They rode apart from their companions to intercept the Barbers, and called on them to halt.

Thomas W.Barber was unarmed, and gave mild and truthful answers to their questions.

After the shooting the brothers started to ride away, when the murdered man said, "That fellow hit me;" began to sway in his saddle, was supported for a little time by his brother, then fell to the ground dead.

His horse also had been shot, and died the same night.

Familiar as Kansas had become with cruel and devilish deeds, there were circumstances connected with this act that made it exceptionally a blood-curdling horror.