Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-12-14
THE BAKER CASE.
Every body Talking About It-some Inter
eating Statements.


estiDg Statements.
The publication, By the REGISTER, OF
the Baker letter, and the subsequent inter-
view with the condemned man, and with
ore of his counsel, created more interest in
this portion of the country than any recent
event of any nature, and the whole subject
has been a topic Of general conversation.
The out-oftown papers in Wellsburg, New
Cumberland, Steubsnyille, Bellsire, Pitts
burgb and Little Washington have printed
the letters and interviews, and have com.
mented upon them in various ways, and it
is possible that the interest thus unexpect-
edly stirred mp may lead to some further
developments Of interest to both the pris-
oner and the public.
A gentleman who spoke Of the matter
yesterday, said:
"The Letter is not the only thing calculs-
ted TO arc uss disbelief in Bakers guilt,
among people not preudiesd. / know Of
several incidents no. brought out at either
of his trials, which would have had weight.
Take the story about the shirts taken fIom
the house at the time the murder was COM
mitted. Bsker had some shirts with
lion on the collar. A day or two after the
murder man stopped at what is called
Kings run, over in Pennsylvania, and
changed his shirt, throwing his soiled gar
ment away. 0ae of the men working
there helped him pin mp his clothes in
some way, and afterwards said the shirt
the fellow put on had lion on it, The
defense tried 10 get that man 10 come TO
West Virginia and testify, but he refused.
Tnen there WAS another man, who would
have undoubtedly have been 7ery vslu-
able witness for the defense, but he could
not be induced to come to Weet Virginia
He said he had escaped from the peniten-
tiary, but was trying to lead an honest life
II he came into Court with the story he
could tell, he would be subjected TO a
cross examination which must inevitably
disclose his identity and land him back in
the penitentiary, and he fatty refused to
take the risk. That man WAS followed
and watched by the defense for year, bat
be finally disappeared"
Another gentleman said:
"Do you know, Van Baker came within
one of committing suicide, while in the
Wheeling jail? Well, be did. He pro-
cured vial OF poison, don't know how,
and made up his mind TO take IT, He
took the ground that everything was
going against him, and that he had no
earthly chow, and came TO the conclusion
he might as we'll end hopeless fight. He
deliberately set to work TO prepare state
ment, which was addessed TO the newspa-
pers, and which contained a strong srgu-
ment, going TO chow his innocence. In
that paper he solemnly asserted that his
stories upon the witness stand were strict
ly and exactly true, with one exception,
aud that exception related TO the
papers. He told how he came upon
the papers IN the sable, and after hesitst-
ing as TO what he should do with them hid
them under the fence, where they were af.
forwards found. This written statement,
which was never intended by the writer
should be seen until ef,er his death, ia now
in existence
"How did Baker come 10 change his
mind about killing himself, or WAS he
forcibly preyented2"
1T was this way. Col. Arnett had his
suspicious aroused, and he tackled Baker
about it. Baker acknowledged that he
WAS thinking of terminating his career,
and afier long talk the Colonel caused
him to give up the idea. inducing Baker
to hold on in the hope that his innocence
would he finally established"