The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-11
FREEDOM FOR T. G. BARKER.
HUSBAND VINO SHOT THE REV.
JOHN KELLER IS PAROLED.
Mrs. Barker Accused the Clergyman or
Assuming Her, and Barker Waylald
Him ON Sunday Mornins--wlfc Was

Assuming Her, and Barker WaylaiCi
Him ON Sunday Mornins--wifo Was
Not Allowed to Tell story at Trial.
TRENTON, July lO-1homas G. Barker,
who was sentenced to five years In State
Prison for shooting the Rev. John Keller
OF Arlington, was paroled by the Board OF
Pardons at a session held in Jersey City
to-day. He was convicted In Hudson
county in June 1901, after q sensational
trial. 1t was said, but not admitted as
testimony, that Barker had been prompted
TO shoot the Rev. Mr.. Keller because the
latter assaulted Mrs. Barker.
The conviction was followed by an appeal
to the Court of Errors which sustained
the judgment of the trial court and set
aside the contention of Barkers counsel
that he was insane. During his incarcera-
mechanic. He was allowed, practically,
the freedom Of the prison, going about the
institution almost at will.
The pardon was the result OF a genera
effort to save Barker, who had the SYM
p&thy Of many persons in the northern
section OF the State
The board refused to pardon Lizzie Gar
rabrandt, the Paterson murderts IS, who is
serving life sentence for killing her para
mour when she was a girl of seventeen
parole was granted to the Rev. Clarence
Young Of Newark, who was convicted Of
bigamy in January, 1901. and sentenced
to five years. About year ago he at
tempted suicide by eating glass.
Thomas G. Barker sh OF the Rev. John
Keller early on the morning Of Sunday,
Feb. 8, 1901, in Arlington, N. J. Barker
was one of the towns most respected citi-
zsns, and Keller was vicar OF Trinity Profess
tant Episcopal Church In the same place
and secretary of the diocese of Newark.
The prominence Of the two men. but
more particularly the reason given by
Barker and his friends for the murderous
attack on the clergyman, made the affair
one of the most sensational and widely
discussed crimes in recent years.
Keller was on his way to take car to
Fort Lee. where he was to assist Bishop
Starky at an ordination service, when
Barker, who had been in ambush, con-
fronted him and fired four shots at close
range.
One bullet. destroyed the clergyman's
right eye, and for some time his condition
wes very serious. Barker hGstenCd TO the
town hall and gave himself up, saying that
he was justified in his act by n confession
that his wife had made the previous night
that Keller had assaulted her eighteen
months before
At the trial, which was held the follow
ing June before Judge Blair in Jersey City,
and which lasted four days, every effort
was made by Barker's lawyers to got his
wife's story OF the alleged assault on the
record, but all testimony tending TO show
that Barker did the shooting because Of
this alleged act of Keller was vigorously
excluded.
Barkers technical defence was temporary
insanity, but his attorney, in summing up,
appealed to the jurors as husbands and
urged them to throw the law 10 the winds
and find the defendant guiltless of assault
with intent to kill with which he was
charged.
Tho jury reached an adverse verdict
in eight minutes, and Barker was sentenced
week later, and at once began serving
his term Of five years. An appeal was
denied. Although Mrs. Barker's story was
not admitted at the trial, typewriter
copies of it were distributed during the
court sessions and got into print.