Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-05
.FEUD END,'
IN MURDEI'
OF FAM|L\
ON |SLAN[.
William Barnes Near 0naW
Found Dead With Bodies Of
Wilbur Johnson FAM f,
lily Around Him.

Onawa, Ia, Jan. 4,-(Special Telel
gram.)-William Barnes, a farmeil
living on an island seven miles be.
low Onawa, Friday night killed five
members of the family of Wilbur
Johnson, residents of the island, and
then took his own life. The persons,
killed we're:
Wilbur Johnson, 50 years old. +
Mrs. Wilbur Johnson, 4S years
old.
A son, 9 years old.
Mrs. Jones, their daughter, aged
20 years.
Three-year-old son of Mrs.
Jones.
Barnes last September left Onaws
with the daughter, Mrs. Jones, who
has been separated from her hus.
band for some months. They re-.
turned later, but bitterness existed
between Barnes and the Johnson
family ever since.
Friday afternoon Barnes borrowed
shotgun in Decatur, saying that he
was going to the island to hunt
rabbits. He rode to within short
distance of the Johnson home with
two young men who had been haul
ing wood, arriving there about
o'clock in the evening. Indication
are that he went directly to 4
house after leaving the men,. III
Shot Through Window.
1t is thought that Mr.. and Mi
Johnson were shot through a w
dow. Mrs. Jones was the only men
Der of the family who was il hS
at the time of the. murders,
having been sick with influenza.
Indications show that after shd
ing Mr.. and Mrs. Johnson, Bar1
passed into the house, meeting
son in the dining room, where u
parents were killed
After shooting the son ii il
thought that he passed int0 the bedI
room, where the daughter was, kill
ing her and her 3-year-old babe III
the bed.
After killing the members Of thk
family, Barnes sat down in the DIM
ing room, removed his left shoe, ant
with his toe on the trigger held the
muzzle of the gun between hie
knees, shooting himself in the head
Daughter Killed Self.
Barnes, who has been widower
for over year, lived in one Of the
several houses on the island, which
contains about 1,400 acres. Their
was some mystery about the deaf
of his wife, and after she died h>
l7-year-old daughter kept house {
him on the island up till about
year ago, when she committed SD
eide by drinking poison. Suspiciot
circumstances surrounded her dealt
and there was strong talk Of lyncl
ipg Barnes according to Sher
Harlow of Monona county, b {
cooler heads prevailed and nothii i
was done at the time.
Barnes, who had only one ar Il
was noted as an expert shot and A
said to have spent the greater ps \
of his time while at home huntii II
and fishing. id
In addition to being unsuccessf I
in the suit for Mrs. Jones' love
is thought that Barnes owed Johs.
son considerable money.
Found by Brother.
The tragedy was discovered by 4
brother of Johnson, who lives in
Missouri Valley and had gone to
the island for visit. The brother
arrived in Decatur Friday night and
rode to the island with a neighbor
of Johnson's with whom he was ac-
quainted, staying there over night.
Yesterday morning he and the
neighbor, Gilbert by name, went to
the Johnson house between 9 and
10 O'Clock, finding the bodies upon
their arrival.
Authorities believe, that thor
ough investigation of the tragedy
may reveal additional crimes which
have been committed by Barnes
during the past l8 months. The bod
les were taken to Onawa and an in-
quest will be held Monday.