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ALMOST A MURDERA Teacher in Bassett School Shot ly Her Husband. -BARKER'S AWFUL DEEDAfter Firing Five Bullets the Would-be Assassin Drives Away.A LONG CHASE OVER HILLSTIjo toacbor* and pupil* of the Daaaett street school were thrown Into a panic about o'clock yesterday morning by :i murderous assault upon ono of thu teachers, Mrs. Nellie Barker, by her bus bani, Wilbur F. Barker. Barker wont to tho school lu a cuuor and Hiss Charlotte A. Bach, the acting principal of the school, saw him as he drove into the yard. “Workmen had been employed about the building,** Suid MissIlach as ah© described the affair to a Standard reporter Iasi uvoting, and when J saw Barker 1 thought he had come • after the tools. I was on tho first llour of the school-house, lie got out of the cutter and came into tho building.- Hu carried a buuilln wrapped up in a shawl lu hh arini, and this bundle nroved to be his infant child. As he pasnoil niy door to go upstairs to ibt socoad lloor, whoro Mrs. Darker1* room i«. .1 recognized lum as her husband, llo had boon hanging around tho building waiting lor a chunce to socak to her lately and 1 koonr him by sight. She had coiupluitied to ihe police about his auuoyaoc* of her, and when he wout uputaif* I lot (owed, fearing trouble. I heard his voice near ono of the doors of her room and 1 wont in through that door. Mrs. Barker was at tho blackboard and Barker stood very near her. It was ttie morning meow hour, hut M rs. Barker had about 15 scholars in tho room tu whom she was explaining a lesson on the board. Wlieu 1 camr. in Barker was talking very loud and was asking his wife If that was the way she Intended to care for tho child, lie liad the baby in hi* arms nr tbn time. Mis. Jlarkor told him she did not want to have anything to do with him. I told him to leave the room, arid was going to tell Mr*. Barker that I would excuse her while Hue weut out to the street car barn and telepooned to the jo-l»i:o ofllce when she left tliebluckboanl and went out ot tho room, barker followed her and when tie hud passed through the door the children ail rose as though intending to follow him. I told them to sit down, that Barker was a bod man and they had better not go near him. I had Just, stopped speaking to the children when 1 heard two pistol shots in the ball. 1 ran out and ni.ar.teti down stairs to summon the police. As I ran toward the stairway I saw Mrs. Barker lying across threshold of Miss Hattie Hodden'stheroom. Barker was bonding over hor, and will la I did not see him shoot, I heard-sov. oral pistol aboli as 1 went down the stair*. I called to a man who was passing lu the street sod ho went to tho struet car barn* and telephoned to the police office. Miss Hidden anid that as Mrs. Barker fell in the doorway of her room she called for help. Barker told some of tho children In Miss Heddeu’* room to get ont or the way lor he did not want to shoot them. Some of tho bays told him they would uot leave.’ As soon a* Barker had emptied the chambers of his revolver bn iumLlmI from tho school house, got iulo bis cutter ami drove oil southward. lie left tho haby on tho floor near wbern his wife i«u. Dr. Chari, a V. ft lever arrived at the school a lew minutes after tho shooting and made au examination of Mrs. Barker's injuries. There wore five bullet wounds on her body. One ball bad passed through the pal in.of her left band, another had lodged in her tliigh. one Lad entered thn nock about an inch to tln» right of the spin.il cord, aiul bad curao out below tho right ear, another passed through tb© neck at tho loft ui tbn spinal curd, and another entered the left cheek, passed through the facu and out through tho loit cheek. Mr*. Barker was conscious while Dr. Stcvor was examining ibu wound.s. and when tho physiciou uskud (or alcohol she told him there was some iu a iott)u in hor Music. a he was removed to tlm I louse of the Good SliopherU in Slul-lln’s city ambulance, wlier© she was attended oy Dr. Stover, Dr. Horace D. Babcock and Dr. Jinbort Aberdolo. Tho only bullet that remains tn the wounil Is tho one in the thigh and that is sodeeply imbcudod that no attempt baa been made to ©struct it. Three of the ball* were found on tho floor of tho hallway where the shooting occurrod, and are In tho pos-bessicu of Cliiof-nf-Police Wright. '/b©v arc of Uni size known na 3frcallbre. largo enough to muke au ugly wound. It is a remarkable fact that Mrs. Barker was not instantly killed, (or the shot* wore fired at point-blank range.Barker headed for tbo country to the southward and he had a boot 20 ini cutes the start of the police. The first party out on the trail wm Oftlcuinau Morgan, Dutac-tlvn Harvey and Driver Andrew Baker In the patrol sieigh. They went to the school-house where they secured a description of Barker and an idea of the direction In which ho had gone. They drove like tho wuul and when Jamesvllle was reached they wired Chief Wright that Barker was about 20 minutes ahead oi thom and their horses worn exhausted, Gut fresh horse* and follow if you have to ■ go to Florida,’' was the answer which Chief Wright cent over the wliu, but Ute officers had secured another pair of horse* and had them hitched to the slt.ign before they received the cldc’s n.essage After passing through Janet-villn Barker startvil toward I'.mipcy and the officers with their Iresh horso* soon bounding along on the trail.lH.*i*ctir« Becker aud OQicur Brown wore Hunt south I.»ward* rnrm.rv aiul mosaaiPM worn sent to every deputv sheriff in the northern purl of ’ the countv. As soon Deputy Sheriff Bush Cl JiH bill* wan iiolid.-d ne Started f.»r Apulia. Constable lioiuliug of James-trlogi.xphed Chief Wright ut 2:30 The afternoon that Barker fol-l nuiper road for a short dls-tntu.-d westward toward It was thought that he to a railroad station onworeVillaso’clock In lowed the t .ui cc and I hoII the Cardiff valley.was trying to gotthe wasisideot the city and officers'wcue Sent out to watch the roads ... that direc-JobitMm and Detective to Bouth . Hollow hot they found noDarker Finally Captured in the City and Lodged in a Police Cell.tlon. Sheriff Sueppard drove in the afternoon.air■aniu Itumtotbi oh 1 . foe prol Uthl St* Mia aMilMaiH.Mil«tre* tw an the Koi mb use* Leou•ho»ocIIItinifmMryefmoZhihuntlntltrace of Darker. Tha u»rfn2 •*«* is aTw 40y*nr* old, and wetgla about ISO p ionlt; nod i* five feet, eight li.chee, Hi* I Iron gray and hla mustache lathe color. Me baa blue eyes, alt;«t oack head. He wore a aenJ akin •:*!» wli front piece nad his overooa'. and* were or dark cloth. Thn horau wb drove has a white fmat nn.l whit If* did not owu the nsltnal and It 1* able that be obtained it at n liver j •Mrs. Barker ia Barker’s third wife 1* 23 year* old. She wm* man led t two year* ago last October. It wa cret marriage. Mr*. Barkor vna » Nellie Sloan and her mother is Mr*.Sh an, of No. 425 Mur:«1las ureet, father was the late James Sloan.Sloan wai a toncher in tho Seymour acbool wbeti she mot Barker. I! children by the second wl’o, Kill Clarence, who real dr withfather** slater, Mrs. Moscu P. you, of No. 105 Shounanl street* alt tue Seymour street school and B irk is to visit the school’ ostensibly to er children but hi* real object was to Ml«s Sloan. Mis* Sloan** fan By oh, tok to Barker and forbado lior to keep con pauy with him. One Friday cvon lug Mb Sloan and Barker weut to »h« restrict 00 • I lev. William A. Bice, the then pasi r i the Fourth Presbyterian church und wei morrletl. The snmo owning they wlt; at i l*ouifM-y Dill and sent -vonl from tin re i Mrs. Barker's family tl-at they were ma rled. A new teacher was secured to tat the bride'* plaoe In Soytnour otreet » and the roinaocu of Mis* Sloan was forgotten. Mr. uml Mn.. Barker dii live hapnily and In January, 1890 separated. Mn*. Barker took her 1 child aud weut to live with heritor, David M. Milue of No. TOO East V, etreef She ha* resided there o^or .In September last she -recelvttd ‘the non of teaohrr in tbo Bassott i.tract * and woald have been happy ivltl child and her work if. her haebaod kept away from dor. }I* wat const Bonding her notes, and frequ wai tod for her on the atreei* U• urge J or i cotno and live with him. Mrs. B rk* told her friends that licr ktihh md w; * . such a jealous dlBDOsitloc tlu.t ho am life miserable for her.Before going to the schoolhouae t t ki his wlfo Barker drove to tho reside! co . Mrs. Milne and secured the child. Fi reached Hit* house about 10 o’clock an I tl servant girl, Mies A unto E.lllorau ai swered bis ring. As soon as thi girl r| jpc tho door Barker sprang into ii.o hall. Mr Milne was out and Barker pa .scd lm wife’s room where tho Laliy was slelt; in ttm bed. Tho child had nothing o; its sight drew* aud Barker wrapped m a shawl which ho found in the r Ife took It ont climbed into tho catte. drove away. Bliss Killomn that Barker bad taken’ tho in that way on throo previous occasion: tbo door of the homo was kept, lo against bliu. The dour was looked yt day but Barker blood close to it so th: could not be seen from ihn iusido when MIhk Killurun opened it ho pu his way In.Barker’s first wlfo was Miss Pioi'80! Spring Green, Wieevnsiu. the die year after their marriage. 8hc hud child and that is iioad also. .‘Lis *c wif* was Miab Ursula Nichols of XV town. She died a low year* ago lea two children, Kilby llgtil 12 yoars Clarence aged 14 years. He been living for some tiino wltii hi* dren with bis sister, Mrs. Kenyon. Kenyon Suid yesterday that her brlt; -,h« had been acting strangely uf l:it«. lb le. tho l»ou6e before breakfast ywta da morning. He came hack about t o’ci ml lint did not say anything shout break an He went up stairs to hi* room and c buck in a few miuutcs with a oackag his hand. He aid uot ni.y sn.viliieg loft the bonne iiuiuodiatc y. Mrs. Kci said hor brother was traveling tor a c publishing house when to married SIoau. 'J’ney traveled tcgvthei- f«*r a j and then went to keeping house Holland street. Tho m:p.mior nxik f u ye»r ago. Mr*. Barker claimed, Kenyon said, that her husband decu her xs to the nmouut of propot'-y he aeased, and *h*t also otreated to coring her stepchildren. Last batu-xlay,” Mr*. Kenyon, my brother had the 1 l.ore (or the day. He ruet Ids tvifo ou street Friday and asked bar if lie s come aud get tho baby ot; Saturday m lug- She *ald ho could if he v/ould b it back to Mrs. Milue’s at 5 o’clock 6u day sfteruoon. He agreed to tLis and kept the agrt?«niout ”M. P. Kenyon, Barker’s brot’ioi-ind .w said yesterday that Barker had threats te* to kill himself, but Mr. Knuyon ia never hoard him make any threat* ago ns Mr*. Burker. Pie believed that Da k* bliould have been nut uuc«r rexirtdnt i u ago.School Commieaionor Sohn A. Tho ?n was near tho school bousn when tho nb *o lug took plnco, aud he saw Parker i is out of the building aud drivo away. C »n mlssioner Thcletis said lio *ooiied I r: Barker’s aj»pointment as teacher. le huebauU. he suid, had done ovcrythin* h could to secure her removal. He had ol elniulorous Btorlo* about her.Barker was born In the tiwn of Ot or d ifiam.d in liie uarly Ulan hood be tau ;li mrlio*;! in Liverpool, I’ouipcy nad ol iq villages. He was n teacher in the ltrigi x bchool south or the city fir a while, in was discharged on account of ins die* uated habits. He has also been lu tho : re ituce busiuesa with III* brother iud m s-dd book* and charts foe JUnd i'i. McN: II of Chicago.Beside Mr*. Milue, Mr*. Barker has w sisters, Mr*. Charles (Jiffi.nl of Nlag ,r street, and Mrs. Dominick ltafl'orty. wfc is husband is the bookkm-jH-r for Mown i Barues. Mrs. ItafTerty Jim taken cln* v ol her sister’s baby. Tho child is 1C tnoti h old.^ Coroner Smith visitod ti e Hocse of h Gotnl snopl.ord in the afternoon and llt; o| ilio'iniured woman1* aute mortom st: t« meat, which follows: h»inhrt u*onanBaihililllkotcic lian•heiJOl!onto'IUan ha h i ItIUIianyomilbsa:oacInv«K):foai,bUiuiTlin.U!h;o»:;o.»i. . HvBACtwrt Jsnuanr:» im!Ant* mortem siaicrjen: .J Mrs. ■!'»* Ml Halter, taken at the llouee ut tho Jxml si Iutu:I. Nellie Sloan Baker, llro at No I-afajeito »trcc-t and am year* of Hovingl am mortally wounded ault;| that I *i'Out to die. nuik* the following stateMonl:I am a taaciior id Hasseu school. I wn* m Mhuoi this luorniag and iu ab...ir |.all-pa*i W llbur b. Harkov t-ntereo u»» r.i»Mi.had tho trnby with aim. and he*:ild tome, -i will you answer how alio Is.” 1 went to leHie room and a* Ir.liowcd in.- and flrr.fi ut saying, every iliuu ho Hie.:, “Sow will you swer.” Ho iiclti mn and (lied (our or live in. pl uIn? Uie revolver close to un hi-id 1 •hi so shot In thn thigh ami in inv fum«l. AI n. censed Itiing he latt the root, and I do know where he went. Wlli.ur l\ llnrkor I-1 - a v:'*r *1 ee.ov.fi i.. iwith him. 1 well remember bchig r.-moved the i In a A* of the GiMid Uli-phcrfi from school room. NUIJ.lt SUian u \J.KKJ Subicriheu and sworn to Lei ore nio iim i day of January. IS*’..S11 ,, F.W. SMITH. Cor oneSigned In the presence «.| L»r. Uuheit ai dem. Dr. H. I). Babcock, Hr. lt;J. M. stovor Tho horsy which B irki r had when loit the city was found coning towar.1 t city In South avynuo, about lt o'clock 1. ni^lil Tho man who foucil It took it ’.bo People’* Line street car barn and nc ttdfi the police. Capt. (Bdgley wout aud drove the horso down to L. I'ottc livory Stable at the corner of Jeflsmoo a Cl ip too stieets. The liorse bnioiicml Mr. Potter. The animal mas tired, I otherwlno Nhowcd uo signs of hapi fir ing. The whip and rob., wero In tue y. ter, but one of tlio blanke's was missii b\ U. XVilcox.who I* employed at l he slab said that Barker cams for the Locso ublt;9 o’clock In tho morniag. He wu* n. lectlr cooL He asked for a hors© t| would stand without hiuhloy n«,d S XV11 co*. supplied him with % trusty ai j
Newspaper Details
Syracuse Daily Standard
Syracuse, New York, US
Tue, Jan 20, 1891
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Russell G.
NY, USA 08 Jul 2017
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