The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-09
CLAIM Of SELF Defense.
BARKER's LAWYER SHOWS HIS
HAND IN MURDER TRIAL.
Defendant Says on the witness
stand That johnson Attempted to
Kill Him in His own Home, when
Ordered to Leave the Premises.

The second day of the Barker murder
trial in the superior court witnessed the
close of the states case and the introduce
ton of sufficient testimony on the part
of the defense to reveal the nature OF the
evidence which viii be offered as justi-
fcation for the killing of Charles john
son.
In his opening statement 10 the jury the
attorney for the accused did not indicate,
except in an abstract way, the plea which
the defendant would enter before the jury,
but at O'Clock yesterday afternoon Bar
ker took the witness stand and swore
that on a previous occasion Johnson had
attempted to kill him with knife in one
of the back rooms of the Barker residence.
When the trial opened yesterday MORN
ing the state called several persons who
were in the Hillside saloon. and witnessed
the preliminary fight between George Nell
son, Barker and the deceased Each wit
ness testified substantially to the same
state of facts. The most important evil
dence introduced by the prosecution was
that of Nick Nelson, brother OF George
Nelson, who participated In the saloon
fight with Barker.
Nelson swore that he was an eyewitness
to the stabbing ARRAY and heard the de-
PENDANT address Johnson with vile epi-
tibet, followed by the declaration, Il Will
kill you" The witness continued, that as
soon as the deceased heard his antag-
onists threat he attempted to run, but
was overtaken and caught by Barker and
stabbed In the abdomen.
The knife which the state alleges the
defendant used was placed In evidence and
an ordinary wooden handled AFFAIR. with
three blades the longest of which is
slightly less than three inches.
The prosecution rested it's case at
O'Clock. The first witness introduced for
the defense was Barker himself He told
of his quarrel with johnson in the sa-
loon, in which he alleged that johnson
meantime choking him. HE ran his hand
into my mouth and i caught 1t between
my teeth" said Barker lin order to pre-
vent him from tearing my cheek and
mouth"
A long wrangle ensued between the de-
PENDANTS attorney, Mr.; Wrestling. and
Prosecuting Attorney McElroy over the
introduction of the witness testimony re-
garding prior attempt and threats of
the deceased to kill the defendant. The
state eontended that such evidence was
not admissible, the quarrel having oc-
Cured four days prior to the fatal en-
counter, and being too far removed to
have had an immediate effect in provoking
the defendant to commit the subsequent
crime. The court permitted Barker to
give his version of the affair
He testified that Johnson came to his
house on Thursday evening before the
killing and that he ordered him from the
premises for fear that he would renew
his attentions to defendants younger
daughter. whom the witness claimed had
been bothered by Johnson's advances upon
previous. occasions. Thereupon, the wit
ness claimed, Johnson grabbed a butcher
knife lying upon the table and made for
him. Barker claimed that he avoided be-
ing room and boiling the door.
This ended the taking of evidence for
the day and the case was adjourned UNI
I'll this morning. 1t is thought that the
arguments of counsel will be made to the
jury this afternoon.