The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-06
MRS. BARKER'S MIND
MAY Be UNS0UND.
John S. Sands Tells of Her Conduct
Two Years AgO--Belief in Her
Husbands Honesty.

Arlington, NJ j.. Feb. 6-Few people, In
Arlington doubt the honesty OF Thomas
O.. Barker who shot Rev. John Keller, on
Sunday last, but there are many who be
licve that he Is the victim. as well as Mr..
Keller OF a terrible mistake. Another eN-
planation rs offered for the manner IN
which Mr.. and Mrs. Barker Withdrew
from the Trinity Mission church.
John $. Sands, in whose home Mr. Kel-
Ter has found refuge I'm his trouble tells
the following story
Mrs Barker has long been a woman Of
hysteria. IL was fully two years ago
long before the date when the alleged Of
fence is said TO have taken place-that
her peculiarities first called themselves to
my attention.
''One Sunday morning during a dis
course by Mr., Keller she hurriedy arose
and seemed to stagger from her pew tow
ard the aisle. i was seated near her, and
thinking that she was ill / started for the
aisle to assist her.
"As she came up Mrs. Barker literally
pushed me out of the way. She hurried
out of the vestibule. where she fell upon
the floor, kicking snd screaming and
showing every symptom or acute hys-
teria.
SUFFERED BEFORE TROUBLE.
"She did not leave the church until at
least six months later. Then her going
members of the Bethany chapter of the
Trinity Mission chapel The trouble was
OF little consequence. simply a dispute
over trivial matters which, however, Mrs'
Barker magnihed beyond their worth.
ut has been the custom of the mission
10 make Mr.. Keller q present each year
before he leaves for his regular summer
vacation. When the chapter proposed the
annual present in 1899 Mrs. Barker enter
ed objections.
"She gave no reasons. but when she
was oVefruled she announced that she
would withdraw from the church. ana
she did so.
She had ben suffering from hysteria
for six months previous TO the time and
had been gradually falling in health.
have no intention of criticising anybody,
although Mr. Keller Is one OF my most
esteemed friends; but wish II to be dis
tinctly known that Mrs. Barkers III
health does not date from the time she
left the church, but from at least SIX
months earlier.
II have heard that her depression has
assumed more acute phase OF late. and
that last Saturday she suffered from hys-
terra almost all day. l am inclined To be-
lieve that her reason musy have been
temporarily deranged.
KELLER A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN.
Those who had known Mr.. Keller best
will be the quickest 10 refute this charge
against him. No man who lives the life
could be guilty of the crime charged
against him out of his earnings, which
have never reached $1,000 var, he sup
ported his mother until her death. about
year ago, and his invalid sister. This
took "A great portion of his earnings. but
OF the little that remained he gave gen.
erously TO the poor
"No man who has ever come under my
observation has been more unselish than
this man. He is a devoted Christian. DisT
honor Is foreign TO his nature. lie would
have gone to his death ten times over be-
fore he would have done that which has
been charged against him.
That Mr.. Keller Is now alive is probab-
ly due TO Mrs. Frederick G.. Bulkley. who
saw the attack made upon him by Mr.
Barker and whose cries OF murder dis
tracted Mr.. Barkers attention at the mo,
ment when he had stepped forward and
was about TO send his last bullet In Mr..
kellcrs brain.
SAW MIR. KELLER FALL.
Frederick c. Bulkley IL will be remem-
bered as soon n $ his wife called his at
tcntion To etrsgedy occurring almost at
their door ran out and after seeing that
Mr.. Keller was cared for. started In pur-
suit OF the would-be murderer. who. 10
his astonishment boarded the car he was
on az the next block.
Telling her story 20 a reporter Mrs.
~ heard the first shot and gIancing from
the window. saw Mr.. Keller fall Mr.
Barker, whom | Immediately recognized.
stood almost directly over and fired three
shots al his victim. For a few seconds
/ was rendered sueechless by horror
"Then | threw the window open and a s
I did so I saw Mr.. Barker reach forward