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The town
& community was greatly shocked on Tuesday by the news that Clinton J.
BARNES had killed himself. It did not seem possible that the report could be true and for some time his friends and relatives here refused to believe it. He was here only a short time ago, and in perfect health apparently, and enjoying life, and it did not appear possible that he should have taken his own life. His married life was a happy one, and his business affairs were in good shape, and that he should do such a rash thing seemed totally unreasonable and impossible. The sad and distressing report was only too true. His remains were brought to Tazewell on Wednesday and interred at the old home in the Cove. On Tuesday morning Mr. C. J.
MOSS received a telegram which said that BARNS had killed himself. Mr.
MOSS and John T. WATKINS started at once to Kentucky, returning on yesterday with the remains and the family. The funeral and burial took place on yesterday afternoon at the old home. The following particulars were gathered from members of the family: Last Saturday Mr.
BARNES cut the first finger of his left hand with a meat saw in his store in Georgetown. Little was thought of the wound at the time. It was plastered over with some simple remedy, but later a physician was consulted, owing to severe pain, which reached to his entire arm and shoulder. On Monday, about noon, Mrs.
BARNES was preparing a poultice to put on the hand. Blood poisoning had already appeared. He started to the bath room. His wife called to him not to put water on the wound. He went on into the bath room, closed the door and placed a 32 pistol against his right temple and fired. He lived about 55 minutes. The rash deed seems to have been premeditated. The gun used was one
kept at the store for the purpose of shooting beeves, and was not kept
in the house. He evidently put it in his pocket when he left the store
on Monday morning just before dinner hour. The shot was fired, it was
thought while he stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom. All the
circumstances go to show that the poison from the wound had reached
and effected his brain, and for the time rendered him irrational. It
is also stated that he spoke of dying of blood poison. There is no
evidence whatever that any outside trouble of any kind preyed on his
mind. His business was good, and his family relations and domestic
surroundings were of the happiest, as they have always been. The awful
event has cast a gloom over the entire community. He was universally
popular here in his home town and community. Few men had more friends
or fewer enemies. The blow falls with crushing weight upon his aged
father as well as upon his faithful wife and family. Some years ago he
was happily married to Mrs. Jennie RATLIFFE, who owned and built the
present Jeffersonville hotel, which they together operated for
sometime. It was subsequently sold, and the (CONTINUED ->
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