Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-16
Helen Brown, COl0red
Killed in Portland
By Albert L.
Barker
Man Walks 10 Drug Store and
Calls for Police

Portland, Me-, May lo.-AloeTl -
Barker is at the Portland police sta
ton, charged with the murder of Hell
en- r. Brown. He admits it, but seems
completely oblivious to the seriousness
of the crime. Both the victim and
himself are colored.
The tragedy was the result of jeal-
ousy on the part of the man, it is al
legged. because of the attention shown
the woman by Jim Wigs, Boston
Negro. Both of the principals in the
affairs have long police records and
they only recently had been warned
to get out of Portland. 1t was, per-
haps, because of this warning that
the trouble came to a head between
the man and woman. Barker had
signed articles to ship as a seaman
on the schooner Cora M. Cressey, and
was scheduled to leave port Friday
He heard. through friends, that Miss
Brown had been the object of atten-
ton on the part of Wigs and that
she was planning to leave Portland
and go to Boston.
According to the story told by those
living in the neighborhood he at once
armed himself and went to 263 Fore
street, where Miss Brown had her
home. 1t is alleged that he went to
her room and told her what he was
going to do and that he drew the re-
volver when the woman jumped at him
and fierce struggle followed.
One shot was discharged and enter
od he fro rnauyorl, nf a donr AOOt l.
er shot, when the woman turned the
hand of her assailant, penetrated the
left wrist of Barker. He freed him
self sufficiently, it is alleged. to point
the revolver at her head and inflicted
wound on the right side just back
OF the ear, which caused almost in
slant death. Barker calmly left the
house, walked along Fore street and
entered the Franklin Drug Store al
the corner OF Franklin and Fore
streets.
Call the police, I've shot a woman"
the Negro told those in the store. The
revolver was still smoking in his right
hand while the blood dripped from
| his left wrist
| This command was needed and cal
was sent to the police station a.
1152, two minutes after the ARRAY.
When Barker heard the police am
bulance coming along the street he
left the drug store and stood calmly
on the corner Charles E. Alcrow, the
chauffeur of the police automobile
and Patrolman Malloy saw the man
awaiting their arrival. They stopped
before him and he greeted them with
the remark: I shot woman"
He offered no resistance, was place.
in the automobile and was taken to
the police station. The bullet which
had entered his wrist was here ex-
tracted.
Capt. Stephen II. Cady of the po-
lice department, Coroner Fred w. b
Martin and other officers went to the
room where the shooting took place
and made an examination of the prem
ises.
Barker had previously said that he
had fired five shots but the officers
could find a trace of only three. There
was only one bullet wound in the
body of the woman, to which refer
ence has been made.
In the room, Capt. Cady found
letter written by Barker which gave
the full details of what he intended
to do to the woman. This had beer
written previous to the shooting. From
this the police officials formed the
opinion that Barker had intended t.
commit the crime for some time.
At the time of the shooting, Wigs
of whom Barker was Jealous, was or
eli Ia 90 ctrppf WlPps
did not enter the house. Wigs ant
other Negroes in the neighborhoof
have been taken by the police as ma
terial witnesses and will give theil
testimony as soon as Barker Is ar
raigned in court.
There were no witnesses to the
shooting. But Barker has told to th'
police and to those whom he met II
the drug store many of the facts al
ready related, while others are con
tanned in the letter he wrote.
This letter will not be given on
verbatim, though the officials declare
that it is a full confession Of thu
crime.
Both Barker and Miss Brown have
records at the police station extend
ing over a good many years. He IL
about 80 years old and she was 30
He came from the British West In
dies but has been mixed up in so man!
scrapes since coming to Portland tina
he had been ordered out of town.
The police had supposed that Meth
er of these people were in town. Mis-
Brown also went by the name of Rid
lav an5 EIIan Mcdonald
Coroner Martin will hold an inques
SATURDAY. afternoon.