The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-11-16
BARNEY WAS A SUICIDE
Ex.President Of the Defunct knIcker-
booker Trust.

NEW YORK. Nov, TO- Charles T.
Barney, former president of the Knlck-
erbocker Trust company which recent
ly closed its doors, committed suicide
in his palatial home here at the north
east corner of Park avenue and Thir-
ty.elghth street lie shot himself
shortly before 10 o'clock IN the morn
ing and died at $50 o'clock. He had
made a previous attempt on his life
last Monday, but 1t was unsuccessful
The coroner was not notified of the
suicide for some hours, when man at
the Barney residence called the Office
on the telephone and reported the sud
den death of Charles 7. Barney, fifty
five years old. II banker Clerk Charles
Burns asked for further details, and
Dr. Blake of G0l Madison avenue got
on the telephone.
The doctor said he had been called to
the house and found the banker dead
Death, the doctor said, was due 10
pistol shot wound in the stomach. The
doctor reported the case theh as one OF
suicide and not Sudden DEATH" as a
sudden, natural death is usually re-
ported. Mr. Barney had evidently
tried to shoot himself through the
heart, but his aim was poor, and the
bullet entered the stomach on the left
side just below the heart.
The following statement was issued
by George L. Nichols, the dead mans
lawyer:
Charles T. Barney died as result
Of self inflicted pistol wound"
Mrs. Barney and other members Of
the family were In the house when
they heard the shot. Mr.. Barney had
| got out of bed, dressed and had eaten
| his breakfast. He fingered about the
house for some time and then went up
| to his bedroom. A few minutes later
| the servants In the household and the
members of the family were startled
by the report Of the pistol.
| Ashbel P. Barney rushed upstairs
and found his father lying across his
bed grooming. He was lifted up and
DR.. George A. Dixon, the family ply
stefan, was sent for at once. Other
physicians came. and they had the dy-
ing mans clothing removed SO that
they might make a close examination.
After consultation they decided to
probe for the bullet. and an operating
table was improvised and the physi-
clans began their search, but Mr.. Bar
ney died before they had finished
Mr.. Nichols, personal counsel for Mr.
Barney, was hurriedly sent for, and
when he arrived he found the house in
an uproar He took charge of the sit
uation at once and insisted that moth
ing should be said about the tragedy
until the surgeons should report
Though some rumors had spread down
town about the affair, it did not be-
come known positively until the report
was made to the coroner. Just as soon
as the wounded man died Mr.. Nichols
and the physicians called up the coro-
ner's office and an investigation was
begun.
Mr. Barney had been under medical
treatment for some time for nervous
prostration, and the family were great
ly alarmed about his condition. On
Monday he attempted to jump out Of a
third story window, but was restrained
in time and had been carefully watch
ed since then. II was said that only
Wednesday night he was In a condition
touching closely on total collapse. The
difficulties in which he was placed be-
cause of the suspension Of the Knick-
erbocker Trust company were more
than he could stand.
Mr.. Barney is believed to have lost
great part of his fortune In the crash
which carried down the KnickerbOcker
Trust company. He had been rated
ut many times millionaire, having In
herited $10,000,000 alone from his ia
ther.
Mr.. Barney's und0ing came with the
disclosures In the Knickerbocker Trust
company management. which followed
the failure Of Otto Heinze e. Co. Mr..
Barney had been associated with 0. +.
and f. r. Thomas and Charles w.
Morse, and when these three men were
eliminated from the banking business
suspicion was directed toward the
Knickerbocker. The National Bank Of
Commerce notified the Clearing House
association that it would no longer
clear for the Knickerbocker A meet
ing Of the trust companies directors
was hurriedly called, and that night
Mr.. Barney resigned the presidency.
Poor Jones shut Up.
CuICAEO NnN IL Inhn LII IAnRS.