Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1901-06-20
BARKER ON THE STAND.
But Is Not Allowed to Tell
His Story.
SEVERE BLOW TO THE DEFENSE,
All Questions Tending to bring out
Cause of the shooting of Rev. MIR.
Keller nt Arlington Ruled out by
Judge Blair.

All Questions Tending to bring out
Cause OF the shooting OF Rev. MIR.
Keller ut Arlington Ruled out by
Judge Blair.
New York, June 19.-The second day
Of the trial at Jersey City OF Thomas G..
Barker for the shooting of the Rev.
John Keller ut Arlington proved an
interesting one. 1t was full OF objec-
lions by counsel and clear cut, cold
and sharp rulings by the presiding
judge. Both principals went on the
stand during the dry. Mr.. Keller told
his story straightforwardly.
The story of Barker was not told and
may never be on the witness stand.
Under the rulings OF Judge Blair II
seemed at the close as II the defense
must abandon the line OF contention II
had proposed to follow. The court
held that Barker could not testify TO
his own state of mind on the morning
of the shooting or, as Prosecutor Erwin
put 1t, testify to his own insanity"
The object of the defense from the
moment Barker was called was TO In
troduce the alleged conversation be.
tween Barker and his wife which II
is claimed led up to the shooting. Mr..
Van Wrinkle and Mr.. Wall struggled
hard to get In something that would
leave an opening for this. They fought
hard and long, but at each tack Were
met with defeat. Again and again
they sought to introduce something
that would lead up to the telling OF
what took place before the shooting,
but always the strict rule and prac-
tice OF New Jersey barred them.
Then they went straight at the ques.
ton and sought to bring in the whole
story boldly and plainly, but always
met defeat. The struggle was long
and interesting, but at it's end Barker
was withdrawn from the stand with.
out having added anything to the
known facts of the case and practical.
ly without testifying to anything ma
terial. He was withdrawn temporari
ly, but unless some basis is laid later
for his testimony he may not be re.
called.
Doctor Not Allowed TO Testify.
Following quick and fast upon this
defeat came another, when DIR. Evans
of the Morris Plains asylum was prac
tically debaI1'ed from testifying and
had to be withdrawn. DIR. Evans was
to testify to what might be the cas-,
under given circumstances, but the cir
cumstances not having been establish
ed the doctor had to step aside to b,
called later IL a foundation is laid FOL
his testimony. The court rose as soor
as DR.. Evans was withdrawn.
The story OF Mrs. Barker may moi
be told either now unless counsel find,
some way which has not yet suggested
itself to Introduce 1t. The ruling OF the
court in every instance was pronounced
quickly, and Jersey lawyers We're gen
orally OF the opinion that the excep
lions Mr.. Van Wrinkle filed with q
lavish hand were not such as would
upset the result II there was a convic
ton. 1t was Jersey justice. they said
and the court was simply following
the rules and laws.
DIR. Strasser. one of the doctors who
attended Mr.. Keller, told of the wound,
and gave expert testimony that Mr.
Keller was shot from behind. Mr.. Val
Wrinkle tried to get the doctor to adj
nit that possibly Keller and Barker
met face to face. but the doctor stucl
to his statement that the shot which
was the most serious was fired from
behind.
Mr.. Keller was the last witness fol
the state. He showed the jury his
SCARED face and blinded and injured
eyes. He insisted In a mild way under
cross examination that the shot which
entered his head was fired from be
hind. lie said he had spoken to no on,
no quarrel