The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-20
NAY REACH JURY TODAY
TRIAL OF THOMAS G. BARKER FOR
SHOOTING REV. JOHN KEEL
LER NEARLY OVER
EVIDENCE AS TO ASSAULT
Placed BEFORE the Jury NOtVvith-
standing the Strenuous Oppose
ton of Prosecuting AttOr-
ney and Judge.

NEW YORK, June 10. = The fate of
Thomas G. Barker on trial at Jersey
City. N. J., for the shooting of Rev. John
Keller, may go to the jury tomorrow.
The defense had practically finished when
the court rose this evening. 1t is not
thought Prosecutor Erwin will take long
in rebuttal Barker and his wife were
upon the stand today. They told their
story, so far as the court would allow,
in answers to the questions Of counsel for
the defense, and, although the record
does not show it, Mr.. Van Wrinkle got
reference to the alleged assault before
the jury in one way and another, though
the nature of the assault was not
brought out The witnesses answered so
promptly that objections came q shade
late. In this way "the outrage" was re-
ferred to several times during the day.
The state had it stricken out each time,
but the impression went to the jury.
STORY OF THE SHOOTING.
Barker, on the stand, told his version
of the shooting. He said he met Keller
and that Keller spoke to him. This was
in direct contradiction of Keller's testi-
mony on the stand, as he claimed not to
have met anyone. Barker said:
Il replied to Keller and said: You
ID villain, you outraged my wife
and then
81 object object stop, STOP" shout
ed County Prosecutor Erwin. The court
ruled not to allow further testimony on
this point
Barker then said he began firing.
Mr.. Keller, when on the stand, swore
that not a word was spoken or that he
saw no one.
The purpose of Bankers testimony was
to show that after having brooded for
period over what his wife had told him,
when he came face to face with the min
lister he was carried away by feeling and
began firing, that it was sudden, violent
and temporary insanity, lasting but a
moment, but long enough to cover the
period Of the shooting. When the court
rose the defense was bringing testimony
to support this idea with expert medical
testimony. Barker admitted he bought
the revolver about the time he first heard
the story, which worried him and caused
him sleepless nights and great mental
stress. He denied, however, that he
bought it for the purpose of shooting the
clergyman.
Mrs. Barker was expected to break
down and become nysterical on the wit
ness stand but a cooler woman has sell
dem occupied the chair. She was a lit
tie nervous at first but this quickly wore
off. She calmly answered the questions
Of her husbands lawyers and by the
time she was put under cross-examina-
ton she proved to be under self-control.
TESTIMONY OF THE WIFE.
She said she had been married to
Barker fourteen years and had known
Keller about ten years. She said KEEL
Ter was in the habit Of visiting their
home four or five times week and dur
ing these times he often dined with
them. She said she remembered April
| 10, 1889, and an occurrence at her home
on that day in which Mr.. Keller was
concerned
Before Mrs. Barker could say anything
further the county prosecutor stopped
her and objected to her giving further
testimony in reference as to what oc-
Cured at this time on the ground that
| it was irrelevant.
This was the date on which it is al
legged by Mrs. Barker t-lat Mr.. Keller
assaulted her at her home.
Continuing, Mrs. Barker said that at
different times she had loaned money to
Mr.. Keller in sums of from so to $50
| she said she had loaned him in all about
! $685. Mr.. Barker was questioned as to
her connection with the Trinity mission
| of which Mr.. Keller was rector.
''Why did you sever your connection
with the mission?"
Because Mr.. Keller outraged me-
was the answer without hesitancy. The
! prosecutor objected vigorously, but the
| Judge let it stand. After that Mr. Van
Wrinkle asked many questions as to tne
| dates of the occurrence referred to- but
| the court would not permit the witness
| to answer.
Mr.. Keller sat through it all without
| betraying the slightest emotion. 1t is
| doubtful if he heard much Of the testi-
mony as most of 1t was in a subdued
| tone, and his hearing is far from good.