The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-06-21
YESTERDAYS PROCEEDINGS


As the clock struck half-past four yes
terday afternoon in the Court House, so
far as the testimony was concerned, the
trial of Thomas G. Barker for shooting
with intent to kill Rev. John Keller of
Arlington, had closed and both sides
heayed a sigh of relief This morning the
summing up will take place, the Judge
will deliver his charge and the case will
be given to the jury, who will probably
render their verdict before the evening.
Everybody says that Barker could never
have had a better jury to try him than
those now in the case. They are all high
~ respectable men, who will obey their
oath and give him the benefit of any
doubt; but when it comes to doubt the
universal opinion is that there is only one
verdict and that is conviction, which
means seven years in prison and $1,000
mercy, as some think there will be and
ought to be. Should there be verdict for
conviction counsel for Barker will at once
begin an appeal. The basis of that ap-
peal will be principally twofold. Counsel
will set up that the Courts ruling ex-
Guiding all mention of the STORY and
events prior to the day of the shooting, on
February 8, was an error, and the "con-
fesson'' of Barker while in the custody
of the citizen Bulkley, acting as a police
officer, should never have been admitted,
because he was not warned as to the con-
sequences of the admission as the law
requires an officer to do when arresting
a man charged with crime. There are
other exceptions of more or less minor
Importance
The States summing up today will be
on the lines that Barker himself adj
mitted the crime for which he was
charged, and that every act of his on the
day of the shooting proved that he
wasn't insane as he claimed to be.
On the other hand the defense viii plead
that they had an excellent defense bur
were not allowed to use it. They will
argue that Barsers mind was unhinged
by the story told. him of the alleged out
rage by Rev. Mr.. Keller and that the
failure of the latter to deny was tacit
admission of his guilt.
Yesterday afternoon both gallery ana
body of the court room was crowded
Mrs. Barker was not present. Bishop I.
A. Starkey, Archdeacon w. r.. Jenvey of
Mann of Newark, Rev Dr. G. S. Bennitt
of Grace Church, Jersey City; Rev. DR..
D. f. Warren, chaplain of Christ Hospi-
tai. Rev. A. Eimerdorf of the Church of
the Holy Cross, Rev. w. P. Brush of ST.
Paul's Church, Rev. F. 3. Reagor of
Christ Church, East Orange: Rev. John S.
Miller OF the House. of Prayer, Newark,
and clergymen of other denominations
were in the audience. There were so
many people there from Arlington that
with the exception of two policemen and
the fire department of that township it
must have been depopulated. Women, of
course, predon1inated and the factions of
Bethany Chapter, Mr.. Kellers friends,
would have nothing to do with the Pres
byterian Church crowd, Mr.. and Mrs.
Barker's cohorts, and they sat on oppo-
site sides of tho passageway indulging
from time to time in the feminine amuse-
ment of glancing scornfully at one an
others raiment. When one party of one
side went up to testify members of the
opposite faction would mutter:-
Look at that hat" sWhat a waist,s'
sShe's perfect fright s'She's no lady,
Common, my dear" and other endearing
criticisms. And when they met each other
in the Railways they would kiss each
other and say. "Im glad to see you.
DEAR, when they heartily wished each
other at the bottom of the deep blue sea.
Counsel will proceed with the case.n
said Judge Blair, at two o'clock, tapping
with his gavel to command the Arlington
magpies to keep still, and the battle Of
the alienists to determine or refute the
insanity of Barker began by Mr.. Albert