Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-10-12
VAN BAKERS TRIAL.
rHB SPEECHES OF COUNSEL CONCLUDED
YESTERDAY MORNING,


When Judge Jacob convened tbs bfooAs
county Cirstiit Court, yesterday mornirg'
Mr.. D,nehoo, of counsel for tie defense,
took the floor, and resumed and concluded
his prssenta.io, Of his side Of the van
Baker murder case. He promted the
inv that the defense would givs them
clea. and positive testimony, and not leave
them t, grcp, in the dark. He sfet'hed
the msio outlines of the familiar story OF
tie crime, and said, referring TO Bakers
going to the heu,s, after slighting from the
train en- the dsy Of the discovery Of the
MURDER
st ssy there Is not enough coursge in
the heart of any man 10 impsl him 10 90
IN that house and look upon those bodies
after committing the murder. For MAJ
- 40 40 and condr s himselfa as Van Baker
did upon tti, swful occasion, is an utter
imues,ibility. Ed Twin Fonts. coutd nov
ACT 40 we'll a rat in his best daye. Edwin
Booth, the greatest tragedian OF the piesen'
day. could not am sure.
i'Some, looking uIon such scene, may
have become msn'acs, Other, overcoms 70
such an extent they would be speecoiees'
Most people probably, under the c'rcum'
stances, would act just as Baker DID. :,
'UThere is one little circumstances which
wish to call your attention TO. ne
rushed into the room at one time snu
ca lad for tis poor wifi, and YET sns wa
his wife no more, for she had CEASED 70 oe;
He csu ybt hold of her arm aod attempted
10 lift her up, bat when he let 90 hsr arm
IL fell b,ck to its place. She had not beer
dead l,ng enough for rigor mortis to IA
place. btc,use if it bad the arm wouio
Rave been stiff. You, gentlemen, mus
not preume against the laws OF nature
Yen must presume under these cirtum
stsnces that death had taken place but
short time"
Al the conclusion OF Mr.. Doneh'o''
speech the State annountei that it VII
re,dy TO proceed, and called it's first wit
nees' in the person Of Coroner William M
Lse. of Holidays Cove. His examination
was conducted by Mr.. John A. Hutthln
fo1. He testified t, being summoned u
on 70 the McWbs house on the 10Th o
last May, by the announcement that tWt
women had bsen murdered. He wen
into the ho1se and saw the Tod e' OF Mrs
McWha and Mrs. Baker lying desd on TIT
fioor. He described the furniture and ar
ranqement Of the room, the disorder and
tumbled condition OF the bed, the tub, o:
the A Dor, an axe, the car bolt and couplipi
pin. etc. He also described and LOCATED
ths ro,ls of blood, the kitchen windo"'
covered with newspapers, the Clothing
upon tie bodies and on tie floor, tn,
nature of the wopnis upon the deac
bodies. and all the other incidents aud cir
cumstarc-s coming under his observa
| ton.
When Court sdjo1rned at noon, Justie'
LIE was still on the stand, and at tn
afternoon session his test 'mony was re
sumed, and continued up to the hour o
adjournment. His testimony differed II
no essential particular from what was al
dnced upon the first hearing OF the case
end was entirely confined to his examina
ton OF the premises, the condition OF tn
bodies, their clothing, wourd', aad Gil th'
surroundings. His story was told IN
ssrsis hit for ward way, and was attentive!
listensd 10 by tie thronrei Co1rt room.
This morning, it is presumed, cro ex
animation of the Wines will be the mr..
thing in order, provided the State i
through with the direct evidence.