New-York tribune., 1901-06-22

man for killing the man who had raVlshed MS
| wife" He declared that Mrs Barker had not
imagined her story. but she had appealed TO hcr
husband to do nothing. that Keller was re-
strained from confessing by his duty to his
church. and closed by appeal TO the sym
pathy of the jurors to send Barker back to his
home and not to prison for long period OF
years. with his story untold.
THE PROSECUTORS ADDRESS.
Prosecutor Erwin in opening. said the address
of counsel for the defence was an appeal to
arouse the sympathy of the jurors, but he would
not impugn the intelligence or motives OF the
jury by stating that they would do anything but
their duty and decide the case on the evidence
The Prosecutor then reviewed the evidence OF
Mr. Keller and the scene in his room after the
assault, when Barker brought in, and his
refusal to say who he believed shot him. be-
cause he was In fear Of death and did not want
TO accuse any one falsely The Prosecutor then
emphatically declared: That act stamps him
as a conscientious man who speaks the truth"
This utterance followed by applause. and
Judge Blair sharply raped his gavel. The
Prosecutor then took up the -Sickles trag
edy. and showed how Sckles had investigated
and found the story true before he fired
the fatal shot. The Prosecutor said:
l do not TO take the position of standing
outraged. and In defence of the purity of his home
shoots down the man who has defled that home
He then rehearsed Barller's conduct. and said:
What was his course when he hears the story?
Gt OIL hers & no. bHt from grass wd9Tfr' % Who whom me ne
him the story. why did not Mrs Barker tell him
the story? Why did she keep it locked in her
breast for eighteen months?
TAKES THE LAW IN HIS OWN HANDS.
Barker hears the story and his first act is to buy
a IN.
Keller, he takes that law in his own hand and
lie gives his Tictim no tnance to DEFEND Himself
He lies in wait and shoots him down In cold blood.
and II your verdict Is in favor of a Of that
kind an assassin. VIII have the entering wedge
Of anarchy that seeks to wrec; society. To me ii
IS lnconceivaoIe that woman thus outraged could
retain such secret from her husband for so long
onT 'ie % 9nG Snt6s Then 6ivnse to man she had known
The story IS ridiculous. 1t is told against man
whose life has been hitherto spotess: so pure that
not soul could be brought here from Arlington TO
say one word against his character.
The Prosecutor then tool, up the alleged bor-
rowing Of money and showed that the dunning
letter of Barker was for SO which Keller stated
was not loan and had been paid. and that the
additional 500 debt was only testified 10 by
Mrs Barker. who alleged the slips were torn
from a memorandum book which she had been
unable TO find.
ATTACKS INSANITY Defence.
The Prosecutor then took up the evidence of
the experts TO Barller's mental condition on
February 3, and said that the one expert for
the defence did not definitely and positively de-
clare that Barker had insane deusions al the
time Of the assault Keller. He characterized
the defence Of insanity rs a cowardly defence
the last resort Of man who is guilty.
He then dissected Rarker's testimony that he
had gone thirteen blocks that Sunday morning
10 get paper when ne could have purchased
one within two blocks of his home that he car
ried the loaded pistol in his pocket with two
extra cartridges and lay in wait for Keller He
then described the shooting and action Of Bar
ker. and said:
How dangerous 70 society II IS II man can
commit crime, work ZIP 2 defence of insanity
and prove II by his own words alone Tho law
recognizes such insanity. We should have no
compromise verdict Barker's acquittal will he
against law. logic and reason II will give a free
rein 10 anarchy and upset all traditions of society.
Let uphold the law