The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-06-15
KELLER's ORDEAL
Prosecutor Will Fight to
Have Mrs. Barker's
Charges Excluded.
TEMPORARY INSANITY PLEA
Defendant Will Try to Gain
Admission of the Testi-
mony to Prove Bar
ker's Mental Con-
dition.
TEMPORARY INSANITY PLEA

Not since the famous Smith-Bennett
murder trial of twenty years ago has pub
lie c&interest been aroused in criminal
trial to the degree that it now is in the
Barker-Keller case, the trial of which will
begin before Judge Blair in the Court OF
General Sessions on Monday morning.
Both sides have announced themselves as
ready for the legal fray and there is little
prospect of a postponement. The State
has subpoenaed sixty-eight witnesses,
many of whom are members of Trinity
Protestant Episcopal Chapel, Arlington,
of which the wounded clergyman was the
vicar They will be called to prove their
pastors reputation in the event of it
being attacked through the admission of
the confession alleged to have been made
by Mrs Barker to her husband on Feb
ruary 2, which, it is claimed. melted him
TO attempt the life of the clergyman on
the streets of Arlington on the following
morning.
Lawyers seem to think that the real
battle of the trial will hinge on the ad-
mission of this confession. The defense
VIII probably be temporary insanity and
Lawyers Van Wrinkle and Wall will try
nj every way to get this communication
Of Mrs. Barker to her husband into evil
dence as the cause that temporarily ur-
balanced the mind of her husband.
The State, represented by Prosecutor
Erwin, his assistant George 7. Viekers.
and Richard " Lindabury. who it is un-
derstood has been engaged by the Rev.
Mr.. Kellar's clerical associates, it is be-
heved will vigorously oppose the admis-
sion of this confession as evidence.
1t is stated that the defence has sum
moned nearly half a hundred witnesses.
With those subpoenaed on the opposite
side, the ferty-eight jurors from which
the trial panel will be drawn, horde
of newspaper men, and the many law
yers and court officers entitled to admis-
sion to the court room, there will be lit
tie room for other spectators in the anti
quated court room except in the dingy, i'll
ventilated gallery.
The trial will take place in the front
court room. in which many memorable
criminal cases have been tried, in two of
which-the Glendenning-P -Pomeroy assault
case and the Vosburgh paisoning case
clergvmen were the defendants. Inside
the rallied enclosure of the court room
things have been arranged in preparation
for the unusual conditions which will pre-
vailsat the trial. Additional tables to
accommodate the many newspaper men
who will be present have been placed
there and a separate table has been pro-
yjded for the defendants counsel at their
request. The clerks desk has been
turned sideways and everything fixed to
accommodate the many persons who will
be present.
Public interest has been aroused in the
case, not only by reason of its unusual
character, but because of the strange
division among people on the question OF
the guilt or innocence of the Rev. Mr..
Keller of the charges said to have been
made against him by Mrs. Barker. He
is a bachelor, twenty-nine years of age.
and despite his youth he stood high in
the councils of his church and was much
esteemed by the venerable Bishop Thomas
A. Starkey of the diocese of Newark,
whose secretary he was. From the first
Bishop Starkey expressed confidence in
the Innocence of his subordinate and the
entire church followed his example. With
the serious charge still hanging over his
head. and with nothing but his own word
to disprove it, his associates of the clergy
and laymen representing every church in
the Newark diocese, by a unanimous
vote reelected him to the position he had
held in the diocesan government
His election in old Trinity in Newark
was followed by a spontaneous outburst
of applause never before witnessed in a
diocesan convention of the Protestant
Episcopal Church. This was followed py
similar action in New York City, and then
the venerable Dean Hoffman, one of the
weaithiest and most influential ciergymen
of the church in the United States came
out with an expression of belief in the
accused clergyman's innocence and an Of
fer of any part of his wealth to help
prove it.
Barlser's friends, although not so many
in number or wealth as those of the
clergyman, were equally loyal His as
sociates in the Commercial Cable Com
pany's New York office, where he had
risen from a minor position to one OF
trust, came to his assistance Immediately
Capable counsel We're engaged and detec-
tives employed to work up the case in his
favor His neighbors became his bonds
men as soon as the stricken clergyman's
physicians pronounced their patient out
of danger.
In the pretty little residential section of
the town of Kearny, known as Arlington,
where both men lived, the sentiment on
the Question of the moral justification of
Barker for his act was about equally di-
vided The members of the congregation
of the chapel in which Rev. Mr.. Keller
ministered stood Loyalty by their stricken
vicar. At last Casters service every
member able to get out attended COM
munion in the pretty little chapel to at
test their faith and confidence in the man
who had ministered to their spiritual
wants and who lay on what was then
thought was his death bed, with seri-
Gus moral charge hanging over his head,
with only his own protestation Of inno-
cence as an answer.
Both men were we'll and favorably
known in the West Hudson section of tht
county and in Essex. In addition to bens