The sun., 1901-06-29

Ths Views Of Cerrespondsnts a. TO the Trial
and Coavictiea sf Barker.

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and Ceavictiea sf Barker.
To rHR EpIroR or The suN-sir: Stripped
Of all subterfuse and legal techn!cality. the
entire Barker case hinged on tho truth or
falsity Of Mrs. Barker's remarkable story.
The Courts ruling out OF tho full story re-
suited In a virtual miscarriage OF Justice.
The Courts ruling to admit the casual refer.
ence to the story but 10 exclude the full
story. and afterward Its instruction to the
jury to Ignore tho reference to the story
seems TO me most inconsistent.
Your correspondent. Mr.. L. II. Simons,
asks:
Does any one suppose that II the Jury had believed
Mrs. Bakers story they would have rendered snch
verdic, In such shor time That the Jury did not
believe her story Is Indicated by the inervisw ~i,h
Hs,eS sa Stated de- .mpSsicay that he did believe
dict Dict as a vindicaiion Of Mr. Ksll.r's character.
Pray. how vas the Jury TO beiieye ,r,t or .,dr dis
was expressly kept from the lury's knowi-
edge lexcep! by single rsferenee' through
The essential issue Of the trial is - .ye>
unsettled. Mr. Keller /. accused Of a ter
riole crime so serious that 1t Will require
more effective means than mere denlai on
his part. public sentiment. or whitewash,hs
Church conference. In order to prove the
truth or faisity OF Mrs. Barker's accusations.
From my own experience am oy no ineans
tends 70 believe Mr. Keller so innocent q. A,
Mr Keller Is innocent Of this outrage. and a
in the ss sr22esr 2Snn .Ss
NEW YORK. June II.
To THE EDITOR or The suN-sir: think
you are wrong in the Barker case. There 10
no real charge against MIR. Keller and no need
Of effort on his part for his exoneration. A
man OF his standing In the community Is not
called on TO reply 70 mere ISLANDERS.
A charge Of outrage in this case should
he formulated. with date. place and circum,,
stance detailed. and that by person % OF
antee; her past history is mystery. her
early associates unknown; her marriage
unverifed She has never made criminal
date There is nothing TO meet but cowardly
SANDERS The fact that. Barker became
her dupe adds no color to her absurd story.
NEW YORK. June q. A. d. "
To THE EDITOR OF THE SrN-Sir' Your
critics should have read over twice your
editoria al on the melancholy case OF the Rev
Mr.. Keller and Mrs. Barker, for II such had
been the case they would have been struck
with It's fairness. Personally / sympathize
with the Rev. Mr.. Keller. yet who can help
pityins Mr.. Barkeri His love for his wife,
his confidence in her. his idea Of personal
right TO defend her against all Insults ana TO
eyenae the same were all most intense But
hs was not wise. He thoughtlessly injured
his wife. wilfully inJ ired himself and the Rev.
Mr.. Keller.
Only one fact has been adjudicated. viz.
the assault on the Rev. Mr.. Keller. No ono
will deny that the verdict was just. And,
surely. the words Of the eminent Judge who
rendered the sentence were Of such fair
nes. that only the most prejudiced could
take exception.
The Rev. Mr. Keller. however, is not vindl-
Gated Wa believe him 20 be Innocent. We
accept his word even without an oath. We are
convinced that Mrs Barker. while we charge
her with no deliberate untruthfulness. Is
mistaken. Thousands are afflicted with like
hallucinations. Disease OF some form Is the
cause She Is to be pitied. l.,
The Rev Mr.. Keller. no doubt, courts n
yestigation. He knows he Is innocent, lie
has a Bishop. high and noble one who did the
Bishops part TO and for the priest lie walked
with him into court and expressed his conf
dence In him. But even al OF this mas h0i
bv public rumor, by direct charge, and. ever,
rad to say. he will have to bear the marks
Of the passion" on his forehead Some VIII
always say Of him as they have said. ana do
even to-day say. II tho very christ ne Is
a good man" and others Nay, but lie de-
ceiveth the people" Lyen II acquitted such
will be the cry. A.
The Church must speak for the Rev. Mr.
Kellers sake. She cannot convict him. she
must acquit him, for there must be TWO
witnesses or one witness ana corrcborauhg
circumstances
The Rt Rev. Dr Starkey, as he has dore in
every instance. will try 10 do what Is Just and
merciflll Are not Slr and Mrs. Barker
members Of the Protest tant Episcopal church,
II so Bishop Starkey Is, too. their Father IN
God" one OF his consecration VOWS reads
after this manner viii you show yourself
gentle and be merciful for thrists sake to
poor and needy people End to all strangers ;St.
Il will so show myself. by Gods help Ley
us recall the words Of the Great Bishop and
shepherd of Souls. In prison and We visited
Me Poor indeed. L. Mrs Barker to-day
Her husband is q convict. sad ana helpless
is his position He Is deprived, and Justly so
OF his liberty. Sadder still Is her state.
she will ever be branded let US be mercitul
all round "
MIR Editor. a. We believe that the Rev. Mr..
Keller 4, innocent may We not also hop,
that Mrs Barker Is only sick woman and
not a perjurer? Then. indeed the Rev, Mr.
Keller may be tho first To sign the petition
for Mr. Barker's pardon and the most earnest
In forgiying the poor convlcis mentally