The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-01-03
Woman Concerned Tried to
Keep the Two Apart But
Failed
OEAO MAN F0RsOOk WIFE
AND SPENT SMALL FORTUNE
Wife Of Victim Was Afraid to Talk
Until She Was Certain Her Husband
Was Dead Christmas Anticipation
Turned to Tragedy.

Kansas CITY, Jan. S.-The Jealousy
Of two men infatuated with the same
woman may explain the murder in
Kansas City. Kas., of Neal McCoig Of
Grand Island, Neb. A man who had
demanded that McCoig keep away
from Mrs. Alice Barber was in the
womans home at 1914 Oak street the
night the Nebraska man made his
last visit to her home.
McCoig knew the man and fire.
quently had told Mrs. Barber of his
dislike Of the other. Mrs. Barber
feared trouble II the two should meet
and sent William Nelson, q roomer at
her house. to intercept McCoig and
prevent his appearance while the sec
ond man was present.
"The man who held first place in
the affections Of Mrs. Barber was q
switchman," William Nelson, the for
mer roomer at Mrs. Barber's home,
said this morning. whenever Nc
Ccig appeared Mrs. Barber always
tried to keep this man out of sight.
At times she cursed him for showing
himself and said that he was knock
ing her out of money"
Kept the Men Apart.
"The night of McCoig's last visit
to the house, the switchman was
there. Mrs. Barber knew McCoig was
coming and she sent me to the cor
ner of Twelfth and Oak streets to
stall him away until the switchman,
who had been drinking, should go to
bed. knew McCoig at sight from
having seen him at the house. About
IL o'clock went up to the corner
and met him and = fyiSnd of his Just
getting In. stalled them up to an
other rooming house and they 4. left
their grips. About. 2 o'clock they
came to Mrs. Batber's in spite fof
my warning. The switchman had
gone to bed and after a general good
time drinking everyone else retired
Mrs. Barber Admits Jealousy.
"The man you refer to was jealous
of McCoig." Mrs. Barber said this
morning. "McCoig had hard feelings
against this man and was always
knocking him to me. 1t was case
Of jealousy all around, you might say.
don't think they ever quarreled
openly, but there were hard feelings.
When McCoig came to the house that
morning, the man you call the SWITCH
man was in bed asleep. McCoig and
his friend went up stairs awhile and
then went out while l was asleep.
About 10 o'clock sent Nelson out to
look for McCoig, but he couldn't find
him. never saw him again.
Not Employed by the Union Pacific.
II can prove that the switchman
has not been out of my house only
to 60 to the store since McCoig was
here. The switchman has not been
well and has been around the house
until Sunday morning, when he went
to the Union Pacific to go to work
on switch engine. He formerly
was employed here by that road"
The yardmaster for the Union Pa
cific railroad said at noon that this
man, who was Mrs. Barber's friend,
had not applied for work and that no
man by that name had ever been en-
ployed there, so far as he knew.
The Swftcllman IL Gone.
Mrs. Agnes Durbin, who owns the
rooming house at 1914 Oak street, has
been living at. the house since last
Wednesday,. She said the switchman
had been there since then until his
disappearance this morning. Inquiry
at the saloons in the neighborhood
where McCoig was said to have been
drinking failed to disclose any in
formation that might be regarded as
q clew.
The police are still looking for the
companion Of McCoig, who accompan-
led him to Mrs. Barber's home. He
has not been seen since. This man
was apparently 80 years old and was
small and of dark complexion.
Mrs. Barber was taken to the office
Of Edward Boyle, inspector of detec-
tives, early this afternoon. She will
be questioned.
Mrs. Coig's Story.
Grand Island, Neb., Jan. 3.-To a
home that expected Christmas vis-
itor there came this morning sorrow
and a story of tragedy.
The children who had watched for
a father. who had awakened Christ
mas morning to find the stockings
which he had promised to fill as emp
ty as they were the night before, saw
instead of parent this morning only
the pictures of murdered man. Then
thew heard their mother doaortod lost