New-York tribune., 1901-06-18
BARKER FACES A JURY.
HIS TRIAL, FOR ASSAULT WITH INTENT
TO KILL THE REV. JOHN
KELLER BEGINS.

The trial of Thomas @. Barker. charged with
assault with intent to kill the Rev. John Keller.
begun yesterday in the Hudson County
Court of Sessions. The courtroom was crowded
and many people were excluded.
In the room were many Episcopal clergymen.
among whom were the Right Rev. Thomas A.
Starkey. Bishop of the Newark Diocese; Very
Rev. Alexander Mann. Archdeacon: the Rev
August FIiedner who temporarily fills the pull
pit of the Trinity Mission Church. awaiting the
recovery of Mr. Keller: the Rev. C. a. Abbott.
rector of Christ Church. Belleville; the Rev
George S Bennett rector of Grace Church.
Jersey City: the Rev. Daniel F. Warren, rector
of st. Mary's Church. Jersey City. and the Rev
John G. Ewens. curate of Holy lnnocents
Church. Hoboken. They ready TO take the
stand If necessary and testify to the good char
acter of Mr.. Keller.
Barker and Mrs. Barker sat at the table oc
cupied by his counsel. Barker faced Judge
Blair who presided. Almost at his elbow sat
Mr.. Keller Smoked glasses hid the empty
socket of the right eye made vacant by the
bullet fired by Barker and the glass saved from
the glare of the light the impaired left eye.
Mr.. Keller is still sufferer from the wounds
inflicted. He became i'll in court. but recovered
during the recess.
The trial moved with the alacrity Of the
proverbial Jersey court. The counsel for the
defence stolidly contested every step. but Judge
Blair lost little time in listening to technical
objections and counsel had TO be content with
noting exceptions which almost as nu-
rnerous as the questions asked. They contested
the trial by a struck jury, but objection was
overruled and the jury quickly chosen
The jurors who all business men. are:
John G S%GPsin % T'oR,S;i I9hR s 4enash " I.shev.
E>imund II. Davey. Charles Gerdts.
Henry J. Gordon Robert McAndrews-
SamSsl p,lSm q ls@sr5Sk NeisoS arss SSaTIs9 Marsh
Prosecutor Erwin opened the case in a brter
story OF the assault. The shooting occurred on
the morning of February >, at Beach-st. ana
Midland-ave., Arlington. The Rev. Mr. Keller
had left his home in Beach-st.. intending 70 go
TO Fort Lee 10 conduct religious services there.
and was shot down without seeing hts aSsall-
ant Barker; shot had destroyed the right
eye and had seriously impaired the sight of the
left eye. and another had MANNED the rlShl
hand.
Counsel for the defence objected TO the por-
ton OF the opening duplicating Barker, and
throughout the day opposed the admission Of
Barker that he had shot Keller. because he was
practically in custody and the confession is not
legal evidence for the reason that Barker had
not been warned that any statement he might
make would be used against him. II was palpa-
BILE that the defence had not conclusively elected
its course and was cropping for an opportunity
10 weaken the case of the State as TO the
identity of Barker
Judge Blair admitted the testimony relative
the confession. and several witnesses testi-
fed that they saw Barker running after the
pistol reports
one of the States prominent witnesses
Mrs. Jennie NJ. Buckley. who the assault.
She ran 10 the window Of her home. which fronts
on the scene of the attack hearing the first
pistol report. and saw man lying the walk.
while his assailant, bending over the prostrate
victim. fired three more shots him. The
sailant then put the pistol in his pocket and
away. She shouted Murder" and called on
her husband. Frederick c. Buckley, to pursue
the murderer.
Mr.. Buckley did pursue Barker. He did not
wait for hat coat. The he seeking
was not visible when he reached the street. but
he ran 10 the corner and citizen he met pointed
out the man hurrying away.
on cross examination the witness said that he
went with Barker to see that he went to the
town hall He said Barker's admission II
shot at Keller and hope I've killed him.
Thirteen witnesses were examined yesterday.
The trial will he resumed this morning. II will
occupy the attention of the court for several
days.