The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-17
. REFORMER'S BAD RECORD.
Testimonials to the Character Of the
Assailant of Judge Lawrence.
Several Competent Witnesses Agree in the
Statement that lie Is the MastodOnic Liar
Of the Age-Wa3hingtOn Notes.
A BAD DAY FOR BARKER.
de Establishes His Title as the MastodOnic
Linr of the Age.

de Establishes His Title as the Mastodonic
Liar of the Age.
WAsHINGToN, Dec. ia number of witness
ss were examined to day by the subcommittee
Investigating the alleged Irregularities in the
First Comptroller's Office, relative to the reputa-
zion of j. j. Barker for truth and veracity. E.
W. Ayres, correspondent for the Kansas City
Times, said that Bankers reputation was bad,
and that he would not believe him under oath.
He said he volunteered testimony against Sen
Rtor Ingalls, in the investigation OF that gentle
mans election to the Senate, several years ago,
which proved to be false from beginning to end.
Ayres continued: "a great many Kansans come
here and want to know where that liar Barker
is. Papers have denounced him as the universal
aud mastodonicl liar of the age"
'FWhat do you think of me, Mr.. AyersT' asked
Barker.
81 think you are the grandest liar of the age"
Ex-Governor Crawford, of Kansas, said that
for ten years pasth he had not spoken to a gen
tleman in southwestern Kansas relative to
Barker who had spoken of him in favorable
terms. He considered his reputation for truth,
~veracity, honesty and integrity to be bad, and
he would not believe him under oath.
Barker produced a letter written by eX-Gov-
TIT FOrdNiOIl % 1T secretary Oh the lulCIlOf,
in which the writer said Barker was an appli-
can't for appointment as a pension examiner;
that he was a good lawyer, and he thought he
would do the work satisfactorily. why did
you write that letter if you knew my reputation
to be badf asked Barker. II said in that letter
you were a good lawyer. did not say you had
q good reputation. | wrote the letter at your
own pleading, and because of your family, and
because | thought you were trying to reform,
and become an honest man instead of a thief"
do you know me to be a thiefEN
You know your reputation in Kansas. One
maj said you ought to be in the penitentiary."
Irving, a messenger of the House of Repre-
sentatiyes, said one prominent Kansan had pro-
nounced Barker to be zone of the d-dest ras-
calls out of Jail" Witness testified that Bankers
reputation was bad.
Other witnesses. including Representative Pc
ters, Of Kansas, also testified that Barker's rep
utation was bad.
Mr.. Linton. chief Of one of the divisions of
the First Comptroller's office, was called TO testify
IN regard to a fraudulent claim of the State of
Florida against the United States for SIG, 5S4, re-
ferred to by Judge Lawrence in his testimony yes
terday. Linton said that only he or Barker could
have made out the claim. He himself was out
of the city at the time the claim was filed. He
believed Barker made it out, from the similar
ity of BaPkers handwriting and that which APP
peared on the document. He said, when he first
saw it, that he thought it was fraudulent, and
referred it to Judge Lawrence as soon as that
gentleman returned from Ohio. Barker was
called into Judge Lawrence's room, and denied
having any knowledge of the claim: next day he
rendered his resignation.
Late Yesterday afternoon, after the sub-cohl-
mittee had adjourned, Barker went to Judge
Lawrence and told him if he brought out any
testimony derogatory to his (BarkersJ character
he would do so at his personal peril