Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-12-21
A LETTER
PROM VAN BAKER IN WHICH HB MAKES
SEVERAL POINTS.
He Explains Why He Did No! Testify About Where
Hs Found Certain Papsrs-"Man No. L
Advances New Theory.

The Baker murder perhaps stirred up
more excitement than the letter printed in
the REGISTER some days since purporting
10 be confession of the crime from one Of
three men wh1 were supposed to have
committed it, but no phase of the case
since the first excitement Of the murder, has
occasionei more interest and talk than the
letter mentioned and the succeeding articles
which appeared in the REGISTER in refer
ence to it. The following letter from Ba-
ker, will alec prove interesting reading,
especially the third point he calls attention
10. in the letter from MAN No. l " in ref
erence to the mode Of numbering the wo-
men. 1t is different from any brought cut
by either the defense or the prosecution.
The letter is as follows:
NOUN EDsvILLE, W. VA, Dec. Is.
To he Editor Of he Register:
SIR:-I had hoped that after my depar-
ture from Wheeling to this place | would
be spared any further notoriety through
the newspapers, but it seems 'tis other
wise, and nov, more than ever, there
seems TO be demand that | should pen a
few words in explanation of some things
that have grown out of the 30 called CON
feesion" of MAN No. l."
l. As to those pspers-where found,
&c, | will now give fall account OF
them so far as / am concerAed. After the
! Inquest, Tuesday evening, after talking TO
| Porter Smith, last as he was leaving and
told me he would return again, and II /
learned of any further clews 10 let him
fret know of it, had an occasion to at.
tend to q call OF nature and went 10 the
water closet, but found it occupied. ]
then passed into the rear OF the stable, but
noticed persons peeriDg in through the
crocks. | also saw at my feet what sup
posed was come waste paper.
picked the paper up and sought more
retired place in the rear of the orchard
close By the fence. Twas there first be-
came aware of the real character Of the
papers My first inspiration was to notify
VIM. Lee, E'q., then l concluded 10 place
them under the bottom rail Of the fence
and 10 notify Mr. Smith or the first de;ec-
tive who came. l patiently waited, but
no detective ever came till after my arrest.
I saw il would be useless then to make the
revelation and be believed, hence 1t hss
been heretofore unknown, excep. to my
counsel, and would forever remained so
till nv death, had not the confession"
article brought il OUT. | told the above
facts 10 nv counsel, Mr.. DOnehOO, Mr..
Braddock aud Mr.. Cook the first time
thsy came to see me, and after Col. Arnett
came into the case | toll him and Mr..
Moore was informed by his co.counsel, as
| had no opportunity Of seeing him. My
counsel advised me TO say nothing about
il. aud did go. The papTs were found
in latter part of June or early in July by
a farm hand while working for Mr. Lee.
This is the true story, and my counsel
will verify my account of it to them
will be censured, no doubt, for my actions
in this matter, first, iu not making il
known at the time, and then evading the
disclosure in Withholding it 10 my testi-
mouy. have no excuse to offer further
tn have given, and l now publicly de-
clare that with the foregoing explanation,
nv evidence as given under oath, lie tbs
truth, he wAole truth and nothing but h'
truth
2 As to the other point in which MAN
No. 1" says tbe doctors lied in stating the
Ak was used, &c, know no more than
the testimony disclosed Ole thing is GER
tain. il can very easily be shown who
knows best by hsving the bodies disin'
TERED and their skulls examined. II this
examination shows his statement to be
correct, then will bslieve MAN No. II
is verify and his statement true.
g. To those who think | or my friends
had hard in the confession" l will
simply fay, the faoia as TO the mode q
numbering the women and many other
little points cropping out OF the
Confession" article is not my own theory
at ell, neither is it the theory Of my coun-
sci, nor of States counsel, but an entirely
different theory from any / ever heard
given.
Had been going TO write bogus con-
fession uld have planned it 80 as Ia
corroborate my own statements and the
ory, and certainly would not have at
tackled the evidence in its mos. vulnerable
points.
In conclusion, let me say to both friend
and foe, that conf iently believe that a
confession will be made some time, which
all will believe aud which will eKOnerate
me. Till such time DOES come, let us be ad'
monisbed and strengthened by the words
OF the Psalmist
"Wait on the Lord; ba Of good courage,
and He shall strengthen thine hssrt. u
Wait, l cay, on the Lord.
Very respectfully,
Wy u RAlgp