The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-05-20
|. FRESH EVIDENCE
Mrs. Barker Has New
Facts Which Count
Against Keller.
RECTOR READY FOR TRIAL
Says He Must Appear to
Remove Stain From the
Ministry.
Especial to THE Jersey city News."]

lSpecial 10 Ihe Jersey City News.'J
ARLINGTON, May 20, 1901 Mrs.
Barker is expected to produce some
startling testimony at the trial of the
Rev. Keller, which is to come up shortly.
It is said here that at a tea given to
three Of her staunch supporters in the
guild, Mrs. Barker stated that she had
some evidence in support of her case
which had come to her since the shoot
ing.
The Rev. Keller, who was shot by
Thomas Barker and who is to be ar
raigned upon serious charges brought by
Mr. Barker on behalf of his wife, is con-
fined to his house by order of his physi-
clan, who fears that he would injure his
eye by venturing out. His right eye is
SO infiamed that the physicians fear grave
consequences if cold is taken. To re-
porter who called upon him, the Rev. Mr..
Keller said:-"My eye is in fair condition,
at least the well one is, and the other
no longer pains me. People are very
KIND. But 1 am begging every one, ex-
CePt my nearest friends, to excuse me
from seeing them-eyen my parishioners.
bear no one i'll WILL / have been spared
my slgnt, and 1 have nothing to fear
1ro mthe trial.
The days of the clergyman pass quietly
enough he occupies the large front room
IN the second story of Mr.. Sandss home,
the SIDE windows of which overlook the
corner OF Midland avenue, six doors away,
where the shooting took place Every ,day
Mr. Barker walks briskly by the place on
MS way to the post Office, but he is usual
~ chatting with some one who has over
taken him, and gives no sign that he re-
members the spot. Often as he passes,
Mr.. Keller sits by his upstairs window
writing. The minister can recognize no
one on the street, but his figure is plainly
visible TO those passing. Sitting there,
tne rector has only to turn his head to
look upon the house occupied by the
Barkers during the summer, when Mrs
Barker's story is dated.
MI. Barker is a more familiar figure in
Arlington since the affair than before He
mas given up his connection with the Com
merc1al Gable Company for the present,
and is staying in Arlington, with occa-
sional trips to Newark.
so Tar as possible, all discussion of the
case or conjecture about the trial is avoid
ed IN the pastors presence. Mrs Sands
says that ne himself never mentions the
matter, and his few callers have been
asked, upon being admitted, to divert his
mind as much as possible Rev. Keller
looked thin and worn, and a good deal
older than the Sunday morning he was
attacked. His general health is not good
and the physicians have told his friends
that ne must be spared all shock or ex-
cltement TO be strong enough for the trial.
Has failure TO attend. service in his
church yesterday was a Speclal source OF
disappointment tc his congregation, and
to the rest Of Arlington for thar mar.
ter Some way there had gone abroad a
report late last week that Rev. Keller
was to make an opening prayer at morn
ing service, preceding the general confess
sion, ir which he would ask forgiveness
for Mr.. Barker. Mr.. Barker himself had
heard TINS report, and his presence was
nalf expected at church. 1t was even sald
that both Mr.. and Mrs. Barker were to be
present and nobody could quite plan
what the general denouement would be
Wnen, shortly after 10 o'clock Mr.. Barker
scrupulously dressed, emerged from Inc
Misses Germonds boarding house at No
" Laurel syenue, where he lives, the ru-
NOR seemed to besonfirmed. He, how
ever. took the trolley car over to Newark
where he spent the rest of the day, and
his wife did not break her rule of Sc
clusion.
Rev. Keller dressed for church but de-
cided not to attend on account of the
weather. To a friend he said last week
that no feeling of false delicacy would
deter him from occupying his pulpit if he
We're well enough, and only the refusal
of his physician prevented him from re-
turning to his place.
Il suppose that is wise,'' he added, ssfor
II should not be well enough to attend
the trial it would tell tremendously, not
against me, but against the ministry. l
am anxious whatever stigma there is
shall attach to me and not to my calling
He has also been heard to say, since he
has been seeing a few friends, that the
experience, horrible as it has been, has
considerably widened his views.
II have to struggle, he said, ''to look
upon people as / did before this-that is
without suspicion. That l suppose-I
hope, at least-Will pass.
All notes and letters coming to the
house for Rev. Keller are read first by
Mrs. Sands. This is because no fewer
than half a dozen communications of an
abusive nature have been addressed to
the pastor by those who take sides
against him. These were all signed The
first one was opened in his presence and
partially read aloud before its nature was
disclosed. All such letters are filed away
now, as is everything which might dis
tress him. Several appeals for help have
come in from families whom he used to
assist and these also have been withheld
upon the physicians advice.
rnIccinM AT nr InaMan