Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-10-14
NEW EVIDENCE
introduced in the Baker Murder Trlal,
Yesterday,
BYNRS NARY SfURGE0I.
Why She Did Not Narrats All She Knew
Before.
TESTIMONY OF OTHER WITNESSES,

The chief p,int elected in the Bake
murder trial, at Wellsburg, yesterday,
was very interesting story, by Mrs. Msly
Sturgeon, an aunt of Mrs. McWha. Size
visited the family few days before tie
horrible murder, remaining two days.
She disclosed the fact that Mrs. McWba
and Baker were not on speaking terms,
and that the day she left Baker took an
axe from the house, and left it at road
side shop to be sharpened. His mind
seemed to be foll of the subject of a will
by Mrs. McWha, and he talked about 1t
when witnesl was on the way to the
station. This evidence, which is given
below, created good deal of sensation
in wellsbrrg yesterday.
Court opened soon after nine G'clotk
yesterday morning, the fist witness beir 6
Mrs. Ruth Campbell, who first went en-
the stand late Friday afternoon. Mr..
Hutchinson conducted her examination.
She said she helped to dress the bodies Of
THE MURDERED WOMEN.
Ste said: "The night caps were on
wrong side before and bod stained all
over; blood was dry; hair bloody and
bload partially dried; cat, on head ere
very large; Mrs. McWha's hair was black
and partially turned gray; Mrs. Bsker's
hair was black, sl,o partially gray. There
was cistern nesr the 10 use; 1t was always
kept covered up; never SAW cistern open
in day time"
Here the clothing, dresses, ETC., were
brought in and Mrs. Campbell identified
tbs night dres as the one che herself hsd
removed from the body of Mrs. Baker.
"Think c.uld recognize nightcaps;-
yes, these are the same; they had been IN
tied from the tolies before I saw them. "
On cross-examinato1 she said:
Live near McWha premises: can see
their house from oars; was not there for
two days before the murder; Mrs McWha
was over to see me Friday; saw both OF
the ladies washing Oh Monday morning
sometime in tie forenoon; saw one of them
after dinner, she was feeding the chickens
crumbs from the table; saw the men; this
was sfte- the men had left; he'd not bad
any conversation with Mrs McWha later
than Fr'dsy; they were very particular
about their yeast; kept it covered on the
porch; Mrs. McWha would cccasionly lie
down on the lounge in the hall; saw the
clothing ont that day, 1.-THE day of
the murder; don't know who took
them IL; raw tire chickens out
early in the morning: thought it strange;
TIE chit keps we're light colorei; there was
very large, black chicken w tn top; this
was on Tueedsy morning; chickens were
on the commons; testified before; did lot
say I saw the little chicken with the hens,
bat not the big onts;' went to the house
as soon as heard OF the murder; that was
BgFoBE THE GUARD WAS PUT OUT.
X DOW where the kindling was kept; could
Tot ses any kindling; 20 liked for it; did not
say on forintr trial on'y took CO sual OBJ
ssrva,ion for the kjndling; used no Ian,
guage of that meaning; / noticed the way
the windows were fixed up; could not see
them from my house; the window in the
kitchen was blinded with several thing;
went in front door, then toto the hall
was not in Mrs Bakers bed room; saw
shawl, rec g1iza il here, usually kept IN
trunk in ha |; 6on't think that sad on
former tri that / never saw that shawl
Of er George died until l saw it on the
window; saw it once when Mrs. McWha
hid the .rurk open; never saw Mrs
Baker VIA her infant in it; tn, ii: hit
pr / not iced when first went there az
ter the murder; they were on wrong side
cut but did not notice the strings; II at
evening helped dress the bodi.s Of each
Witne here separated the articles and
sto we'd TO counsel and jury what was
taken from each, and identified some pads
taken from Mrs. Bakers chest. Proceed
ing, she said SIZE SAW TO one going to
McWha's Monday except the three men
who ren'ei the stable snd the ladies; saw
the lat4r drive up and hitch their horse
WILLIAM A. CRAWFORD
was next called. He said he lived about
mile from the Cove. He was a member
of the coronsr's jury, and told of his ex-
animation of tIu AXE, ETC., in the house In
regard to blood stains g said:
~ noii"ei the windows in front of the
house. Tn, shutters were open, ami
saw blood on the windows. had glanced
casuslly AZ the window seversl times
before saE the blood spots. The spots
were two If number, and we're alb out one
eighth Of al inch in diameter.
MRS. STURGEON
was then called. The following report OF
her evidence is from the Herald IndepeRd-
emf, the questions being by Mr.. McSwee-
ney:
Were you acquainted with Mrs. Nc
Whs?
Yes, sir; she was my aunt.
How familiar. if at all, were you with
them in their lifetime?
Like sisters with the younger woman,
very friendly with the old lady.
How far did you live from them?
About three and half miles for about
three years.
How fr, ouently did you visit them?
Quite often.
How long previous to their deaths did
you see either of them?
l visited them the first week in April,
the same time Baker CO., back from the
West. where he had bfel teaching; stayed
th're two nights; my little son was along
with me; ate &C the sIms tible vita
family.
In answer to questions-Mrs. McWba
seldom ate with the ia nily. She was well
rs usual; she and Baker we've not on good
terms; did not speak.
When did you leave the houst?
About 8 O'Clock in the morning.
Who wac present when You le:,?
Just the fam IL.
Where was Mr.. B. when you lef?
He was with the others in the kitchen,
and when / started he went with NE to
the STATEN, sto1t th,ee-fourths of o mile
distant.
Did he take any implement?
THE AXE.
He took an axe with him; cannot cay
where he got it. was in q hurry getting