Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-11-19

At Holidays Cove, on the lower edge of
Hancock county, between three o'clock on
the afternoon Of Monday, May 9, 1884,
and eight O'Clock on the following Tues
day morning. The victims we're Mrs.
Eliza Baker, wife Of the murderer, aged
about As years, and Mrs. Lnzslla MeWha,
her mother, aged about 40.
The scene Of the crime was the residence
of the Baker family, one story frame,
standing on a bluff at the extreme east
end of the town. The residence had i've
rooms on the ground floor, the two front
rooms. a parlor on the left side and sit
ting-room on the right, being separated by
a hall. In the rear of the paIlOr and OF
the hall were two bsd rooms, and IN the
rear of the sitting-IoOm was the kitchen.
About noon on Monday, May 9Th, three
men. VIM. Dsvisson, WIN. Watson and a
man named White, called at the Baker
residence to negotiate for the renting Of
the stable. They were about the house
until halfpast twelve, when they left
Baker remained about the house until
twenty minutes past three, when he left
and walked to the station, where he took a
train for Handlan's Station, and proceed
ed thence to Cross Creek village, where he
spent the night with his father Return
iug Tuesday morning, he reached Holt
DAVIS Cove at $50 O'Clock, and after visit
ing the pOstCfice, went home. lie met
Mis-. Lucy SWeMergen ct the gate, spoke
10 her and and went on up the path 10 the
house.
A few moments later he gave the alarm
Of the murder, and soon the entire popuia-
ton Of the little town we're at the spot
The bodies Of the murdered women were
found lying in the sitting room, the apart
ment on the right Of the hall as the house
Ia entered. Mr.. McWha VAS lying on her
back. with her daughter, Mrs. Baker,
living partially across her. Close beside the
/ bodies were found an sXs and en- iron car
holt. the latter being stained with blood,
and evidently being the weapon with
which the victims hsd been killed. The
marks upon the heads OF the murdered
women seemed TO have been ntlicted by the
/ bolt but the presence Of the axe, and the
| fact that one of the victims had three long
cuts on the head, inclined many 10 the be.
lief it had borne share IN the aWtal
tragedy.
The blinds Of the house were down and
I the front shutters closed, and the windows
of the kitchen had been darkened with
newspapers. etc, in addition to the blood
The murders had evidently been com
mitted in the kitchen, and the bodies
dragged into the front room, when they
we're foucd. There were pools Of blood on
I the floor If the kitchen, and great dark
mol of blood on the zinc beneath the
stove. In front Of the stove and a
/ ittle To one side stood a tub, half full
NJ bloody water, and in 1t were the
dresses. and skirts of the dead woman,
their clothing having been stripped off
and the bodies attired IN night dresses and
cars after death. Ole Of the caps were en-
wfong-side before, and there was no boles
/ in them 20 correspond with the wounds
on the heads Of the two women. The
\ kitchen. as well as the sitting room, was
ia a state Of great disorder, not a. though
a search had been made for valuables,
but creating the impression things hsd
/ been tossed about for the sole purpose OF
creating confusion.
In the yard outside some clothes were
still hanging on the line, indicating the
crime hsd been committed Monday after
noon. before Baker took the train for Cross
Greek, as it IVES not the practice of Mrs.
Baker 10 allow washing to remain out over
night
Justice william N. Lee impanelled q
I iury, aud after testimony bad been taken
and the premises We we'd, Baker was ar
rested late Wednesday afternoon. he pro-
tested his innocence, but was held in close
custody. He was indicted for the murder by
the next Hancock county grand jury,
and the trial was commenced before
judge BOYD at The July, 1887, term oil
Court. the case opening July 18th. The de-
fsndsnt was represented by large array
Of eminent counsel, including ". d.
Moore. Of PittsbuIg; John NJ. Cook, Of
Steubanvills; John X. Douehoe, Of New
Cumberland; John Il Braddock, Of Wells
bury. and Col. W. W. Arnett sud Judge
Melvin. of this city. Prosecuting Attor-
new ". T. Huff was assisted by Hon. John
A. Hutchinson, Of Parkersburg; Hon. John
| insolvency, Of Wooster, o I. 5. Brown,
Of Pittsburg, and James Marshall, Of New
Cumberland. The Jury, selected after
much trouble, was maio up Of John Mel
vim. Jr. George Lambert, W. A. Jester,
Robert Wilson, Henry Barton, Frank p
spivey, Ralph Cowl, W. E Mercer, Bur.
esss A. Gser, John W. johnson, Samuel
Bucher and W. II. Thayer.
Baker was called in his own defense,
Wednesday, July 9th. and was on the
stand three full days. He ended his direcl
cross-examination as follows:
80 Did You kill your wife and moth
er.in-law, on Monday, May oh?
/ "A.-Cod being my Judge, Inever did. y
The evidence was concluded August 3D.
and the Jury went out on tbs 9th, and
returned q verdict of guilty the next
morning. The defendant heard the decis'
ion with terror, and was overcome fora time,
He was removed to the Jail at Wheeling
while his counsel set about obtaining 3
new trial. This was finally granted,
including 3 charge Of venue 10 Brooke
county. snd this second trial begun Wed
nesday. June g, ISIS, at Wsllsburg, before
Judge Jacob, but on presentation Of athda-
wits by defendant that cei tain witnesses
could not be found, continuance was
Granted until the October term. On O,t)
her 9Th the case sgain came mp. A mo-
tion for further continuance was made
and oyerruled by Judge Jscoh, ana the
case went on, on the 10th before the fol-
lowing Jury: Conrad Autter, J. K Pogue,
/ 49, 49,, c,v,uaf Gfron0 ] r. Hau-