WILLIAM H. BARNETT

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His Sudden Death from Apoplexy.

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The death of William H. Barnett occurred at his home on North Water Street last Monday morning at 2:30 o’clock. He was seen on the streets late Saturday afternoon and the report of his death occasioned the greatest surprise. Mrs. Barnett was in Indianapolis and he lunched Saturday night at a restaurant and soon after returned to his house alone. He was not seen Sunday and not missed, as he had announced his inten­tion of attending the funeral of Samuel Cutsinger, of Edinburg, and his relatives supposed him to be there. Mrs. Barnett returned from the city Sunday afternoon and finding the house locked proceeded to force an entrance through the back way. A light burning in the room occu­pied by Mr. Barnett attracted the at­tention of Mr. Lee, who had been sum­moned by Mrs. Barnett, and as the door was locked it was necessary to force this door, also. Here Mr. Barnett was found lying on the bed, unconscious. Dr. W. C. Hall was called at once but could not awake him and he died at 2:30 o’clock Monday morning.

An inquest was held Monday after­noon at 3:00 o’clock and the examin­ation of the brain showed the formation of two clots of blood, one of a large size, at the base of the brain.

Drs. W. C. Hall, H. J. Hall, L. L. Whitesides and J. C. Wood, who con­ducted the post mortem, decided that this was a sufficient cause for death and carried the investigation no farther. The examination of his body showed that he had fallen probably on his way up stairs Sunday morning. Above his eyes there were bruises although the skull showed no fracture. It was decided that it was highly probable that the bursting of a blood vessel in the brain was caused by this fall and a clot formed from this. He was nearly twenty-four hours without any attention and this probably hastened his death after the shock came.

The funeral service at the Christian church, Tuesday afternoon was con­ducted by Elder Amzi Atwater, of that church, assisted by Rev. L. P. Marshall, of the Presbyterian church. The Chris­tian church choir furnished the music. The church was crowded with friends, the middle section being reserved for the masonic fraternity, who took charge of the remains at Greenlawn where the body was interred. A. B. Colton, O. C. Dunn, Henry Weyl, J. B. Payne, Samuel Harris and G. C. Stuart were the pall bearers. E. G. Barnhizer, funeral direc­tor. In the procession the band lead, followed by the Masons, carriages with the pall bearers, the hearse, carriages with relatives and friends.

William H. Barnett was born in Mil­lersburg, Ky., Oct. 10th, 1820. His father, Thomas Barnett, came to Indiana in 1821 and settled in Franklin County. After a year’s time he moved to this county and settled permanently. Mr. Barnett was brought up on a farm and only received such schooling as the county afforded at that time. At the age of twenty he attended school about a year which was about all the education he obtained in the schoolroom. He came to Franklin in January, 1852, and took a deputy clerkship in the county clerk’s office where he remained for three years, when he was elected clerk, serving altogether eight years. In 1863 he was elected auditor of this county and re-elected in 1867 being in that of­fice for eight years. In 1880 he was elected a representative in the Indiana legislature serving one year. He filled the office of recorder from 1886 to 1890. Mr. Barnett was a Mason and a member of the Christian church. He was married Oct 11, to Mrs. Eliza Vawter and returned last week from his wedding trip.

Recently he had remodeled his resi­dence at the corner of Water and Madison streets, adding many modern improvements. He was in apparently good health and his many friends had hoped he might live many years in the enjoyment of life’s comforts and a plea­sant home. No man in Johnson County was better known than “Squire” Bar­nett. His long public career had so identified him with the county that his life had become a part of its history. He was honest in all his transactions and conscientious in the performance of every duty. He was a life-long democrat, strong in his convictions, fearless in expressing them, and even to the close of life, in the front, always ready to lend a helping hand in the furtherance of his political principles. In his death the county loses one of its most substantial and respected citizens.