New-York tribune., 1901-02-04
EPISCOPAL RECTOR SHOT.
BISHOP STARKEY'S CHAPLAIN MAY BE
FATALLY WOUNDED.

Harrison. y j.. Feb. 3 (speciaD.-The Rev
John a. Keller, rector of Trinity Episcopai MIS-
sion. at Arlington y. J.. an offshoot of Old
Trinity Of Newark, n J.. was shot and proha-
bly, fatally wounded at o'clock this morning
in the street in front of his boarding house. No
163 Beech-st. Arlington. by Thomas c. Barker
Of No. - Laurel-ave.. Arlington Barker has
for sixteen years been at the head OF Depart
rront Of the New-York Commercial Gable COM
pany. He lay in wait for the clergyman, ana'
when Mr. Keller left his house and reached the
sidewalk. opened fire at close range with d
.3S-calibre Army revolver. The first bullet hit
Mr.. Keller in the right eye. totally destroying
It, and ploughed across his face through the
bridge OF his nose, fracturing the nasal organ
and lodging under the left eye.
Mr. Keller fell to the sidewalk. Barker stood
over him and fired three more shots, two or
which went through Keller's hat and the other
wounded three fingers Of his right hand.
After firing the four shots Barker coolly put
the revolver IN his pocket and walked to the
corner Of Kearny and Midland aves., where he
boarded n trolley and rode 10 the hearny
police station and gave himself up to Doorman
Terhune He handed the revolver and some
cartridges 10 T@rhune. saying. 4 have just
shot the Rev Mr.. Keller. and want TO be
locked IN"
Several persons who had heard the shooting
ran to the assistance Of Mr.. Keller and lifted
him UP and carried him into his boarding house
Drs. Strasser and Exton. Of Arlington. were
summoned and they extracted the bullet
The news OF the shooting soon spread over the
town. and many Of the members OF Mr.. KeIler's
congregation crowded his house 20 learn the
cause Of the shooting.
CAUSE OF THE SHOOTING.
Barker tola an intimate friend after ne was
locked ", that his vile confessed n hi"i last
night that Keller had forcibIy outraged her more
than year ago. when they were living in Ar
gyIe Place. Arlington. Since that time Mrs.
Barker has been i'll and constantly under the
care Of n physician. on Saturday night she told
all 10 her husband and said she would have
done so before but she feared that he would
shoot the clergyman. According 10 the story
told by Barker To his friend. who repeated II at
the Kearny police station Keller. while he was
at his Office I'm New-York, more than year
ago. went to his home and knocked his wife
down. She defended her honor until she be-
came unconscious. and then Keller assaulted hir.
Last night. while greatly excited. Mrs Barker
told her husband the story repeated by Barker
to his friend.
Mr. Keller denied the charges Of Barker this
afternoon. He said that he did not know who
shot him, and could not tell why Mrs Barker
had left his church and Sunday school Of both Of
which she was active member. shortly after
the alleged outrage took place.
Barker was seen by Tribune reporter in his
cell Yesterday afternoon. He said that by the
advice of his counsel he would have nothing to
say, but when the proper time came he said,
the matter would all come out. He did not re-
grct what ne had done.
When Recorder Krebs went to Mr. Keller's
home yesterday afternoon to take his statement
MI Keller repeated his. denial that he had ever
done any wrong TO Mrs. Barker; but he would
not sign his name or make his mark to COM
plant against Barker.
Barker's wife went to the police station and
had long talk with her husband. but what she
said to him Chief of Police ToIen of Kearny
Barker went 10 her home and refused to be
by any one Mr.. Keller could not he seen
number Of Barkers friends called at the police
station yesterday and last night to see him. but
he refused to see any
BISHOP sTARKEY SHOCKED.
Bishop starkey. who was seen last night at the
episcopal residence No 10 Arlington ave- East
Orange, greatly shocked and overcome by
the news OF the shooting of Mr.. Keller. lie
said that he did not believe Mrs Barker's story
and that she must be crazy to make such a
statement. He could not conceive it possible
that after such an attempt any woman could
continue to sit under the mnstration OF the of
Tending clergyman. In regard to Mr.. Keller
Bishop Starkey said
In all the years that he has been associated
with me | have never seen anything that would
even remotely suggest the possibility of any such
a trait in mis- character. He has been thrown a
great deal with me, and have seen him under
all sorts of circumstances. There has never
been anything in his life that any one could take
exception 10. ! have never had the slightest
doubt Of his purity or integrity. He has been
hard working man. and his whole heart was in
his work Nothing could give me greater sur
prise than the suggestion Of such a sin on his
part.
During the time that Mr. Keller has lived in
Arlington he has been held in the highest
esteem, and there has not been the slightest sus-
picion against his character.
BARKER \ PROMINENT CITIZEN.
Mr.. and Mrs. Barker have been married more
than ten years. Barker is thirty nine years old
His wife is a few years younger They have
lived in Arlington ever since they were married
except for a short time when they lived in
Rutherford, n. J. Barker is a prominent citizen
Of the town and Is well known in society circles
both in Arlington and New-York City He is
the secretary Of the Pilgrim Lodge Of odd Eel
lows, secretary OF the Good Roads Associa-
uon OF Arlington, and a memner Of several
other organizations. Mrs. Barker is also prOmi-
nent IN society circles in Arlington Barker
was not a member Of Mr.. Keer's church. but
was a friend of his, and some time ago presented
10 him a bicycle and taught him ride
Mr. Keller born in Philadelphia thirty
nine years ago and graduated from the
HOARSENESS can be quickly relieved With