The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-12-09
BARNEY SUICIDE
IS QUESTIONED
PHYSICIAN AND HEAD OF HOMI-
IDEA OF SELF DESTRUCTION.

IDEA OF SELF DESTRUCTION.
NEW YORK, November 15-Though
Charles T. Barney, former president of
the Knickerbocker Trust Company,
whose sudden death from a gunshot
wound startled his friends and the
financial world generally, has been
officially declared a suicide by the cor
oner, according to DR.. George A. Dixon,
the family physician one of the first
doctors to be summoned, Mr. Barney's
last words to him were Doctor, this
was accidental. DR.. OHanlon, the
coroner's assistant who afterwards ex-
tracted the bullet, also holds the
opinion that Mr. Barney did not kill
himself Intentionally
at seems to me practically impossi-
ble,' he said, that a man should kill
himself in such way. Juding from
Mr.. Barney's characteristics his ply
sique and his determination | cannot
believe that he shot himself in such a
way. He would have taken better aim.
This is not a case of suicide"
Mr. Manley, head of the homicide de-
partmenE of the district attorneys Of
flee, who was sent for by George L.
Nichols, of counsel for Mr.. Barney,
shortly after the shooting, held the
same view.
Coroner julius Hamburger, on the
other hand, states positively that it is
a clear case of suicide.
1T could have been nothing else, -
said Mr.. Hamburger. Mr.. Barney shot
himself and there can be no doubt
about that. / believe he shot himself
because of the events of the last few
days, Judging from all the circum-
stances surrounding the case"
A third view is held by a number
of other persons. These say that Mr.
Barney was holding the pistol in front
Of him preparatory to raising it to
shoot, when it accidentally went off.
However, Mr. Barney's friends all
admit that his embarrassed financial
condition greatly worried him; that he
had lost ambition, and they assert that
if he committed suicide, as it appears
he did, he committed the act in weak
moment of dependency.
Martin and Nichols, the counsel of
Mr. Barney, have given out a state
ment of Mr., Barney's finances, in which
they say:
While Mr.. Barney was financially
embarrassed, his embarrassment was
only temporary. His property, con
sisted largely of real estate, and the
stocks of banks and trust and realty
companies, which could not be sold un.
der existing conditions except at enor.
nous sacrifices. All of his creditors
had been seen and had signifed their
entire willingness to extend the pay.
ment of his obligations for a sufficient
period to enable his assets to be con.
verified into cash. In order to accom-,
plish this a plan had been prepared
involving the transfer of all of his as
sets to corporation which should is
sue its obligations to the creditors
such obligations to be indorsed by Mr.
! Barney. This plan had been approved
J by all of the creditors to whom it haC
been submitted
AS preliminary to submitting sucl
plan to the creditors, an examination
= of Mr.. Barney's books and affairs wa.
made by an outside expert accountant
This examination shows that on tn,
basis of the present low market value!
both of real estate and securities, the
assets of Mr.. Barney exceed all hi!
, liabilities of every kind by the sum o.
$2,517317 .O9,
The total Indebtedness of every
kind of Mr. Barney to the Knicker
booker Trust Company is less thar
$375,OO0, a considerable portion O.
which is entirely contingent, and il
respect of which he had no direc
liability. The said sum of 1915, 900 in
cludes about $4,000 which is the tota
amount in which he is indebted t
that company on underwritlngs. Mr.
Barney is obligated on no other under
writings"
Two years ago, it is understood
when Mr.. Barney drew up his will hi
had an estate worth over 100000
above all incumbrance
The funeral will be held either to
morrow or the day after.
Mrs. Barney, early today, was re
ported as still suffering severely from
the nervous shock caused by her hus
bands death. A physician was in at