The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-23
KELLER'S FRIENDS
They Disagree as to the
Best Method Of Secur-
ing His Vindication.
LINDABURY'S PLAN RADICAL
The Rector Has Twice Refused
to Accept the Barker As
sociation's Letter.

Friends of the Rev. John Keller are
affected by the demands of the Thomas
G. Barker Defense Association for de-
claration, by that clergyman, of his prob
able action in replying to the charges
made against him by Mrs. Barker during
the trial which resulted in sending her
husband to prison for six years.
They refer all inquiries to the Rev. Mr..
Keller's counsel, R. V. Lindabury, of this
city, and the latter's answer to all such
questioning is that nothing has yet been
determined. Joseph Parker, Jr., who was
referred to occasionally during the trial
as the Rev. Mr.. Keller's counsel, and who
was quoted in some newspapers early in
July as declaring that "NIr. Keller's
friends are thoroughly alive to the neces-
sity of clearing away any lingering doubt
from the public mind" said that he
had nothing to say as to when Mr. Kel-
Ter would take action
The exact truth of the situation, how
ever, was ascertained yesterday from an
intimate friend of Mr.. Keller's Church, in
this city.
Mr.. Lindabury two months ago out
lined to the officers of the Newark Epis-
copal diocese what he believed to be the
proper legal course to be pursued said
the informant.
when this opinion was given, a clergy.
man from Hoboken, who Is very promi-
nent In the Episcopal Church and who il
also a very intimate friend of Mr.. Keller,
unhes1tatingly indorsed Mr.. Lindabury's
suggestion, but, strange to say, one of tho
other church officers present at the con-
ference whose official rank is higher than
that of the Hoboken clergyman, objected
most strenuoLsly 10 the adoption of ths
plan proposed by Mr.. Kellers counsel.
'Just what that plan of action Is am
not at liberty to say. But am willing tc
state that if Mr.. Lindabury's plan had
been accepted, all this buncombe talk in
the newspapers would have been avoided,
and Mr.. Kellers reputation by this time
have been cleared in the eyes of the
public.
ST want you, in justice to Mr.. Keller
to make it clear that he has, up to tht
present, taken no part in these confer
ences. He placed the legal aspects oi
the affair in the hands of Bishop Starkes
soon after the shooting took place, ant
he will not-no matter what anyone maj
say or do-interfere until definite action
has been determined upon. 1t is only right
that Mr.. Keller should have this smucf
justice done him, for he has been sub
jected to the most outrageous misrepre
sertation, and has borne the burden with
uncomplaining fortitude.
ssYou can add, also, that Mr.. Linda
burys suggestion Is quite radical. No I'M
timation of the course he suggests hal
been made by the friendly or unfriendll
counsellors who have rushed into print
but the result to be reached by following
his plan would make the issue sharp and
satisfactory to Mr.. Keller
H. r. Kearns and James Sumner, menp
bers of the Thomas G. Barker DefAnS
Association, called at the Arlington post
office this morning for the purposes of ins
quiring as to the registered letter sent II
Mr.. Keller by Mr.. Kearns, secretary ot
the association. They were informed
that twice since the mailing of the lette,
the employees of the postofice had EN-
deavored to deliver it, but both times tht
rector refused to accept the letter.
Before September Is the letter will agafI
be sent to the clergyman and If it is agail
refused will be returned 10 the seeretar,
Of the association.