Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-06
BARNES MAY
have KILLED
two OTHERS

Continued From Page One.)
any one. In response to inquiries
Barnes invariably would offer the
explanation that his daughter wa:
not feeling we'll.
Friends of Girl. .
Sheriff Harlan declared that he
would conduct his investigation
along the lines that there are some
living friends of the dead girl who
know more about the conditions
which prevailed in the Barnes home
than they have yet revealed. Further
than to say that the father was un-
kind to his daughter, and that his
harsh treatment of her grew more
severe, following the death of the
wife and mother, neighbors and
friends of the family have refused to
talk. 1t is believed the girl could
have explained away the mystery
surrounding her mothers death. but
in fear of her father, her lips were
sealed Officers working on the case
think it hardly probable that the
girls secret died with her.
Whether or not Sheriff Harlau ex-
pected to discover a confederate in
crime of Barnes, the officer declined
to say.
Fear May Be Motive.
Fear may have been the motive
which prompted Barnes to blow out
the brains of every single member
of the \ johnson household, it was
said. In terror because he believed
some of his crimes were about to
be revealed, it is thought, the man,
armed with a shotgun, carried the
message of death to five unsuspect-
ing persons in the modest little
home, and then turned the weapon
on himself, frescoing the walls with
his own brains and blood.
Barnes was generally known to
have been in love with Mrs. ones.
who at one time accepted his atten-
tons. Last September the couple
left Onawa together, but later re-
turned, and the man incurred the
bitter enmity Of the girls parents.
She was only 20 years old at the
time Of her death, and Barnes, who
was a middle-aged man. was accused
of taking advantage Of the girls
youth. Mrs. Jones was separated
from her husband, it was said, be-
cause of Barnes attention to her.
This feature of the case is said to
have increased the bad feeling of
the girls parents against the man
they held responsible for the down.
fall of their daughter.
Hears Woman Is Against Him.
Several days ago Barnes began to
realize that he would never again be
welcome visitor in the Johnson
home. He complained bitterly, and
repeatedly was heard to threaten the
Johnson family. A short while ago
someone told him that Mrs. Jones
had turned against him. Whether
he was disappointed in his love affair
with the girl or he feared that she
would reveal some secrets he had
conhded to her, which impelled him
to commit the murders of Friday
night, opinion is divided among resi-
dents of the neighborhood.
Unconfrmed reports are being cir
culated that Mrs. Jones had told
several persons recently that Barnes
had told her more than any one else
concerning the death of his wife and
daughter. The authorities, however,
have not been able to locate any one
who will say that Mrs. Jones related
the details of her information con-
corning the two mysterious deaths
in the Barnes home.
Key To Trouble?
The sheriff has not been able to
find any one yet who knows the
circumstances of disagreement be-
tween Barnes and Mrs. Jones.
Sheriff Harlan declined to state
whether he would call in from OUT
side of the county assistance in con-
Quoting his investigation.
The last report of Barnes having
been seen is to the effect that he
borrowed a shotgun Friday after
noon in Decatur. He declared at
the time that he was going to the
island to hunt rabbits. The man is
believed to have gone to within a
short distance of the Johnson house,
where he deliberately planned the
details of his deed. Sheriff Harlau
is of the opinion it was about J
o'clock when he approached the
house.
Body Face Downward.
Barnes found Mr.. and Mrs. John
son seated in the front room down.
stairs, where they had gone from
the dining room a few minutes be-
fore. Mr.. Johnson first heard foot
steps o. he. porch and is thought
- lave gotten to his feet just as
Barnes walked across the thresh-
hold with the shotgun in his hand.
The location of the body indicated
this. 1t was lying face downward
near the front door. 1t is believed
Johnson and his wife were seated
side by side engaged in conversation
when they heard the man approach
ing. The alteration between the
couple and Barnes was brief, it is
thought, and Mrs. Johnson attempt
ed to flee from the room when
she saw the lifeless body Of her
husband drop at the feet of the in
truder. Instantly the infuriated
man turned the weapon on the wo-
man. She fell dead with load of
shot between her shoulders.