The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-11-16

c. T. Barney, of KniCkerbOcSer
Trust Co., Kills Himself.
PROMINENT IN FINANCE
Il Is Believed His Loss Of Fortune
and High Standing Among Business
Associates Caused Him to Fire But
let Into His Breast.

let Into HIS Breast.
New York. Nov 15.-Cherles Tracy
Barney. the deposed president OF the
Knickerbocker Trust company. ana
until recently a power in the financial
world shot and killed himself in his
home. His loans with the bank, II Is
said. are amply secured, and wheh ne
was forced from It's presidency ne
WAS to all intents and purposes. eliml'
mated as a factor in banking cries
What Ill effects his unexpected taxing
of might have mad on the financial
situation generally had long since
been discounted In distress Of mind
over the dissipation of his private for
tune and the loss of his high standing
among business associates. intimate
acouaintances find the hidden drift
that broke his health and reason.
And even much of his personal
wealth might have been saved. Al the
time that Barney was dying at ms
home at East 3Sth street and Park
avenue. and surgeons probed Tor
bullet that. misdirectod by neryeless
hand. had entered the body below the
heart a handful Of friends at a down
town Office were concluding an ar
rangement by which the loole ends OF
the bankers many enterprises were
TO bo gathered up and financed by a
stock company which. if not wholly
successful. would at least rescue
from the wreckage sufficient to insure
the promoters future financially. me
conference broke IN at the announce
ment that Mr.. Barney was dead.
Mr.. Barney, who was in his 5'th
year. shot himself while alone IN his
chamber at the rear Of the second
floor of his home. The bullet entered
below the heart AMI lodged under the
left shoulder blade He died after sur
fering intensely. When the coroner
reached the Barney house he found
with Mrs. Barney and her son. Ashbel
n Mrs. Susan Abbot Meade. a guest;
DR.. George A. Dixon, DR.. Joseph A.
Blake and Attorneys George L. Nicho
las and Arthur Masten.
From the confusing stories due 10
the excitement of the hour it was de-
termined that Mr. Barney deliberately
shot himself while alone. and soon al
Ter rising. rs the bullet entered his
body he fell unconscious upon the
bed. The report Of the revolver star
tied the family.
The Knickerbocker Trust company
closed It's doors at the beginning OF
the recent financial crisis. The institu'
ton was one Of the largest trust com
panies in the city and had liabilities
estimated at from s6O,000,OOO to s7O.'
900. 0O0.
Mr.. Barney was born in Cleveland
O. on January 81. 1851. He was the
son of A. Fl. Barney. president OF
the United states Express company.
After graduating from Williams col
lege in 1870 ne married Miss LILY
Whitney. sister Of William c. Whit
ney. and settled down to an active ca
reer in the banking business OF New
York city. As his success In banking
became pronounced he determined to
increase the scope Of his interests and
became connected with the stock ex
change firm of Rogers & Gould as a
special partner. At the same time he
began to make personal investments
in New York city property, and his
keen insight. coupled with a general
upward trend OF the market. made him
very successful for many years. AS an
officer or director he was connected
with "a concerns. largely financial IN
stitutions. From some Of these he was
forced to retire when 1t appeared that
some of his business ventures were
going against him.
Mr.. Barney was financially interest
ed in the McCall's Ferry Dam com
pany. a s1O.OOOOOO concern. organized
TO furnish power from the SusQuehan
ma river 10 Baltimore and other cities
The KnickerbOcker Trust company
had securities in that concern.