tribune., 1907-11-15
c. t. BARNEY KILLS HIMSELF.
Former Knickerbocker Trust Head Fires Fatal Shot
In His Home
ACT AN ACCIDENT, SAY DOCTORS.
de Find Nothing Wrong
Private Interests Tangled

Ooo which is the total amount in which he IA
indebted 10 that company on undertakings
Mr.. Barney is obligated on no other under
writings.
While. as stated Mr.. Barney was temporarily
embarrassed, his affairs were and are. every
thing considered, in very good shape, and there
is no reason to doubt that II his assets are
properly conserved and can be sold on more
favorable market the net equity of S2.5l1.3l1 OH
will be considerably increased,
The creditors are confined almost exclusively
to banks and other institutions, and as Mr..
Barney has left a will leaving his entire estate
to Mrs Barney, there is every reason to believe
decided upon and approved by him before his
death. be carried out
Mr. Barney did not leave his room at all yes
terday so far as is known He was dressed
only in paiamas when the fatal shot was fired.
and apparently had just got out of bed Wednes-
dav he was at his office at No. II Broadway.
off and on during the day. and kept constantly
In touch with it over the telephone when he
himself was not there. His clerk in charge Oe
the office said that he appeared to be in the best
of spirits and was in no way despoudent de-
Jected, apparently.
In speaking about Mr. Barney yesterday an IN
innate friend of the late banker said: Mr. Bar
ney became so worried over his business affairs
about ten days ago that he discharged most OF
the servants in his household. He kept in his
employ only three servants"
Mr.. Nichols, who sent for soon after DR..
Dixon came, was not at all satisfied that Mr..
Barney shot himself and called up the District
Attorneys office. asking that representative
be sent up. Mr.. Manley was sent up almost
Immediately and at first tried to suppress all
news of the shooting
DR.. Blake told Coroner Hamburger Of Mr..
Barney's death shortly after o'clock and
asked that the coroner come up at once. Mr..
Hamburger reached the Barney house a few
minutes later. and was followed by his assist
ant. DR.. O'Hanlon. When the coroner went in
besides the family and Mrs. Mead there were
in the house Mr.. Nichols and H A Mastsn,
also of counsel for Mr.. Barney, and Drs. Dixon
and Blake.
CORONER'S STATEMENT.
Mr. Hamburger examined all of them. holding
Informal court. The examination lasted until
after o'clock. when Mr. hamburger left the
house. He made the following statement:
The first person I examined was DR. C,eorr,
A Dixon. of No. 10 West 4Jth street. / had Dr.
Dixon sworn Under oath he said that he had
Cidl. that ne was called up over the telephOnet
ABOUT I'D O'Clock and asked to go TO the Barney
mouse mouse at once He said he reached the house
vi NIIntI IN rev minutes after receiving the call
and found Mr. Barney suffering from a glInshOt
wound on the upper side of the abdomen to the
leit, and that he thought il was sslf-infcted:
that no one was in the room when he entered
II except Mr. Barney himself DR. Dixon then
said that he sent for DR.. Blake as DR. Stin7sOn
wh0 had also been sent for had not come
He said that he asked Mr.. Barney how il had
happened and that Mr. Barney reDlieI- "T)o,to~
this is an accident" He further said that after
Dr. Blake's arrival an operation was performed
ABOUT l O'Clock and that he believed that the
shooting had been accidental and that Mr.
Barney had not committed suicide
looked at the body and told him that could
% not agree WIN nm: that believed he had killed
himself Intentionally, TO which. or course there
was no response.
I then examined DR.. Blake He said he had
been called by DR.. Dixon and had reached the
house shortly afterWaF6 In ~ all
I operated" he said having found gunshot
wound in the abdomen" He added that 8Ir
Barney was put under the influence of an anaes-
thetic before the operation and had not recOv-
cred consciousness again
There was no examination OF DR.. Stinson BY
me because he had had TO leave the house before
the operation was performed. as he had TO de-
liver an address DR.. Dixon did not participate
Blake. a9 ''-''' WHICH was pe'io''iieo 0S Df'
When reached the house found Mr.. Bar
neys body lying on a canopied four posted bed.
II was nude, and much cut up by the operation.
Mr. Nichols was then examined He said
he and Mr.. Masten had been sent for. II went
MN II any one else was In the room when the
shot was fired: to this he replied. No"
Ashbel II. Barney, son Of Mr.. Barney, we
examined He said he had taken the pistol from
which the shot was fired He gave IL 70 ms.
There were still three cartridges in IL. and aS
empty shell The fifth chamber was empty
1t was small pistol 80 caIibre He said that
when he entered his fathers room. after hearing
the shot he saw his father lying on the floor
doctor"
Mrs. Susan Abbot Mead. who is friend Of
the family, had Just returned from Europe. She
was with Mrs Barney when she heard shot.
She testified that she had rushed into Mr. Bar
neys room on hearing the shot and had called
at onco for Mrs Barney. who was Just behind
He OIr. Barney lying the floor when
I entered the room," she said.
MRS. BARNEY's STORY.
Mrs. Barney was next questioned. In reply
TO my questions she gave the following account
of the affair: II heard what sounded like
shot. I at once into my husbands room.
AS / entered II he was standing upright, but
fell as passed through the door. I ran to him.
whether he shot not YES there are
pistols in the house There Is one on every
floor. We kept them to protect the house.
Sergeant Thomas NJ Mclaughlin said that he
had seen a large crowd collecting in front OF the
house and so had gone in to see what the trOu-
BILE
examined the body and located the bullet which
he found lodged IN the left shoulder below the
neck. and took it out He told me that he did not
believe IL suicide and that 1t would have
beeen impossible TO shoot in that direction.
You have asked me for frank opinion" he
said To me, "and so give you the one that
from the one you hold ! said: II thank YOU
for your frankness. although 1 must disagree
with you.
Mr. Hamburger said he had not talked to any
of the servants. but he added significantly.
If in support of his suicide theory. Il found out
that there had been visitors to the Barney
house this morning before and up to the time
of the shooting and that Mr. Barney was alone
when the shot was fred
The coroner has entered the case his blot
ter as one OF suicide and IL is entered on the
police records.
The statements made to the coroner are some