The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-02-15
BARKER'S TALE.
Statement Made by Their
Lawyers Denying Fake
Interviews.
WIFE VISITS HUSBAND IN JAIL
Erwin Now Has Two Ante
Mortem Statements and
Three Photographs
of Kellar.

The first visit of Mrs. Thomas G. Bar
ker to her husband since his confinement
in the County Jail for attempting the
life of the Rev. John Keller of Arlington,
in defence of her honor, was most affect
ing. Accompanied by Miss Phoebe Cir
monde and Lawyer Maxwell F. Jones of
New York, who is now associated with
Marshall A Van Wrinkle for the defense,
Mrs. Barker arrived at the jail at 3:1S
o'clock yesterday afternoon in coach,
with the curtains tightly drawn.
The party was at once ushered into the
little consultation room at the rear of
the jail office, into which Barker was
soon brought. AT the sight of her hus-
band Mrs. Barker rushed into his arms,
and crying as if her heart would break,
said
tom, you can never be convicted for
what you have done. 1t is my word
against his, and when / tell my story the
jury and the whole world will believe me.
You can never be punished for what you
did,
Mrs. Barker remained closeted with her
husband until 4:4S when she re-entered
the coach with Miss Girmonde and was
driven rapidly away. She wore a heavy
veil when entering and leaving the jail.
The first statement for publication made
by either Thomas G. Barker or his wife
since the former, on Sunday, February 8,
fired the shots which may yet result in
the death of the Rev. John Keller, was
given to the reporters at the conclusion
of the interview of the would-be muir
derer and his wife at the Hudson County
Jail in Jersey City yesterday afternoon.
Max Il .InnRS who iS
nected with the Commercial Gable Com
pany, and who will be associated with
ex-Aasistant Prosecutor Marshall A. Van
Winkle in the defence of Barker. was
chosen by the Barkers as their mouth
piece. Mr.. Jones accompanied Mrs.
Barker and Mrs. Phoebe Girmonde in the
coach from Arlington to the jail and re-
manned with husband and wife during the
more than two hours that they conversed
together in the little conversat ton room
at the rear of the Jail office.
To Mr.. Jones Mr.. and Mrs. Barker ex-
pressed the desire to have corrected some
alleged misstatements published in certain
papers, which they thought might be in
strumental IN presenting them in an un-
desirable light. Accordingly Mr.. Jones,
assisted by Mr.. Van Winkle, prepared the
was read to Mr.. and Mrs. Barker and
sanctioned by them:-
This statement is authorized by Mr..
and Mrs. Thomas G. Barker and is the
first and only statement or interview
given by them, or either of them, since
the trouble Of Sunday, February 3.
make it at request of Mr.. and Mrs.
Barker.
Despite published reports to the con-
trary, this is the flrst visit of Mrs. Barker
to her husband since Monday, February
A, when she visited him a the Kearny
station house Since that day Mrs.
Barker has not been outside of the house
on Laurel avenue on any occasion. The
published stories that she has been sleigh
riding and walking after dark in COM
pany with one of the boarders is abso-
lutely and unequivocaliy false.
ANY published reports or statements
purporting to emanate from Mrs. Barker
are mere fabrications. No one has inter-
viewed her nor has she made any state
ment, except to her husbands counsel.
MIR. Barker denies emphatically the
published report that he stated he was
sorry Keller had not died. or that he used
any words or expressed any opinion as
to Keller's condition since he has been in
jail.
LAS to the picture published of Mr..
Barker smoking cigar in jail 1 would
say he has never smoked nor drank
toxicants in his life.
Mrs. Barker at no time has been af-
slicted with hysteria or anything ap-
preaching hysteria, nor has she ever had
hallucinations.
"All kinds of attempts have been made
to induce Mr.. and Mrs. Barker to make
statements, but by advice of counsel they
have steadfastly refused to do so. This
is the first public statement they have
made, and it contains all either of them
desires to say at present
When asked if he, as one of the legal
advisers of the Barkers had anything 10
say about their case, Mr.. Jones replied
Nothing except that l have heard Mrs.
Barker's story and can assure the public
that it is painful and shocking one 1t
is very horrible and there is no question
about our being fully able to prove the
assault upon her by the Rev. Mr.. Kellar
s.Since Mrs. Barker has confessed the
awful story of the assault to her husband
she seems relieved. This is especially no.
ticeable to those who have been in daily.
contact with her.
'srne meeting between husband and
wife this afternoon was most affectionate
and affecting. They were locked in each
others arms for fully three minutes. Mrs.
Barker wept and her husband consoled
her.
This is all I.have to say at present ex-
cept to ask the general public to suspend
Judgment until we have a chance to show
that the greatest possible provocation If
not absolute justification, existed for M.
Barker's act. We are prepared to prove
all our assertions but have no desire TO
try our case n the newspapers. The rea-
son for making the statement that has
been made today is to set Mrs Barker
right in the eyes Of the general public
The news leaked out yesterday after