The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-19
BARKER
TELLS WHY
He SHOT
Felt Justified In Attack on KeI-
Ter Because Latter Had
Assaulted Wife.

New York, June l9.-The trial OF Thorn
as g. Barker charged with the shooting
OF the Rev. John Keller opened in Judge
Blairs court in Jersey city today with a
crowd OF spectators filling the room.
Counsel for the defense have decided
to resort TO every legal method 10 get
sufficient evidence before the jury TO
leave no doubt of the motive which
prompted Barker TO shoot Keller.
county Prosecutor Erwin openly stated
THAI he would vigorously oppose all at
teinpts to Introduce such testimony, even
II offered BY Mrs Barker as witness.
Barker was recalled and in reply 20 his
counsel began TO describe his movements
on the morning OF the shooting lie said
be had left home to buy newspaper and
on Beach street ne met Mr.. Keller, who
stopped and said Good morning Mr.
Barker.
Witness then Strengthened up In his
chair and said: IL replied TO Keller say
ing You damned villain. you outraged
my wife and l then"
II object, l object stop, stop shout
ed Prosecutor Erwin.
The court ruled not 10 allow further
testimony on this point; and Barker went
on TO tell what happened after the shoot
ing.
lie said he jumped on a car and went
TO the town hall at Kearney, where he
surrendered himself.
This was In contradiction of testimony
for the state that he was accompanied
by Mr.. Buckley, neighbor,
The witness started in 10 tell what
sleepless night he had spent before the
shooting and TO tell about his nervous
and excited condition.
The prosecutor objected and was sus-
tanned
That part of Barkers evidence referr-
ing TO his having met Keller near the
street corner just before the shooting and
his, accusing Keller OF assaulting Mrs.
Barker, produced sensation in the court
rnnn--Mrs. Barker who was in the au-
dience bit her lips and for the first time
showed that she was moved and under
going a terrible strain.
Mr.. Keller looked through his colored
glasses and did not change countenance
This testimony was In direct contradic-
ton of Keller who said he did not see the
person who shot him much less TO speak
to him.
Continuing his testimony. Barker re-
D.
he did not remember everything distinct
ly as he was IN dazed condition. ne
stated that i'm addition TO what his wife
mad told him of the alleged assault he
hau read I'm newspaper about one OF
tho comrsfttee OF t5 that If any man had
committed a wrong such as Keller was
accused under similar conditions he, the
committeeman. would shoot him.
Barker said he felt justified I'm shooting
Keller because he had outraged his wife.
In his confession TO Chief Tolen Barker
said that he told the chief that he be-
lieved the chief would have shot Keller
IL his wife had been treated in the same
manner as Mrs. Barker.
County Prosecutor Erwin continued to
make objection 20 this line OF testimoney
and much OF it was ruled out. This,
however did not prevent Barker's law
yer from continuing the same line OF
questions TO bring out the relations be-
tween Mrs. Barker and Mr.. Keller be-
fore the shooting.
the relations OF his wife and himself with
Keller were unfriendly. and were based
on the fact that Keller had borrowed $S5
from Mrs. Barker I'm April, 1899. without
the knowledge Of the witness. After that
witness said Keller stopped coming TO
Barker's house Keller often dined there
and al first invited himself and then was
always welcome. The unfriendly feeling
was very strong for two weeks before the
shooting, but there was no dispute be-
tween witness and Keller The money
Barker was paid I'm instaments by Keller.
AT this point there was a heated argu-
ment between counsel as to the admis~
sion OF this testimony. the lawyers for the
state vigorously obiecting
The court allowed the Introduction OF "A
letter written by Barker to Keller on Feb.
26 1900 I'm which Barker told the clergy
man that he owed Mrs. Barker s33 and
asked him 10 please return IL.
Receiving no answer TO the letter Bark
or on March wrote another letter 20
Keller Then Keller called at the house
and paid the money. Barker said he and
his wife and Keller often went bicycle
riding together and that he had given a
bicycle 10 Keller Witness said he did
not know until January that his wife had
left MIR Keller's church
Mr. Barker then described what took
place az the house where Mr. Keller was
living when the witness was taken there
from Kenrney lie said that he asked
Mr. Keller IN a low tone IL he knew him
Mr. Keller was unable 20 recognize him
Under cross-examination Mr. Barker
went over again the story OF his meeting
with Mr.. Keller on the morning or the
shooting lie said he left his house at "A
quarter OF \ o'clock for the purnose OF
getting newspaper. lie saw Mr. Kel-
Ter coming up Beach street. 81 waited
for him said Barker. because 7 want
90 10 sneak to, him. He was coming