The sun., 1901-07-17
BARKER CASE UP AGAIN |
Stated That Rev. Mr.. Keller Will Soon
Make q Move.
TO ESTABLISH INNOCENCE.
just what Form the Action Will
Take Has Not Been Learned
Yet, hut n Suit For SLAM
der Is Mentioned.

New York, July 16.-Joseph Parker,
Jr., announces that the Rev. John Kel-
Ter will shortly take steps to prove him
self innocent of the charges made by
Mrs. Thomas q. Barker. Just what
form such action will take could not
be learned, but Mr.. Parker said that
within a few days the plans for his
client would be made public.
1t is said that the matter will be set
tied in court. Mrs. John Sumner, the
closest of Mrs. Barker's friends, has
stated that the prisoners wife will pos
ltiyely give her evidence nowhere save
in court.
.'She will not go before any ecclesi-
astical body to tell her story, when any
such jury would be prejudiced against
her and eager to prove Keller inno-
cent" said she.
Mr.. Parker, however, maintains that
Mrs. Barker's charges have not been
made in any form which would justify
n legal action by his client for defama-
tion of character
'"Thc question of Keller's guilt did
not get into evidence and the only way
in which the charges were made was
in Il communication TO her husband"
But the friends of the Barkers say
that Mrs. Barker will under no circum-
stances seek refuge in any such legal
technicaity and are emphatic In say
ing that She. as well as her friends,
desires the matter to be sifted thor
oughly.
Public Announcement Soon.
well, in what way do you expect to
acty' was asked of Mr.. Parker.
I'VE Shall not state mt present what
our plans are, but within a few days
some PUBLIC announcement will he
made. Mr.. Keller will in proper time
thoroughly disprove the charges of the
woman"
At present the only manner in which
any charges have been made is in Mrs.
Enrkcr's affidavit which, it has been
said, was not other tllan private doc
unent and, not having any public
character in itself, is not grounds for
suit. How valid such Il contention may
he. aside from the claims of Mrs. Bar
the hands of Keller and his lawyer.
should they decide to sue on such
grounds they have the practical pledge
of Mrs Barker that she will not seek
TO escape by the legal teclnicality.
Should they determine to ask for Il
hli l nli - nj
would in all probability be compelled
To proceed without the only witness of
And so il remains an open
question rs to what will be done.
The feeling among the friends of the
BHrkcrS in Arlington Is strong that
something must be done to get at the
Facts in the ease. They say that should
the minister plead insufficient means
they VIII place enough money to pay
all expenses of the suit mt his disposal.
In fact. they say that rs soon as Mr..
Keller consents to act they stand ready
to provide the means TO proceed.
Meeting Of BnrIer's Friends.
Members Of tile Thomas G. Barker
Defense association of Arlington, \. j.,
have sent Il letter indorscd by them to
iii" Rev. John Keller calling upon him
to institute proceedings to clear his
name Of the charges made by Mrs.
Thomas g. Barker. The meeting nj
which the letter was indorsed was held
in Arlington hall and was called hy the
association. The letter was drawn nj
by the executive committee and was
addressed TO the Rev. John Keller.
John sumner, who called the meeting
To order was elected chairman. In an
address lie said that the public was
wrong in the general impression that
the object of the association was to
uphold Barker IN his attack on AIr.
Keller. Such was not the case he
said. The object of the association
was to have HE charges Of the prison
erS wife against the minister sifted to
the bottom and the truth known. Aft
cr reviewing the case from the begin
ming the chairman concluded by calling
upon the Rev. Mr.. Keller to establish
Ills innocence.
Several other speeches We're made by
friends Of Barker. 1t was stated cnl-
phaiicllly that Mrs. Barker would not
seek protection in any legal technical.
lty, such rs cuntcndng that her
charges were embodied in Il privileged
communication TO her husband.