Fletcher R. Barnett: School Shooting Murder in 1902

 Fletcher R. Barnett was born 5 Sep 1879 in Camargo, IL. to James Polk Barnett & Lydia Helen Carpenter.

On 26 Feb 1902 Fletcher a teacher, shot and killed another teacher, Eva C. Wiseman, in front of her class at school. He then shot at a pupil who came to help Eva and wounding himself in a failed suicide attempt, he then waited in the classroom hiding until a group of men came to lynch him. He then ran out of the school. grabbed a shotgun from one of the men and shot himself, before running and jumping into a well where he drowned. You can make that stuff up, wow!

JG-TC: Journal Gazette and Times-Courier

Mattoon, Illinois

Mon, Mar 3, 1902 · Page 1

Here's some newspaper articles, just click the links to read.

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-champaign-daily-news-fletcher-barnet/203379952/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/illinois-state-register-fletcher-barnett/203379661/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review-fletcher-barnett/203378865/ 

The Fairbury Blade

Fairbury, Illinois

Fri, Feb 28, 1902 · Page 2

Such a tragedy, school shooting are nothing new, they go way back.  The Enoch Brown Massacre (1764) in Pennsylvania a teacher and 10 children killed only two other children survived.

 Edinburgh, Scotland had one in 1595 13-year-old William Sinclair of Mey, a member of Clan Sinclair, fired a pistol from a window during a riot at Edinburgh High School, killing Baillie John MacMorran. Sinclair was pardoned due to the intervention of his relatives, who had James VI argue that Sinclair was too young to be punished.

There are tons more from 19th century you can look them up on Wikipedia.

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