The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-22
Card from the Clerical Victim, Deny
ing the Statement of the De-
fendnnt's Wife.
EVIDENCE IN AT ELD0RAD0
JESSIE MORRIsON'S CASE TO BE AR
GUED ON MONDAY.
Court Forced to Adjourn Over Satur-
day Because One of the Jurors
Is a Seveptb-Day Adventist.

NEW YORK, Dune 2.-The jury before
which Thomas c. Barker, of Arlington,
n. j.. was tried for shooting with intent to
kill the Rev. John Keller, of the same town.
took one ballot this afternoon and returned
a verdict of guilty. Under the charge of
the court they could do little else. The
jurors were told they must set aside all
else. and decide only if Barker, with intent,
fired at Keller. That was the law and they
must obey it. Notice of appeal given
by Barker's counsel Barker tonight found
himself once more an inmate of the county
Jail. He must remain there until $4,000 bail
is furnished. Before him stands a possible
seven years Imprisonment and a fine of as
much as 5000.
Mrs. Barker was not in the courtroom to
hear the verdict. She was in another part
OF the courthouse, and when told Of the
verdict sobbed bitterly Mr.. Keller was also
absent and showed no emotion when told
of the verdict. Barker had expected an ac-
quittal. He based his hopes upon the strong
plea of his counsel when he dwelt upon the
unwritten law that man has a right to
Fill where the sanctity Of his home is as
sailed. Whatever the effect of this line of
pleading upon the jury, it was swept away
by the cold charge OF the court that ''the
story of the alleged outrage. or the out
rage itself, if true. was no justification of
the defendants assault"
The court explained that he had admitted
evidence that Barker had been told of an
assault, not because it had anything to do
with the case, but because it was for the
jury to determine If the story had anything
TO do with making the defendant criminally
irresponsible. If they believed the defend
ant was at the time of the shooting
they must convict.
In his closing speech Prosecutor Erwin
asked the jurors if the woman's course was
the natural one. He said her story was
improbable because Mrs. Barker would
IT. the natural course of events have told her
husband of the assault at once, and failing
in that, would have made a confidant OF
woman and not of another man. The jurys
only ballot was unanimous for guilty and
unit for the highest degree charged.
Mr.. Keller, the trial was COM
pleted. issued a brief statement, in which
he absolutely denied the truth of the allie
cations that have been made and published
by Mrs. Barker
| Barker will probably be sentenced on
Thursday next. and then his counsel will
file the papers in appeal to the Supreme
Court. Barker, in an interview tonight,
said: Il did not expect such verdict. 1t
seemed 10 me there was a reasonable doubt
l believed no twelve men would convict me
after hearing my wife's story. l believe
that the Supreme Court will give me a new
| trial and that then my wifes story will DE
| told"
| At the close of the trial the Rev. Mr. Kel-
Ter, through his attorney. gave the follow
| ing statement:
Il have learned of the publication in sew
| eral newspapers of the statement of Mrs
| Barker as to an alleged outrage by me- 1t
| is false. | never outraged Mrs. Barker.
now understand the rules of evidence would
not permit my denial under oath on the
| trial just concluded. JOHN KELLER"