Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-20

amln1uOn ana IOunu no cODulflCns mafeflal-
ly different from those seen anG stated by
the other physicians; in my opinion death
vas caused instantly and resulted from the
pressure of hand upon the throat.
z. X. Pierce testified: Was at Albion on
the "Wednesday following the murder; had
conversation with Baker on that day: asked
him where he was last Friday; he stammered
and said he did not know; asked was that
the day the deed a. done: he made no reply /:
asked him again, Where were you last
Friday! he said, II you mean the day the
deed was done, WAS cleaning our the hog
pen; / ASKED him if he was there all day /;
he answered Most of the day; asked him
what he did when he got up; said he went to
the barn and shoveled out manure, being Oe-
eupied with that most of the forenoon; asked
him when he went after water; he said it was
about 10 o'clock when he went after water !;
said he met Mr. Tuck coming back aud gave
him drink of water; Baker said he heard
of the murder when he was eating his dinner
| asked him where he went; he said he didn't
go anywhere; he said he was at Mr.. Tuck's
on Saturday and Sunday foilowing the muir
der.
Cross-eromiaatlon.-T were three news
paper men with me: man. whom supposed
to be the prisoners father, and lady. were
me that he had intended TO GO cunning the
afternoon of the murder.
Edmund l. Rideout testified: reside at
Albion Falls; took testimony at the eoro-
ner's inquest after the murder; saw Baker
when he came before the coroner's jury; he
was accompanied by Mr. Libby and Mr..
Holmes
Mr.. Llewellvn Libby called; was not
acting as constable on the Wednesday follow
the 9Th of September; went with Mr.. Frank
Holmes, constable, to the home of the Bak-
ers', TO bring John before the coroner's jury
saw Mrs. Baker and she told me her son
WAS out to the barn; | went to the barn and
looked around but could not find our man !;
by permission of Mrs. Baker we entered the
house; we asked her where John slept; she
said ''dow below" we looked around and
went up stairs and found young Baker in a
closet; Mr. Holmes dragging him out; he
said he went into the closet to eat some sp-
Piles and had been in there some three hours,
asleep; we stated to him that he was wanted
before the coroner's jury, and he went with
US to the inquest.
Mr.. Frank Holrles called reside in AL
bion and was acting as constable on the 9Th
day of September last; summoned the wit
nesses to the inquest; Mr.. Libby's statement
in regard to summoping Baker was substan-
TALLY true; | told him that he was sum
mOned as a witness.
Mr.. Rideout. recalled Read the testimony
of Baker at the inquest, as follows:
Live in Albion; am twenty-five years old !;
was acquainted with Mrs. Tuck five or six
years; last saw her two or three months ago
have not seen her alone since: live nearly
one mile from Mr.. Tuck's; his house is in
sight of ours was in sight of Mr.. Tuck's
house on Friday would not have been likely
to have seen anyone around Mr.. Tuck's as
was in the barn at home, most of the fore
noon; did not see anyone near Mr.. Tuck $
house"
Mr.. L. Libby recalled saw the defend
ent at the Jail the night after he had been ar
rested had conversation with him in relation
to the death of Mrs. Tuck.
| Cross examination.-Was not present at
the house of Mr.. Baker when John was ar
rested did not act as an aid in srresing him +;
was not a constable of the town of Albion at
that time ; have been deputy sheriff of this
county; held the position for several years
Baker knew had been a deputy sheriff; |
received notice from Mr.. True on the dav of
the arrest to come to Augusta; | went into
the Jail about 7 80 o'clock on that night !;
went into the poor debtors cell with Baker
and we were locked in by an officer of the
Jail /; after the cell door was locked | com
menced conversation with Baker; was in
conversation with him about four hours
before he made his confession: as soon az
we went in | sat down: we began to talk
about the murder and the surroundings of the
murder until got the confession; we talked
about the murder and marked the road out to
| Mr.. Tuck's, which supposed he
took; asked him if he went
out of the shed door; denied that
| he did: continued talking with him and cross
questioning him; told him I thought il
wonld be as well for him TO confess the muir
1 der As to have il proved. told him all the
time he would be punished for his crime:
might have told him that if convicted he
would get life sentence; made no promises
of help to him: | went into the cell with
the purpose of getting confession from
him; John S. Baker is not as intelligent as
Young men at his age ordinarily are.
The prisoners counsel interrorsted the
witness at much length as to his conversation
with the prisoner in the iail in his endeayor
to obtain a confession from him. the attor-
news object being TO show that Libby used
undue influence nd threats TO obtain a con.
fession
The prisoner. John II. Baker. being called
testified lam twenty five wears of ACE
before made any confession to Mr. I.ibbv
he told me that it would 90 light with me if /
made A confession and il would 90 hard If il
was proved wished 10 90 to NV cell and he