The Washington times., 1908-06-15
William H. Barnes, Unable
to Sleep Since Easter,
Jumps Into River.
WATCHMAN SEES
MAN END HIS LIFE
Suicide Carried Clipping Telling
How Brother Had Been Kill
ed in Bed by Gas.

With a newspaper clipping OF his
brothers tragic death b. asphyxlation
in mis- coat pocket. William II. Barnes.
sixty-r5ae years of age, walked from
his ho1e. 5l9 & street northeast 10 the
Anacostia bridge. took OF his clothing
on the draw. and plunged into the East
ern Branch at 2.50 o'clock This morn
l1E-
George Langley. v-atchmaE on the new
bridge which is being constructed about
firty yards above the old one, saw the
man as he leaped. Langley hurried TO
the draw, but Barnes had disappeared
before he reached EiE. AT u LAKE hour
this afternoon lis body had not been
discovered
Barnes had been q sufferer from IN
sonnia since his brother death Easter
Sunday, and Tor weeks he had not closed
his eyes. His inability 10 obtain rest
and his persistent refusaIs 10 use any
drUg that would produce sleep had
driven him desperate and IT, is believed
lie was temporarily derauged-
His Biother Found Dead.
Charles A. Barnes. a brother OF the
CrOwss,. man, was found dead n bed
Easter sunday with the gas turned on.
lie had been in The best of spirits the
night before, ana after an invesus cation
of ne case. Coroner Nevftt gave a GER
tidcate OF accidental death.
Since tEat time William Barnes had
been q srIerer from insomnia. Night
after nj yht he would walk the floor
until osybreak, and on several occ6-
SONS he had walked the streets al
night. Several friends spent last even
ing with Ar ana Mrs Barnes at their
home Mrs. Barnes retired about II
o clock, but her husband said It was
no use for MIN 10 80 10 bed, as he could
not s-seD.
oh. yvlu be all right" his wife told
him. Go 10 bed the way I DO and don't
tRink anything about it, The first thing
you know you Will be asleep"
Barnes said that he would sit up a
while longer and wouia a 10 bed when
he felt sleepy shortly after midnight
Mrs. Barnes heard the front door close
she supposed that her husband had
gone OUT 10 take a walk, and paid no
special attention 10 The fact that ne was
not home for breakfast. thinking that
he had probably walked the streets all
night and gone directly to work.
Watched Barnes Undress.
langley was standing on the new
bridge when he saw d man start Il
cross the old structure. When he
reached the draw the man started TAX
Ing OF his clothing. Langley. reauz
ing that the man was acting strangely
watched him. He took of his coat
vest, and hat, and throwing his cane
down climbed up on the railing anc
jumped in the water. Barnes wa,
identified by a notebook In his coal
pocket. which contained his name and
address
Barnes had been employed at the
Washington Office of the Adams EX.
press Company for thirty-five years
He worked as a driver for a number OF
years, but about four years ago he
met with an accident, fracruring his
leg. When he was able 70 go bach
TO work he was detailed 10 go with the
money wagon.
Police Of the harbor precinct dragged
the channel all the morning in the
vicinity OF the bridge. but failed u
recover the body. The police weT5
assisted by many persons in small
boats, who dragged with graphing
irons.