The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-02-11
VAN Wrinkles FIRST SHOT
He Demands Authentic
News of Mr.. Kellar's
Condition.

In the Court of General Sessions, this
morning, ex-Assistant Prosecutor Mar
shall A. Van Wrinkle took the preliminary
step towards an application for the re-
lease on bail of Thomas G.. Barker, who
attempted to kill the Rev. John Kellar of
Arlington. Soon after court opened Law
yer Van Wrinkle, addressing Judge Blair,
said
1.-THE exact condition of Mr.. Kellar is
apparently unknown to the Prosecutor or
the two attorneys of the defendant. AS
Mr.. kellar is not in any public hospital
and the Court has no opportunity of Off
cially ascertaining his condition, I would
ask that the County Physician of this
county, DR.. Charles B. Converse, be di-
rected to visit the patient at stated in
tervals and make written report to the
Court from time to time as to the con-
dition of Mr.. Kellar.
81 ask this in order that the constitu-
tional right of Mr.. Baker to give bail, if
MIR. Keller is not in danger of death, may
be presented 1 have no desire to be pre-
mature, but considering the fact that Mr..
Kellar is surrounded by none but friendly
physicians whose reports, published in the
public press, vary from day to day-one
day he is improving and the next day
sinking-I think that the Court should
take steps towards obtaining definite in
formation as to the patients condition
Prosecutor Erwin in reply said
1.-THE State is informed as to the condi-
ton of Mr.. Keller. I saw the man late
Saturday afternoon myself, and have a
statement given me by the physicians late
Saturday night in which they report that
their patient is still in danger of death
If suppuration sets in the danger of sud-
den death is very great.
81 have no objection to County PnySl-
clan Converse visiting Mr.. Kellar, but IL
seems to me that the proper remedy
would be for the Court to receive reports
from the physicians in attendance. On
Saturday the physicians signed letter
certifying that Mr.. Kellar was yet in
grave and dangerous condition. Yesterday
afternoon they SAID that Wnhe S MS @ eoneir far
from being out of danger. They will not
be able to tell for the next few days
whether MT Kelar VI Wii and+an I'VE or ole' s snb anS
that it would be unwise for any one else
to visit him.
'"The Court knows that this was a most
serious assault, the wounds in the mead
being very dangerous. BY the middle or
last of this week the attending physicians
will be better able to judge of Mr.. Kellar
condition and the State would then pc
willing to consider any reasonable appll-
cation made by the defendants counsel"
'.The Court will let the matter rest for
a day or two but will regard it as pending
before the Court said Judge Blair:
''That is all the defendants counsel now
DESIRE" said Lawyer Van Wrinkle but as
the statement is made that Mr keIer is
likely to die, I, as counsel, for Mr.. Bar
ker. desire here to notify the States
representative that we desire to be pres
emf if any ant mortem statement is TAX
en-. We do not want to nave any mario"
or bigoted statement made"
Prosecutor Erwin did not reply.
Barker spent very quiet Sunday in MS
cell in Murderers' Row on the first floor
of the County Jail and in the corridor ad-
Joining. He had no visitors.