The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-02-27
BARKER KEEPS SILENCE.
Gives Out a Statement That
He Will Follow His
Lawyers Advice.

Immediately after Thomas G. Barker,
the Would-be slayer of Rev. John Kellar,
of Arlington, was released on bail yes
terday afternoon, he, with. Maxwell F.
Jones, the counsel through whom was is
sued the previous statement authorized
by Mr.. and Mrs. Barker went to a pri-
vate room in Judge John A. Blair's office
in the Welden building, Jersey City, and
prepared the following statement for pub
iication. The document was handed 10 a
News" reporter by Barker himself, when
with Lawyer Jones, he emerged from the
private office and prepared to return to
Arlington. 1t bears the 8 sgnature of
Thomas G. Barker, but the body of the
document is not in his writing. In full.
tne statement reads:-
Il have nothing to say will follow
the practice OF nay counsel and not try
my case in the newspapers. | have no
fear as to the outcome.
My friends inform me that mem
Der OF the newspaper fraternity is in
the employ of Prosecutor Erwin, but
Whelher as a gatherer of evidence or
as press agent to create public SYM
pathy for kev. Mr.. Kellar time only
Will tell. Suffice TO say That the party
IN question Is employed by a neWspa-
per whose articles bearing on rhis case
nave always been colored with de-
scided keliar hue
Il wish to express my thanks for the
fair treatment | have received at the
hands OF the press generally, although
my fuH story has not yet been told''
The document, the statement issued by
Maxwell f. Jones on behalf of Mr. and
Mrs. Barker on the occasion of the lat
ter's only visit to her husband at the
Hudson County Jail, and the extracts
from the statement in regard to the
shooting made by Rev. Mr.. KeIlar ITO
Prosecutor Erwin, all three of which were
published in 1.-THE News" are the only
official and authentic statements issued
IN connection with the case by either.
After handing the statement published
above Barker positively refused to say a
word further about his case. With Law
yers Van Wrinkle and Jones and Robert
). Victor one of his bondsmen, Barker
then went to the keystone restaurant in
the Fennsylvania Railroad depot, and af-
ter partaking of hearty meal the par
ty left for Arlington.
The case against Barker was not CON
sldered by the Grand Jury at yesterday
afternoon session and the general belief
is that it will not be brought to the at
tentlon of that body until the victim of
the shooting has recovered sufficiently to
appear as witness against his aSSailant.
Among the friends of Barker the rllInor
was current yesterday at the Hudson
county Court House, that the would-be
murderer would never be brought to trial.
L lie greatest secrecy was observed 10y
the officials III removing Barker from the
Hudson County Jail to Judge Blair's law
office in this city where bail for his APP
pearance when wanted was accepted.
While a score or more reporters, newspa-
per artists and photographers were wait
ing at the front door of the Jail the priS-
oner was smuggled through the gate at
the rear and taken by a round about way
to where the court and counsel were in
waiting. Barker had been gone for fully
an hour before the representatives of the
New York sensational press were made
aware of the fact that he had been taken
from the jail.A
Prosecutor Erwin, when seen by a
''Newe'' reporter this morning, positively
denied that he had any newspaper man
employed in the case or that he was en-
deavoring in any way to create public
sympathy for Rev. Mr.. Kellar. He said:-
Il am only to thankful to receive from
newspaper men or any other persons in
formation that may throw light upon the
case. That / consider my duty, but the
statement that any such persons are reg
ularly in the employ of the State is ab-
solutely without foundation