The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-09
RICHARD |. BARNARD ENDS LIFE IN CELL BY SLASH|NG THROAT WITH ELECTRIC BULB Well-Known Geologist is Found in Pool of Blood
 Soon After Being
 Locked Up CHARGE OF ASSAULT MADE AGAINST HIM EARLIER IN THE DAY Was Hitting Unknown Man Over Head With Umbrella
 When Put Under
 Arrest

Slashing the jugular veins on each side of his throat with the ragged edge of a broken electric light globe, Richard c. Barnard, 400 south Fifty fourth street, Woodlawn, we'll known geologist of this city, died in a pool of his own blood in cell in the county jail last night at 6:10 o'clock.
 Barnard was placed in the jail yesterday at noon on warrant sworn out by pr. N. P Cooke, be- fore Judge H. B. Abern nth 7, charg- ing that Barnard had threatened o1 is about to commit a breach of the peace" The warrant bore the name of his wife, Ethel B. Barnard, as witness.
 l When placed under arrest he is alleged to have been assaulting an unknown man at the Terminal station with an umbrella | He was placed in a car with Dr. Cooke and a policeman and brought to the coun- l ty jail immediately. Before being placed | in his cell he was searched, as is cus- l tomary, and B of a grain of morphine | was found in his possession. It Is stated by his physician that he underwent a l treatment earlier in the day.
 CELL IN DARKNESS 1 Cries from the other prisoners in the | jail first attracted the attention of In side Warden F. L. Erwin, who went i'm mediately to Barnard's cell Upon enter 1 ing, the cell was in darkness. The bed l clothing was piled in heap at the foot of the bed, and his blood-stained vest was pitched upon top of the pile. Upon trying to turn on the light, it was dis covered that the globe was missing. Plac- ing a new light in the socket a horrible scene was uncovered.
 Barnard was lying on his cell floor ir | a pool of his own blood, still warm. His clothing was partly torn from his body, as if in his last struggle wild desire tc destroy had obsessed his mind. Blood was still slowly coming from the gash in each side of his throat and settling over his body. The bed clothing in one place near the head of the bed was saturated with blood and it had splashed over the entire cell, which he occupied alone.
 NECKTIE AROUND THROAT Warden Rives was next upon the scene and began at once to try to save the mans life. Before slashing his throat Barnard had removed his tie, and wind ing it about his neck had attempted tc end his life by strangling. This was cut away by MT. Rives, after which the dy- ing man gasped once or twice and expired Dr. R. H. Hamrick arrived upon the scene just as Barnard died.
 | Prisoners state that the first intimatior they had that everything was not as i should was when they heard his body fal from the bed to the floor. Cliff Curry and Brady Howell were the first to raise the cry and were the only prisoners tha actually had a view of the cell They stated last night that Barnard had kep up a continual fire of questions and re quests since being placed in the jail. H. would keep calling for water and want ing to know the time, even Immediately after both requests had been compiled with
 Evidently failing to choke himself witl the necktie, Barnard unscrewed the cleo tric lamp globe and breaking off tn, greater part of the glass, slashed hi throat with the portion that remained ol the brass base. This piece, covered witl blood, was found only a few inches iron his right hand after he had fallen t the floor.
 HAS WRITTEN ON GEOLOGY