TOPIC:

Late on Saturday afternoon an Army Reservist named John Barker, who had served with the West Yorkshire Regiment in the Boer War, came down from the lodging he occupied with his wife at York and told a neighbour that "if she wanted to see the last of Mary she had better go upstairs." In her room Mrs. Barker was found stretched across the bed dead, her throat being cut almost from ear to ear. Barker gave himself up to the police, saying that he was the cause of it. Jealousy is believed to have been the motive for the crime.
Evening Express, Monday 4th May 1903

Mary Ann Barker, of Wellington-row, York, was found dead with her throat cut on Saturday evening, and her husband, John Barker, late Royal Garrison Regiment, is detained by the police in connection with the death. Barker is alleged to have accused his wife of infidelity.
Weekly Mail, Saturday 9th May 1903
York was startled on Saturday by the report of a horrible tragedy in which jealousy is stated to be the motive of the alleged murderer, who is in custody. It appears that a fortnight ago a Reservist named Barker, aged slightly over 40, returned home after active service, in the course of which he has been awarded several medals. According to the statements of persons resident in the neighbourhood of Wellington-row, North-street, in one of the houses of which Barker's wife was found with her throat cut, there have been differences about her conduct during his absence. The discovery of Mrs Barker's dead body lying across the bedstead in the upper room of a poor tenement was made late on Saturday afternoon. A bloodstained razor was lying on the floor. The state of the deceased woman's hands showed that she had made attempts to save her life. In formation given to the police led them to look for Barker, who, when met not far from the scene of the tragedy, made no attempt to avoid arrest, but practically announced himself to the police, and is stated to have made use of expressions which leave no doubt of his guilt. He was at once locked up.
The Cardiff Times, Saturday 9th May 1903

A coroner's jury at York, inquiring into the death of Mary Ann Barker, who lived with another man during her husband's absence in South Africa, found that the husband, now in custody, had murdered his wife under great provocation.
Rhyl Record and Advertiser, Saturday 9th May 1903

So, according to the newspapers, John Barker, married to Mary Ann Barker, of York, was a reservist in either the West Yorkshire Regiment or the Royal Garrison Regiment (?), had served in the Boer War and been awarded several medals. He was aged just over 40, and had returned home from active service in April 1903. Could he have been J. Barker, 3rd Battalion (Prince of Wales's Own) West Yorkshire Regiment, who was awarded the Mediterranean Medal?

I found a reference to him in a list of 1903 homicide convictions, but no mention of his being executed. So perhaps he was found guilty and got a life sentence.