Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-17


The first witness examined before the Springer
committee, In the Barker case this morning, was
Walter S. Wellbourn, a messenger IN the first
controllers Office He said that on the sth OF Octo
Der, as near as he could remember ne had taken a
batch of papers to Judge Taroell to be signed, and
was ABOUT TO blot them they were signed. when
Mt. Barker stepped up and said he would do It,
rms the witness said was unusual. and he noticed
that Mr. Barker was attracting the deputy con-
tlouerS attention with an anecdote while he was
signing the papers
JUDGE TAsBELL AND THE FLORIDA LAND cSRrIFI-
CATE.
Judge Tarben, deputy first controller, was then
examined. He was handed the improper certificate
for 800 95 in the Florida land claims mentioned
In the testimony yesterday. he said his signature
was appended 10 the paper, though he had no re-
collection OF having signed ii, and it did bear
the proper initials 10 warrant his signing It. His
tention might have been called away at the time
and ne might have signed II inadvertently. He had
seen Two things In the certificate which might In
dlcate tnat IL had been written by Barker. These
peculiar1ties were curious letter as" and broken
word--6arker having habit or breaking his words.
Witness said he thought he believed Mr.. Barber
was an honest man. His reputation In the Office
since his resignation, had been bad.
COON ON THE STAND.
Assistant Secretary Coon was then examined as
to the acceptance OF Barker's resignation. Mr.
Coon said that he knew nothing OF the Florida
affair, or he certainly would not have accepted the
resignation AS TO the reason for Barker's resgna-
and said they furnished the reason They were
communications from Mt. Barker's creditors 1t
was on account OF constant opportunities from Mr..
BarkerS creditors that he had asked for reSig-
nation. When he heard cf the Florida matter he
went TO Judge Gresham about the matter. Judge
Gresham, he understood, was Investigating the
matter when he Air COON went TO New YORK dur
Ing the election, and when he returned Judge
Gresham had resigned After some further Ques-
lions IL was 'yeioped that the matter had been
referred 10 the service DIVISION and was now
being investigated but that the severe Illness OF
CHIEF Brooks prevents its being more vigorously
prosecuted at present
Mr. Coon said that Judge Gresham told him that
the matter would be thoroughly looked into: that
he believed Barker was guilty, and that he had
tangled him ali UP on a cross-eXamination.
Mr.. Tarbell wa, recalled and said that he felt
emoarraSsed In his testimony, because he might
give out some secret that might Interfere with the
Investigation on the part or the secret service de-
tectives.
PECULIARITIRs IN BARKER's HANDWRITING.
Mr.. j. II. Day, clerk In the frst controllers
Office, was examined as to the handwriting of the
fraudulent Florida certificate Witness explained
that he was not practical expert or handwriting,
but tnat from seven years experience In compaT-
Ing and handling letters he had become quite ex-
pert he then said he had compared the writing
on the Florida certificate with BarkerS letters IN
the official letter bO0a, and found evidence that
convinced him that Barker had written the certif-
cate 1n q disguised hand. The ''CS" were the same,
the "is" were the same, and certain peculiar long
'p" appeared in bouh These were peculiartties
which Barker could not or did not disguise
"DIdn't you say that If came into your room
you would throw me out OF the Window" asked
Mr. Barker.
mo, sir. / said you were - scoundrel, a
peat and liar, and il you spoke TO me would
Knock you down. You went through the corridors
telling clerks that You would use your influence to
retain them in positions"
Representative Milllken, a member OF the sub
committee, lnteIpoSed and remarked that Mr. Bar
ker was mot making up the next administra-
ton"
EHoUGH OF Mr. BARKERs CHARACTER.
Mr. Barker became impudent and insulting, and
made objection to the remarks OF Mr. Milliken
The committee at this juncture thought they had
heard enough OF Mr. Barker's character