This is Part 3 of Louisa’s Love Affair.
“No event which has happened in this city for many years has created such a sensation as the developments in the love affairs of Mrs. Barnes, which have followed one another in rapid succession for the past two years,” the November 11 1902 edition of the Boston Globe announced.
The story detailed the latest developments in the life of Louisa Barnes, which were that she was missing and had filed a lawsuit against her husband Charles and his father, W.H. Barnes. “It is alleged that the defendant gained her confidence and affection, and forced her after her marriage to convey to him by deed some real estate and to give him orders for money in savings banks, and also a power of attorney. The father of Dr. Barnes, it is alleged, cooperated with the latter in his schemes.”
The court agreed to hear Mrs. Barnes’ suit against her husband and father-in-law on November 10, 1902. This must have been awkward as Mrs. Barnes was still living at her home with her in-laws. Louisa unexpectedly left her home with her mother-in-law on November 2, without telling anyone she was leaving or when she would be back.
Louisa’s attorney, William Noble, had been keeping a close eye on the situation and he revealed to the Globe that he had secured a temporary injunction immediately after his client filed a lawsuit. When Louisa’s father-in-law, W.H. Barnes, left Newton with several trunks a few days after his wife and daughter-in-law had gone, Noble followed him to the train station and confronted him.
“[Mr. Noble] inquired if any property belonging to his client was in any of the three trunks that constituted the baggage of Mr. Barnes.” Noble told W.H. Barnes that the court forbade him from taking any of Louisa’s property and doing so would put him in contempt of court. Barnes denied he had any of his daughter-in-law’s property.
When Louisa’s case was called on November 10, none of the Barnes family were present.
Louisa’s friends were concerned that they were unable to reach her and engaged “a well-known Newton Highlands man” to act as a private investigator. He traced Louisa and her in-laws to Providence and caught up to them Tuesday morning at the Central House hotel.
When Louisa emerged alone from the hotel, the investigator pounced. “For fully five minutes, he asserts, she did not recognize him,” the Globe reported. “‘She appeared dazed,’ he says, ‘and unable to tell anything of her movements. I endeavored to talk with her but was interrupted by Mrs. W. H. Barnes, who came out of the hotel and led her away.” As the ladies walked away, the investigator overheard Louisa plaintively repeating, “I haven’t told him anything!”
The private investigator went into the hotel to question the clerk. While he was standing at the desk, he was accosted by Charles Barnes. “What do you want of me?” he demanded.
It took the private investigator a moment to recognize him, since Barnes had removed the beard he had sported as long as he was known in Newton. When his identity registered, the investigator replied coldly, “I don’t want you.”
Later he told the Globe: “[Barnes] moved toward me and said in a threatening manner, ‘If you don’t get out of here I’ll punch your head!’ The hotel clerk then stepped between us and Dr. Barnes went away.” The investigator returned the next day but was told Dr. Barnes and his wife were gone.
Rather than return to Newton, Louisa and Charles settled in California. Rumors circulated there that Mrs. Barnes was ill and neglected by her husband. When the stories drifted back to Newton, Louisa’s attorney Mr. Noble took action and appointed a conservator to manage her fortune.
This step was not appreciated by Barnes family but the response it generated took everyone by surprise.
Go to Part 4!
old spirituals 