New-York tribune., 1901-06-22
PROMPT WITH THE VERDICT
JURY TAKES ONLY EIGHT MINUTES TO
CONVICT BAI;kER-SCENES
IN COURT.

With unexpected promptness the jury IN the
Hudson County Court of Sessions yesterday
afternoon at 2:4j o'clock. after a single ballot.
requiring delberatiOn of less than eight minutes.
found Thomas C. Barker. who shot the Rev.
John Keller in Arlington February last.
guilty of assault with intent kill. as charged
In the indictment. The sight of Mr.. KelIers
right eye destroyed. and his left eye is
very weak
The extreme penalty is seven years in prison
and $4,000 fine.
Judge Blair's charge occupied more than an
hour. and it was 2:34 ?. when the jurymen
retired
About two hundred people were standing about
the courtroom. not expecting verdict for
hour. when a loud rap was heard and the clerk
announced the re-entrance of the jury.
Instantly there scurrying for seats.
Judge Blair raped sharply for order. and said:
THE audience will maintain absolute silence.
There must be no demonstration"
The jurymen headed by John .. Gor~''' the
foreman. trooped through the IN. and. amid
absolute silence. faced the bench.
Have you agreed on a verdict?'' asked the
clerk
We have" said Gopsill.
What is it?''
Guilty of assault with intent 10 KILL" was th4
prompt reply.
The room seemed to be packed with Arlington
friends of the Rev. Mr. Keller They sprang to
their feet and uttered suppressed exclamations
Of Joy Women embraced each other. and then
in tears collapsed GroI d into their seats.
Outside the crowd greeted the news with sew
eral rounds of cheers Barker. the convicted
man. never finched. He has ~ther hanE -le
face with flashing black eyes and black hair.
His head was thrown back. and when his
sell Mr. Van Wrinkle. leaned over him and whis-
pered word of encouragement. smiled -.
and soon began chatting with friend who came
to condOe with him
Mrs Barker whose story to her husband about
an alleged wrong committed by the clergyman
is believed to have prompted the shooting. was
not in the courtroom when the jury returned the
verdict After the judges charge she went
away with a friend. She weeping. and
seemed TO dread the impending blow. Her hus-
band tried to cheer her but she was greatly de-
pressed
Judge BIair's charge left Barker and his law
yers with hardly 81 leg TO stand on He told the
jury in the plainest terms that the only insanity
the law recognized was a diseased mind. He
practically convicted Barker out OF Barkers own
mouth for he made extended use of Barker's
testimony to show that Barker had the fullest
consciousness of what he was doing up TO the
very instant of the shooting.
Prosecutor Erwin. following the remanding OF
Barker TO Jail TO await sentence. sai5:
Il hesitate 10 say what the Court will do IN
Rarker's case. Tie usual procedure would indi-
ca te that Barker Will be brought forward for
sentence Thursday mornins next at 10
o'clock If his counsel file writ of error that
will take the case to the Supreme Court In that
case the appeal will be argued at the November
term and the decision may be reached in the
February term next winter. III his friends pro-
duce the S10O0O bail exacted by Judge Blair the
judge accept the bail if he sees nit and lib
crate Barker at once"
EXPECT To APPEAL.
Mr.. Van Wrinkle. counsel for Barker said;
I'VE expect TO appeal the case. but ii is doubt
full if anything can be done 10 get Mr. Barker
out of Jail before Monday Tuesday next"
The news of the verdict was carried promptly
TO the Rev. Mr.. Keller. who in the Prose-
cutor's room. in the basement of the court
house. with his friend the Rev. Alban Richey,
sell prepared a statement for Mr.. Keller. and
this read to the reporters by Mr.. Richey.
The Rev. Mr.. Keller fairly overwhelmed
by congratulations. Arlington people In droves
hunted around for him, but few knew of his
whereabouts Many of his brother clergymen
clung to- him, patted him the back, and
assured hin that ne could possibly have
had a more complete vindication. When Mr..
Parker was asked about the probability of a
civil action against Mrs. Barker for the pur-
rose of vindicating Mr.. Keller he said he would
have TO consult his associate counsel r. "
Lindabury. of Newark.
One of the rumOrs in circulation in Arlington
last night was that Mr.. Keller and others would