The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-02-07
BARKER Defence
Van Winkle Says to Pro-
ceed Against Keller
Would Be to
Disclose It.
WILL SOON ASK FOR BAIL
Erwin Says He Will Fight
Release Until Minister'S
Chance of Life
Is Determined.

One ofthe strange features of the
strange case of Thomas G. Barker, the
wolsld-be slayer of the Rev. John Kellar,
OF Arlington, lies in the fact that al
though he is represented as having any
number of friends willing to make any
and every sacrifice to save him from the
penalty of his crime. but a single one of
these friends has visited him since his
confinement in the County Jail, and this
one had not seen Barker in number of
years. With the exception of his counsel,
Marchall A. Van Wrinkle and Albert c.
Wall, and a stenographer attached to
their office, the stranger who arrived at
the Jail this morning is the only person
who has called on Barker since he was
brought there on Tuesday morning last.
He did not give his name, but said he
was boyhood friend of Barker's, and
lived in Brooklyn.
Warden Sullivan sent to the prisoner
note written by the stranger and at Bar
ker's request he was admitted to the con-
sultation room that separates the jail
office from ward 8, in which Barker is
confined.
The two men talked through the heavi-
ly barred iron door of the corridor until
Stenographer Jones of Lawyer Van Win
kles office, who wanted to consult with
Barker. At noon Mr. Jones was still
there.
Lawyer Van Wrinkle was in the Court
of Special Sessions this morning When
asked if he had anything further to say
on the Barker-Kellar case he replied
Il have no desire to try this case in the
newspapers There are no new features.
We are simply awaiting developments.
and at the proper time will push the mat
ter to an ISSUE
"Will you soon apply for the release of
your client on bail?'
II expect to make such application in a
day or two
"Have you seen Mrs. Barker?''
mot personally, but representatives of
our office have visited her.
Does she reiterate the charges made in
her confession to her husband on Sat-
urday last?'
.ashe does, and is prepared to testify to
the truth of those charges under oath;
humiliating as such a course must neces-
sarly be to woman of fine feelings. =
'How about her physicians statement
that she is a victim of hysteria?''
SIT is all bosh.'
when will you institute your promised
proceedings against the Rev. Mr.. Keller
for alleged criminal assault on Mrs. Bar
ker?.'
''The trouble about instituting those
proceedings now is that we would be
obliged to disclose our defense In the
pending case You can rely upon it we
will proceed against Mr.. Keller at the
proper time
Further than this Mr.. Van WinKle re-
fused to discuss the case.
When seen this morning Prosecutor Err
win said
Until I am notified that the Rev. Mr..
Kellar is absolutely out of danger / will
certainly resist any effort to have his as
sailant released on bail. | have not as
yet formed any conslusions about the case
because have not received the reports of
my detectives, who are investigating it..
Should Mr.. Kellar recover the present
complaint of atrocious assault and bat
terry will in all probability be presented
to the Grand Jury at it's session on Fri
day of next week. Further than this
have nothing to say about the case, ex-
cept that the latest reports seem to in
dicate that Mrs. Barker, was a victim Of
hysteria, and in all probability Mr.. Bar
ker was hasty in his desire to defend his
honor