Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-20
BARKER'S MOTIVE
For the Shooting of the Rev.
John Keller
IS Brought Out at Trial, in Spite Of
Prosecutions Objections.
Mrs. Barker Also Takes Stand and Tells Sior
Q! Tier Wrongs.

New York, June 19.-The fate of
Thomas G. Barker will be left with the
jury before tomorrow closes, according
to the prospects, tonight. The defence
had practically finished when the court
rose for the day, and it is not thought
Prosecutor Erwin will take long in re-
buttal. The defense, today. put Barker
and his wife upon the stand and they
told their story.
Although the record does not show
1t. Mr.. Van Wrinkle got some of the al
legged assault matter before the jury
in one way and another. The witnesses
answered so promptly that Mr.. Err
wins objections came q shade late. In
this way the outrage" was referred to
several times during the day. The
state had it stricken out each time,
but the impression went to the jury.
/. was quick, sharp fighting all day,
and the witnesses were a little too
much for the prosecutor. The moment
MIR. Van Wrinkle or Mr.. Wall asked
question ii was answered like fla sh.
Judge Blair cautioned the witnesses
not to answer too quickly, but after an
answer or So they returned to the old
practice.
An alleged statement of Mrs Barker
relative to the alleged outrage was also
civ en- out and printed. AS the jurors
all read the papers while unexpurgat-
ed. they obtained the benefit Of this
statement. This reading the newspa-
per reports Of the case is a striking
characteristic Of the jury. Every even
ing. as soon as they are released from
the court house, each juryman makes
a rush to get the papers. ON the cars
on their way home the different MEM
bers Of the jury read the reports and
comment openly. The u men are all of
high intelligence and of high moral
character. They are supposed to rise
above all outside things and to be able
TO separate the testimony as they hear
ii from the comments of others and
from the various statements published
relative to the case.
Barker on the stand claimed to have
met Keller and claimed that Keller
spoke to him. Keller had claimed not
to have spoken to any one. Barker
claimed he responded by calling KEEL
Ter a villain and charged him with
outra sing Mrs. Barker. Keller swore
there was not a word spoken.
The idea of Bankers testimony was
to show that after having brooded for
a period over what his wife had told
him he was in morbid state of mind
OF mind and that when he came face
to face with the minister he was car
ried away by feeling and began firing.
Sudden. violent and temporary insan-
ity lasting but n moment but long
enough to cover the period of the
shooting was the defense.
When the court rose the defense had
started in to back up this idea with
expert medical testimony. Barker de-
MED that he bought the revolver for
the prrposc of shooting the clergyman.
Than Mrs. Barker a cooler woman
has seldom occupied the chair. She was
a little nervous at first but this quick
iy wore off.
Neither witness was at all weakened
under examination. Mr.. Keller
sat through it all without displaying
the slightest emotion. 1t is doubtful
if he hears much of the testimony. as
most of it was in subdued tone. and
his hearing is far from good. Great
stress was laid upon the fact that KEEL
Ter had borrowed money from Mrs.
Barker and then counsel sought to
show this was not the cause of the
shooting.