North Powder, Union County, Oregon
Former Local Man Kills Wife And Self,
Elston L. Barnes Shoots Wife and Suicides
Killer was Son of Late Dr. Ephiam Barnes of This City
Killing Was At Cascade Locks
Jealousy Ascribed as Cause of Shooting Ending Lives of E.L. and Mrs. Barnes
Elston L. Barnes, 49, eldest son of the late Ephriam L. Barnes, one time resident of North Powder, on Monday of this week shot his wife, Sevilla, through the left breast, killing her almost instantly. He then shot himself through the head, dying 15 minutes later.
Barnes was employed by the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation company as foreman of extra and section gangs, and has been working out of Lewiston, Idaho, for the past three or four months, while his wife has been at Cascade Locks with her parents.
Following a quarrel which continued until after midnight Sunday, Barnes refused breakfast. Mrs. Barnes sat down to breakfast and was called into a sleeping room where the husband was sitting.
Immediately two shots were heard and Mrs. Barnes screamed. When her parents reached the room both were lying on the floor. As the mother put her arms around her daughter Mrs. Barnes exclaimed: “Oh Mamma! I am dying! He has killed me.”
Dr. J.W. Sifton, coroner, said no inquest would be necessary. Barnes’ mother, Mrs. George Barnes, lives in Portland, and his body will be sent to that city for burial.
Barnes was arrested by Cascade Locks officers in 1926 on a liquor charge, and at that time they took away from him the pistol with which the double tragedy was committed.
Oregon Trail Weekly
North Powder News
Saturday, January 28, 1928