The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-12
William Barnes Has Painful
and Unexpected Experience.
Two Men Interview Him at 1
O'clock in Morning.
BADLY BEATEN WITH FISTS
Leave Victim on Floor Nearly
Unconscious.
Says He Does Not Know Who
Were AssaiIants.

A Topeka man was called from his
bed at o'clock in the morning. enticed
to the door in his bare feet, and then
given a careful and deliberate beating
by two big husky unknown men.
William Barnes, water service fore
man of the Santa F'e in Topeka, and
one of the well known Santa F'e men
of the city, suffered this experience
Sund.y night. His face is swollen, one
of his eyes is shut and he is covered
with bruises as result of the mid
night surprise.
Barnes says he does not know the
men who administered the punishment.
He says he knows of no reason why he
should be pounded into a pulp with
nothing on but mighty and with
nothing to defend himself. But the
police department has not heard of the
there is a story of a woman in the
case travelling around the Santa Fe
shops.
1t is rumored by associates and ac-
quaintances of Barnes that one of the
men who assisted in the eye backing
party Sunday night, was the husband
of a woman who was altogether too
friendly with Barnes. Naturally all
husbands lay the blame on the imam in
the case" refusing to believe that their
wife had anything to do with it-so
Barnes was made the goat" of the
affair.
Barnes will not discuss the matter
He is, bearing his swollen head and face
gracefully and without complaint. And
two men are nursing bruised fists and
knuckles.
William Barnes lives in a boarding
house at 81 Madison street. His wife
is with him now and then. Most of the
time she stays on their ranch a few
miles west of Topeka on the Rock Is
land. She visits her husband in To-
peka at odd times and they live in a
few rooms at the house on Madison
street.
Assault in Early Morning.
About 1 O'Clock Monday. morning
the housekeeper heard knocking at
the front door She answered the
knocks and two men with hats pulled
over their faces stood on the front
portch.
I'VE want to see William Barnes"
they explained.
He lives in another part of the
house. You can get him by going to
the side door, she answered.
The two visitors paraded around the
house and beat on the door panels.
who's there" Barnes yelled sieen-
lily.
You come TO the door and see,"
answered the duet.
What do you want?' Barnes asked
I'VE want to see you," was the only
answer.
cant you wait until tomorrow ~
Barnes suggested still only partially
aroused from his slumbers.
well, it's tomorrow now-and
time for you to come to the door,
was the reply.
Knowing that he had nothing of
value in the house to steal, Barnes
obeyed the order and went to the
door in his bare feet. Unlocking the
door he opened it slowly and cautious
ly and made his appearance before
the two visitors.
The pair stepped inside at once.
They did not wait for early morning
greetings nor did they beg the pardon
of their host for disturbing his sleep.
Instead there was a mixture of
curses and flying fists. When the first
man was exhausted he gave way to
the second mysterious stranger. He
completed the job.
When Barnes had been beaten to
the floor in almost unconscious condi-
ton, the visitors closed the door gent
ly and left as mysteriously as they
came.
Barnes is about 81 years old and
has been with the Santa Fe in To-
peka for 10 years. He is foreman
of the water service department and
is a competent man for the work.
Rumors of trouble on account of a
break in another mans family have
been prevalent in the shops for some
time But the action of Sunday night
is the first outbreak.