Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-21

B. F. Barnes.
Benjamin Franklin Barnes. postmaster
of Washington and formerly assistant
secretary to Presidents Mckinley and
Roosevelt. died, without warning. of heart
| trouble at 7:4O O'Clock last night, in the
!cme of his father-in-law, Jacob Frech.
| at 514 l. street northeast.
A moment before the end came he was
sitting at the dining table waiting for a
same of cards to begin and chatting in
a lively vein with Mr.. Frech. He was
forty years old and recently was admit
ted to the Washington bar, long his am
bition.
Seventeen years ago last Monday night,
in a room adjoining the one in which he
died. Mr.. Barnes and Miss Emily E.
| t'rech were married. He and his wife
| had made. it a practice to spend at least
| one evening a week at the Frech home
| ever since their marriage
He was on such a visit yesterday. al
| though, ag it happened, Mrs. Barnes was
not with him. He walked from their
| home, 4S r street northeast, to his ia
| ther-in-law's at brisk pace and was APP
parently in the best CT health and spirits.
Chats Gayly With Family.
The table had been cleared for a game
of pinochle by the time he arrived. Com
| ing in cheerily. he kissed Mrs. Frech.
| shook hands with Mr.. Frech, and passed
a remark about the weather to a daugh-
| ter, Miss Lillian Frech. who was playing
| the piano.
While Miss Frech still played he asked,
linz
Fine. How are you?' she replied over
her shoulder.
| 'All right he announced with exeep-
| tional emphasis.
Then Miss F'rech went on playing, and
| Mr.. Barnes entered the next room. Mrs.
| Frech was sitting at the table and -.e
| sat down on the opposite side. Mr.. Frech
| joined them in a lively conversation.
Mr.. Barnes Collapses.
| Pretty soon Mr.. Frach turned around
to get some tobacco out Of cupboard.
When he looked at Mr.. Barnes a moment
later the postmaster's head had fallen
back and his eyes were staring vacantIy.
While Mr.. Ffech's back was still turn
ed Mr.. Barnes had replied blithely to a
question his father-in-law had asked
about departmental etiquette.
Mrs. Frech. whose sight is poor, had
not noticed what had happened, but be-
"
her husband ask,
Don't you want me to open a window
for you. Frank
Miss F'rech was still playing the piano
father and mother. She stopped and ran
into the room.
Vain Efforts to Revive Him.
Mr.. Barnes limp hands were chafed.
and cold water was poured on his head.
Miss Frech passed her hand over his
heart and realized that it had ceased to
beat. SHE told her father who ran from
the house to a nearby drug store. and
summoned a doctor.
After some delay he got DR.. Seneca b.
Balm on the phone, and DR.. Balm came
Immediately to the Frech home.
After minutes examination he an
nounced that death had been instanta-
neous.' Deputy Coroner Glazebrook was
no:ined at once.
Although DR.. Balm said it was useless,
he helped the family rub the hands and
in other ways tried to start respiration
once more At length. the lfeless body
vas removed 10 lounge.
Mrs. Barnes Arrives.
Mrs Barnes. who had been summoned
from the home OF her sister, Mrs. Walter
Donaldson, 20 r street northeast, came
in while they were still working over her
husbands body. She refused to believe
that he was dead and turned in to help.
Her hopes rose as she heard the air
being artificially forced through the lungs
by DIR. Balm. But she gave way to de-
spair as the clock licked away the min
utes and no life returned. At the end
of an hour all those in the room realized
that their efforts were useless.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrcok arrived
about II o'clock. He was accompanied
unofficially by DR.. Edgar Snowden. DR..
Elazebrook examined the body, listened
and then came to the conclusion that
death had resulted from heart failure,
probably due to acute indigestion and
perhaps aggravated by overstudy for the
bar examination
Excited by Burglary Scare.
Mrs. Barnes said her husband had been
startled a few nights ago by a strange
noise in the house and had gone to the
head Of the stairs and threatened to
shoot whoever might be below. Getting
no answer he had descended and found
his alarm groundless. This unusual ex-
citement might have had a contributory
effect, in the opinion of DR.. Balm.
DR.. Glazebrook issued a certificate of
natural death, giving valvular disease of
the heart, or syncope, as the particular
cause.
George w. Reik. private secretary to
Postmaster General Hitchcock. notified
MIR. Hitchcock of Mr.. Barnes death this
morning. No word has yet been received
in reply.
Mr.. Barnes bondsmen have also been
notified According to the law they will
name an acting postmaster. who will take
charge until a regular appointment is
made and the Office formally turned over
to MIR. Barnes successor.
The bondsmen are Patrick J. Brennan,