The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-06-20
TELLS WHY He SHOT
PREACHER KELLER
Barker Declares the Minister
Had WrOnged Him.
WIFEON WITNESS STAND
NOT PERMITTED TO TELL PAR
TICULARs OF THE OUTRAGE.

New York, June 19.-The fate Of
Chomas c.. Barker. on trial at Jersey
City fer the shooting of the Rev. john
Keller. may go 80 the jury tomorrow
The defense had practically finished
when the court rose this evening.
Barker and his wife we're upon the
stand today. They told their story. SO
far as the court would allow. answer
ing the questions of counsel for the
DEFENSE an I although The record does
not show IL, MIR. Van Wrinkle got refer
ence TO the alleged assault before the
jury ia one way and another though
the nature Of the assault was not
brought out.
The purpose of Barker's testimony
was TO show that, after having brood
ed for a periC1 over what his wife had
told him. he was in p morbid state of
mind and when he came face to face
with the minister he was carried away
10y feeling and began firing; that it was
sudden, tempestuOus and temporary in
sanity, lasting but q. moment, but long
enough TO cover the period of the
shooting.
Barker admitted that ne bought the
+ revolver at the time ne first heard the
story which worried him and caused
him sisepless nights and great mental
stress He denied, however, that ne
bought it for the purpose Of shooting
. the clergyman
first but this finally wore off. She
. calmly answered the questions of her
husband S lawyers, and by the time she
was put under cross examination ap-
peared to be under perfect seif-contrOl.
Refers to His Wrongs.
Thomas C. Barker was called to the
witness stand on the opening Of court
O. complete his testimony under cross
examination, and i'm reply TO questions
. or counsel he began TO describe his
movements on Feb. 3. the morning of
the shoOtinE- He said he left home To
. buy newspaper. AS ne neared the
corne- of Beach street and Midland
avenue, he met Mr.. Keller on Beach
street Keller stopped and said: Good
. morning, Mr.. Barker" Here the wit
i'Nss Strengthened no in his chair and
continued:
Fl replied TO Keller. and said: You
damned villain, You outraged my wife
shouted County Prosecutor Erwin.
The court ruled not TO allow further
testimony on this point.
BarkeT's testimony regarding the
passing Of words with Keller before
the shooting C.utradicts the statements
of the latter yesterday on the witness
stand.
Barker. continuing his testimony, un-
der examination by his counsel, con
trived to make illusions to the wrong
Several objections by the prosecuting
attorney were sustained.
Witness detailed q quarrel he had
with Keller because the latter had Dor
TpWed SS3 from Mrs. Barker in April.
1892, the last of which was paid IN
March, 1000. Previous % that incident
the relations of Keller with witness and
his wife had been very friendly they
frequently bicEcied together. and wit
ness presented Keller with a bike. Wit
ness said he did no, know until Jan
uary that his wife had left Keller's
church.
How he Shot the Preacher,
Barker said he knew the time Keller
usually went TO church Sunday morn
ing. but he had no intention of killing
him whom ne left his house that morn
ing. The revolver which he bought
before was in his OverCUat pocket. He
fired four shots az Keller. standing I'm
front Of him an the time; ne did not
shoot while Keller was lying on the
ground. The second and third shots
We're fred WRITE Keller was turning
around and saying Don't don't"
Until he saw the blood flowing from
the wound in Eeller's head Barker sid
he was IN a scmi-dazed condition. 1hen
he realized what he had done ana gave
himself up. He had felt justified i'm
what Dee had done, but now, he said, II
regret the whole rhing and its cause
Barker said his wife did not know he
had the revolver.
Mrs. Mary Barker. wife of the de-.
fendant. was called TO the stand. She
said she had been married to Barker
for fourteen years and had known KEEL
Ter about ten years. she said Keller
was iu the habit of visiting their home
f1uf or five times week and during
these times ne often dined with them.
She said she remembered April 10. 1899,
and an occurrence at her home on that
day in which Keller was concerned.
CouIdn't Tell Her story
Before Mrs Barker could say any
thing further toe county prosecutor
stopped her and objected 10 her giving
further testimony in reference to what
occurred at this time. on the ground
that it was irrevelaut.
This was the date on which it is all
legged hy Mrs. Barker that Keller as
saulted Der
Cortinuiug. Mrs. Barker said that at
different times she had loaned money
70 Mr. Keller in sums Cf from $40 to $50
without her husband knowing It. she
sid she had loaned him in all about
Mrs. Barker was questioned as 70 her