The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-06-20
YESTERDAYS PROCEEDINGS

Mrs. Lydia Barker, wife of Thomas c.
Barker, who is on trial for shooting the
Rev. John Keller, of Arlington, yesterday
afternoon, in court, openly, on the stand,
denounced the clergyman for outraging
her. and to heighten the sensation of
these damaging words her husband s
counsel, Marshall Van winkle, turning
to Prosecutor James S. Erwin, said, when
the latter objected to any mention of the
assault
IF you will admit the fact of the as
sault we will give you day and date and
time. We are willing to give them if Mr..
Keller there will allow them" :"
you are playing to the jury"
ssNever, never said the Court, with a
rap of the gavel, 81 won't allow it, so it's
not worth talking about"
During yesterday afternoon typewriter
copies of story of Mrs Barker's alleged
assault committed by Rev. John Keller
We're distributed to certain papers. This
was elaborated from an affidavit made
by her after the day of the shooting and
at the time appeared in the public press.
Mrs. Barkers counsel positively denied
that he had ever authorized the issue
of the statement.
81 have been here in the court room all
day, as you know he said, ''and 1 did
not know even that the statement was
printed until newspaper men began ask
ing me questions about it. I do not know
within week that Mrs. Barker has made
any sworn statement and she is too
fatigued and i'll now to be questioned
about it. I do know that she did make
a statement at Arlington last winter in
the presence of several persons, myself
among the number
Mrs. Barker, as 'sThe News told it's
readers yesterday, was on the stand after
recess when she underwent the ordeal of
a vigorous and searching cross-examnia-
ton. 1t was admitted on all sides that
she made an admirable witness. She
spoke with a slight English accent and
her story evidently interested the jury,
for they listened with marked attention.
Once or twice when she was closely ques-
toned about the memoranda of the
monies loaned to Rev. Mr. Keller, her
fingers nervously twitched and she looked
as if she was about to faint, but she soon
recovered herself and was calm and self
possessed At the close of her testimony
her husband slipped forward, placed an
arm tenderly about her waist and led
her to her seat beside him. She bent her
head and whispered in his ear, said some
thing and kissed him.
Before Mrs. Barker was called Rev.
John Hutchinson, pastor of Arlington
Presbyterian Church, took the witness
chair. His testimony, not cross-exam-
ined, was as to Barker's character. He
said it was excellent.
The next witness was William J.
Thompson, of Arlington. 1t was he who
first said to Barker:-"Go to your wife
and ask her to tell you what Keller did
to her." His testimony was clear-cut,
passionless and convincing. He began by
saying that he had for eighteen months
stopped at the same house with Mr. and
Mrs. Barker and for two weeks prior to
the day of the shooting had seen Barker
every day. One day during that period
Barker called at his office
.Why?'' asked Mr.. Van Wrinkle.
ITO see me about a story about Mrs
| Barker
when did you receive that story?',
Last October" he replied.
From whom did you receive it?s
Ills wife,
1.What did you tell him?"
Il object said Mr.. Erwin, and the
question was stricken out.
How many conversations did you have
with Barker before the shooting?''
Three distinct ones.
| why did you hold the conference al
your Officer" asked the lawyer.
| For privacy. 2
'What did You observe as to his de.
meanor ~
Showed ne was disturbed and suffered
from lack Of sleep.l He rose, sat dowr
and got up and showed extreme nervous.
ness and agltation.y
Did be say why he was worriedgs r.