A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
The New York Times, April 18, 1888. A Deadly Quarrel. One Brother-in-Law Shot and Another Fatally Injured. Danbury, Conn., April 17, 1888.-W. H. Hawley, one of the leading druggists of this place, this morning shot and fatally wounded his brother-in-law, Virgil Barnum, in Hawley's residence. He fired five shots at Barnum, two of which took effect. The shooting was the outcome of a family quarrel. The affair has caused a great sensation, the principals being men moving in the best society and well known in social and business circles. Hawley is prominently known in the drug business. Some five years ago he married Barnum's sister, who had twice previously been married and divorced. At the time of her marriage to Hawley she owned two drug stores, one of which Hawley has since conducted. Since the marriage they have lived unhappily together.
The wounded man was taken to his residence. Barnum is 45 years old and a member of the Methodist Church. W. H. Hawley is several years younger, and is a son of Henry Hawley, who conducts the Union Hall mission. He is one of the wealthiest men in the State.
Late this evening Mr. Barnum was still alive, but was not expected to survive the night. Hawley suffers from a fracture of the skull, the result of the kick by Barnum and is not expected to live. He is under arrest at his house. The only witness to the shooting is Mrs. Hawley. Each of the principals in the tragedy charges the other with beginning the assault.
Following is the substance of Barnum's antemortem, statement, taken by Deputy Coroner Wile.
"I called on my sister this morning to request her to attend the funeral of our uncle. She said she could not go; that her husband had been again abusing her. I told her he must not strike her. While we were talking Hawley came into the front room where we were from an adjoining bedroom. He had a pistol in his hand, and, with the words, I'll finish the matter now, commenced firing at me. He fired five shots in all. I got hold of him and we fell on the floor. That is all I remember."
Hawley has made no statement. Barnum's story is indorsed by Mrs. Hawley.
The New York Times, June 2, 1888. The Barnum-Hawley Case.
Danbury, Conn., June 1.—The adjourned preliminary trial of the State against William H. Hawley, for the attempted murder of Virgil E. Barnum, on April 17, was resumed to-day. The medical examiner, W. C. Wile, who took the wounded man's ante-mortem statement, corroborated in substance the testimony of Dr. Benedict D. B. Lockwood, who at the time of the shooting was in an adjoining room and overheard all that was said between the contending parties before the shooting, gave testimony which showed that the shooting was done in self-defense. Mr. Barnum took the stand and admitted that he intended to kill Hawley during the struggle between them, and that he kicked Hawley several times while he stood over him. Hawley at the time was lying on the floor. In his statement made just after the shooting Barnum claimed that the kicking took place while both were on the floor. The case for the defense opens to-morrow, when the hitherto untold story of Hawley will be related.
The New York Times, June 9, 1888. Hawley Held for Trial.
Danbury, Conn., June 8.—After numerous postponements and adjournments the preliminary trial or examination of William H. Hawley, druggist, for the attempted murder of Virgil E. Barnum, his brother-in-law, whom he shot on the morning of April 17 in the former's residence on Main-street, has resulted in a verdict holding him for trial. The examination occupied nearly four days. Thirteen witnesses were examined. Messrs. Scott and Tweedy of this place appeared for the defense and Attorney Burke for the prosecution. The accused declined to give his version of the shooting until the final trial. He was held in $15,000 for trial at the October term of the Superior Court. Barnum is able to be about and attend to business.
Virgil died without issue.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
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