The herald., 1896-05-14
The Defendant Finishes Ills
Statement
A VERY TRYING EXPERIENCE
Closely Questioned as to His Previous
Relations With Hendell
He Was Only narried by Contract-Thsory Of
the Prosscutlon-The Bailsrlno Divorce
Case General Court News

The trial Of John A. Barker, the Pas
adena barber, for the murder OF William
Hendell, was resumed before Judge
Smith in Department One of the super
lor court yesterday. There was some
what larger attendance than on the pre-
vious day. and the proceedings were fol-
lowed with the closest interest.
After Recorder ROssiter of Pasadena
had testified to the good character of
the defendant, saying that, in place OF
being a quarrelsome man. he was rather
too much inclined to peace, Barker was
put on the stand and finished the state
ment. In answer to other questions,
Barker again detailed the incident of
shooting. He said the actual shooting
was very sudden. After his wife had
told him about Hendell coming to his
house and his threatening attitude. he
was impressed with the belief that Hen
dell had come to kill him. He thought
that his life was in danger, and believed
that il he did not kill Hendell he him.
self would be killed. Barker emphat-
tcally denied that when he left the house
armed with the gun it was his intention
to shoot him. He came upon Hendell
in the brush as he was on his way to
the top of the hill, and believing that he
was in imminent danger, he shot him.
Barker was then turned over to the
district attorney for cross examination,
and after going over the facts of the
shooting, Mr.. Williams began to ques-
tton him as to his domestic relations,
and brought out a rather peculiar state
OF affairs. Barker said that he was mar
ried in Kansas City some ten years ago.
There was no ceremony; he and his wife
merely agreed to live together not even
putting the contract in writing, nor hav-
Ing a witness.
Then you were never really mar
ried?" queried the prosecutor.
Yes; ] claim that was. We agreed
to live together as man and wife, and
I understand that the laws of Missouri
made our marriage legal one"
In answer to further questions, Barker
admitted that he had been married. but
that his wife had got a divorce in Kan
sas. He did not know whether his wife
was married or not at the time he be-
gan living with her Barker was then
questioned in regard to his previous re-
lations with Hendell, and stated that he
hrst saw the man on a. train about ten
years ago, between Sacramento and Los
Angeles, when he and his wife We're on
their way to the latter city. He saw
nothing wrong al this time, and on their
arrival in Los Angeles, the entire party
put up at the United States hotel. This
was only about two weeks after he had
married his wife.
The prosecuting attorney then went
into a close questioning of Barker as to
the causes of the separat ton between
reconciliation. and also Barkers
charges that Hendel had been logging
him with view to killing him. 1t is
the theory of the prosecution that Bar
ker was not afraid of Hendell, but that
he became jealous Of him. and when his
wife told him that the man had again
made his appearance about the house,
Barker armed himself and went out to
hunt him. with the intention of killing
him. The prosecution further claims
that Mrs. Barker knew where Hendell
was and informed her husband. VINO
went to the spot indicated and finding
the man asleep in the brush. tired out
from his long tramp. fired two bullets
into his left side, killing him instantly
The questions were along this line, but
Barker stuck to the story as told in his
direct examination, and came through
the trying ordeal very creditably.
The other witnesses examined were
Mr. Groendike, Constable Slater, JUS
and Mr.. Walter, but their testimony
was only corroborative of Barker.
Mr.. Williams then opened the argu-
ment for the people. He said that he be-
lieved Barker shot Hendell while the
man slept, and that the victim never
knew what hurt him. He insisted that
Hendell was a lunatic, and that his kill
ing was wholly unjustiliable. as Barker
had no reason to believe that his life
was in danger. as he had had ample
opportunity to do so If he had any such
anything of the kind.
This morning Judge Ling will argue
Tor the defendant. He will be followed
by Mr. Wright, and Mr.. Williams will
close Tor the people. The case will prob
any go to the jury late this afternoon.