New-York tribune., 1907-11-15

LNSF since IllG COsllg OF TIE EAluChSTpoCheE
Trust Company Charles D. Barney, of the Stock
Exchange arm Of Charles D. Barney & Co, had
been receiving hundreds of letters from deposit
ors in the company. Some of these, coming
from foreigners. have held threats and impreca-
fians. Others have told of the ruin of families
nv the closing Of the company.
The writer's Of the letters evidently confused
Charles Z. with Charles T. Barney, for whom
as president Of the trust company the letters
we're evidently intended. In view of the large
;.unlber Of such letters that Charles d Barney
lad received It is natural TO suppose that Mr..
Barney had also received hundreds of similar
ones.
CORONER CONTRADICTED.
Late last night DR.. Dixon denied saying that
1IT. Barney had spoken 70 him when he first
him after the shooting He said that AIr.
Barney was then in such intense pain that he
could do nothing but moan. This is in direct
contradiction Of Coroner Harburgers state
lnent, in which he said that DR.. Dixon in &
sworn statement made to him had said that Mr..
EaIney had told him in reply to question
as to how it happened that it was an accident
Dr.. Dixon was also emphatic in his denial that
the dead finencer had made an attempt TO take
his life last Monday, reported, by jumping
from window at the rear Of the Park avenue
house. when I received the call to the house in
shocked by the news that Mr. Barney was in a
serious condition had seen him every day for
'hree weeks or more. and hadn't the slightest
cause to suspect that Mr.. Barney even contenl-
plated suicide.
TO be sure he very much worried over
the closing up of the Knickerboeker Trust Com
pany, and was keenly affected by the reflections
east on his management, but his depression was
10 greater than any man would have felt in
I
did everything could. the family physician
and friend of long standing, 10 cheer him up
during this trouble. There nothing what
ever in Mr.. Barney's behavior that led me or his
family TO think that he was contemplating sui
eide. There was watch kept over his moye-
lnents, because neither his family nor myself
had any reason to think vigilance was neces-
sary."
Dr. Dixon said that MIR. Barney had not
sought MIN for advice when the troubles of the
Inckerbocl1er Trust Company were upperrnost
il the public's attention. but that he. as physi-
clan and oldiime friend, thought it his duty to
give Air- Barney whatever Encouragement and
sympathy he could
Dr. Dixon referred to the death as the result
u accident" When asked to explain what
lie meant by an accident" DR.. Dixon said that
fae fact that the shot which ended Mr. Barney's
life had entered the left side Of the abdomen
against the suicide theory
Had Mr.. Barney planned TO take his own
life. does it seem likely that he would have
brought around his right hand. which held the
IeFolver 10 the left side and pulled the trigger
s. tnst awkward position? IF he wanted TO end
all be would most likely have shot himself
through the head or placed the revolver agains.
his breast
Soon after the news OF the shooting became
~
ney in charge Of the homicide bureau asked one
of the reporters assigned TO the Criminal Courts
Building Il the newspaper men could not keep
The news of AIr Barney's death quiet until the
lawyers got together and got his affairs in
shape" He was told that that was impossible
If you keep II quiet until O'clock" he
said "the lawyers will give you q full state
inent then"
The newly appointed receivers Of the Kniciz-
erbocker Trust Company were holding a meet
ming when they heard Of Mr. Barneys death
Instantly all work was stopped Many telephone
calls were hurriedly sent and queS conmunica-
fion with outside offices and persons followed
Many of the directors and officials Of the COM
pany as well as other friends Of Mr.. Barney
called during the afternoon TO leave their cards
and 10 express their sympathy.
Alr. Barney's private fortune according to
those who are in a position TO know, approx
AflHrSN @ApVvesvcv d year dgO- IL is Saf0 on goO0
authority that when he made his will two years
ago he had s9,o0O.OOO free and clear.
STATEMENT BY RECEIVERS.
The receivers of the Knickerbocler Trust
CoInpany-Ernst Thalmann. George L. Rives and
Henry c. Ide-issued the following statement
yesterday afternoon regarding the death of Mr.
Barney and its probable effect upon the inves-
tigation now being conducted into the affairs of
the company:
The attention Of the receivers Of the Knicker-
booker Trust Company being called TO the death
OF the late president OF the company, Charles
Z. Barney, stated that they had nearly finished
taking over from the banking department the