The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-02-04
REV. ]. KELLER
SHOT.
Bishop Starkey's Secretary
Falls Before an En-
ragged Husbands
Pistol.
ACCUSED OF RUNNING 4 HOME
Stricken Clergyman May Not
Recover Eyesight Almost
Entirely Destroyed.
ACCUSED OF RUNNING 4 HOME

The Rev. John A. Keller, rector of
Holy Trinity Mission at Arlington; Secre-
tary to the Protestant Episcopal Diocese
of Newark, and Chaplain to Bishop Thos.
A. Starkey of this diocese, lies at the
point of death. He was shot down yes
terday morning in Arlington by Thomas
G. Barker, whose wife accuses the clergy
man of running her life by his improper
conduct. Mr.. Keller rose early yesterday
morning, ate light breakfast and pre-
pared for the sacred work of the day.
He was under engagement to come to
Fort Lee, to attend dedicatory service
in the Church of the Good Shepherd.
Mr.. Keller had in bis keeping the chai-
ices and other vessels used in the rite of
the holy communion of the Episcopal
Church. 1t was his purpose to return
these vessels to their place in the sanctu-
airy before keeping his engagement in
Fort Lee. He therefore collected them
carefully into a cloth bag made for the
purpose. and at five minutes to eight
o'clock left the house and started along
the east side of Beech street toward
the church.
Mr.. Keller was dressed in the conven-
tional clerical garb of the episcopacy,
with its high cut straight buttoned black
coat, showing strip of white collar
about the neck. On his head he wore a
round crowned, straight brimmed felt hat,
such as is commonly used by members of
the Episcopal brotherhood.
Barely block from his home, on the
northeast corner of Midland avenue and
Beech street, a man who had been lott
ering on the opposite corner advanced
rapidly toward him, and a few brief
words passed between them. The man
was Thomas Barker. The next instant
before the clergyman had time to turn
toward his antagonist, Mr.. Barker drew
from pocket of his overcoat a revolver,
and at distance probably no greater
than seven feet fired point blank at the
right side of the rector's head. The cler-
gyman instinctively threw up his right
hand in defence, but the bullet had taken
effect, and he tottered and slowly fell to
the snow covered pavement.
Advancing a single step towaxd his
PROSTATE victim, he fired three more shots
in rapid succession. Two of them pene-
trated the clergyman's soft felt hat one
piercing the crown in two places at a
point about two inches above the brim,
second drilling a clean, round hole
through the rim itself and the third APP
parently going wide of its mark.
Directly opposite the clergymar's home
and that of Mr.. Sands is that of Frederick
G. Bulkley, retired merchant living at
No. 145 Beech street.
When Mr.. Bulkley reached the corner
of Midland avenue Mr.. Roome, his son
and another neighbor named Van WinKel,
startled by the pistol shots, had already
arriveda nd were assisting the stricken
clergyman to his feet. He was found to
be conscious and was able to assist them
materially as they supported him on
either side and thus brought him back to
the home which he had left less than
three minutes before.
After the shooting Barker walked away
but was followed by Bulkeley, to whom
he coolly said:
"You are following me? / am going to
give myself up. Come with me-
Together they boarded a car and went
to the Town Hall, where later Barker
was locked up by the Chief of Police.
His reason for the shooting was brief.
MY wife was assaulted by that man
Keller" he said, eighteen months ago.
1 only learned of it last night and now
, 1 have my revenge.
Barker was taken before his victim,
who failed to recognize him. Mr.. Keller
denied that there was any impropriety in
his relations with Mrs Barker.
The physicians have doubts about the
stricken mans recovery. The bullet de-
stroyed the right eye and so seriously in
| jured the left that should he recover he
will be totally blind.