Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-09
doeos OF poison, which would rcsul, In slow death
and not arouse suspicion.
70 KILL MS WYE

This information was given the prgrArcu re.
po,,er ~, s py tne Commonweslth's attorney, Colo
nei summers, who stated 20 your reporter that
ne was IN possession OF other information that
was very damaging 70 Dr. BakeF but which, for
reasons best known 70 himself. he declined now 10
kise 70 tne public He eaid that be had n num-
ve, OF letters That were written by Mrs. Gilmer
,s nna some that wore written by DrsI,sker, and
known they would siartie tho community.
THE TELL~TALE LgTTERs.
Tho reporter asked him 70 show him the let
tefs, which request he az first declined. After a
Wnhe, however, In asubscquent onyersation tho
attorney brought forth a package OF letters, Of.
teen or 10 In number, and said: "These are the
letters that Mrs. Gilmer wrote 10 Baker"
The letters OF Baker will not show you"
The reporter begged permission to read them.
On laughed the attorney, "you can't read
those, young man; they are for the Jury"
don't mind showing you the hand writing,
nnd will read you little OF this one from Mrs.
Gilmer, and he read A part OF one, which was
love-sick epistlo begging her lover 70 appoint an
early date 20 meet her again.
The Colonel said: "T1l read you no more Of Il,
bnt win show you the signature. All Of these
letters IN my hand are hers TO Baker, and they
are all signed l.. w! Qttle wife) and his letters,
sir, which will not show you, arc signed s. Ii.
(sweetheart)."
BAKERS APPEALS.
Reporter: "Colonel, show me one Of those
letters In which he speaks Of poison"
enough; but, however, ] win say this 10 you,
that In alitbese letters, more or less she speaks
OF following out Bakers instructions: that she is
giving tho drops 20 her husband. Then, again,
IL would look as II the Doctor had written 70 her
scolding her for not having " backbone" She said
IN her statement before the grand jury that he
got down on his knees In her parlor and fairly
prayed TO her 10 administer the medicine; that
he (baker) had killed his wife and ehe
ought 70 III her part Of tho contract
She also said that she had sinned with him
time and time again unknown 70 her hus-
band; that his influence over her was such that
she could not resist him, and that she was COM
pletely under his influence"
Reporter: "Colonei, how did you get posses
sion Of these letters?"
Colonel: 1.-THE first one Of these letters was
found by the oyorseer Of the roads some time
ago. That was the commencement OF the scan
dal, and the church took action"
MR.. GIIMER SAVED.
"Mr. Gilmer has brother, n physician In
Russell county. lie came ON last August 70
visit his brother, saw his condition, and took
ment he recovered from that attack Well, this
didn't last very long before she commenced
again giving medicine prescribed by DR.. Baker. !
"But, Colonel, tell me about those letters7'
interrupted the reporter.
Well, we got them last week. Baker sold his
property down there to Mr.. 81. John, and
moved to Abingdon and began practicing medi-
cine here. In cleaning up the old house these
beneath old board where they had been hid.
MIR. ST. John showed them 10 his neighbor, Mr.,
Whitaker, and they we're given to me by Mr.
"You said that you had some Of Bakers letters
in your possession; how did you get hold Of
them7"
81 had her husbands house searched, and in
the parlor beneath the carpet they were found
MRS. BAKERS DEATH.
Colonel Summers also told the reporter that DR.
Bakers wife died fifteen months ago. Her death
was rather sudden. The morning Of her death
she was apparently well and hearty. She et-
tended 10 her domestic affairs. Mrs. Gilmer told
him that the best part of the day after Mrs
Bakers burial DIR. Baker spent with her in hel
room, and that on his way to her house he met
with their former pastor who was going 70 Bakers
house TO condole with him over the death OF his
wife and that when DR.. Baker was with her he
told Of the conversation be had with the preacher
TRUE BILLS FOUND.
The grand jury to-day found true bill on boil
charges first against DIR. John o. p. Baker fol
the murder of his wife by poison: second, against
DIR. Baker and Mrs. Margaret GilIner for con.
spring 10 poison and kill WyndhGm X. GilInei
by poison.
After tho grand Jury had adjourned tbs
DISPATCH reporter visited DR.. Baker in hi'
cell at the Jail and told him the result Of the In
vestigation before the grand jury. He very
courteOusly requested the reporter and friend
who accompanied him TO take seats and apollo
gized for his inability 20 offer them better ac
fed by his counsel Of tho finding OF the jury
INTERVIEW WITH DIR. BAKER.
The reporter said, "Doctor, am on the RICH
MOND DISPATCH and come 20 talk with you, and
would like TO ask you some questions. suppos'
you have learned what Mrs. Gilmer said TO the
grand Jury to-day?'
"No, air, / have not. What Is it,"
The reporter then told him what no had heard
After having listened to II attenttvely, he
looked calmly In the face OF the neWspaper-mar
and replied:
ats as false as hi"
Reporter: "Is It true, as reported on the
streets. that last week Mrs. Gilmer met you in a
drugstore in town and had lengthy conYersa-
tion with you2"
"No. sir, il is not 80. The last time | saw that
lady was in the parlors Of the Martha Washing
ton Female Seminary. She was with hel
brother. Our meeting was accidental. wen
there TO enter my two daughters. l had moi
seen her since the 10th Of December last. mei
her then on the road
Reporter: "Doctor, the authorities claim tina
they have In their possession letters written b,
you 20 Mrs. Gilmer."
His reply was: ~ have no knowledge Of then
whatever. The whole thing Is concocted
scheme, sir"
PROFESSOR DAvIs's BELIEF.
Professor Miles, OF Emory and Henry College
who Is q warm personal friend OF Professor James
A. Davis, who Is brother OF DIR. Bakers vile, tolt
the DISPATCH reporter that Professor Dayh
said 10 him to-day that IL was impossible for hin
10 be made 90 believe that DR.. Baker had pol
soned his wife, who was his sister; that they wer'
tust as affectionate 10 one another as HUSBAND
and wife could be, and that the cause OF Mrs Ba
kers death was paralysis and puerperal convui
si0ne.
DIR. George Wiley, who is one OF the most prom
ineut physicians In this section OF the State saiC
TO Mr.. A. NJ. Dckenson, who Is the Common
wealth's attorney Of Smyth county, IL was non
sense 20 talk about DR.. Baker having destroyed
his wife: that Dr. Baker had sent for him to come
see his wife In her last Illness, and that no wiley
WAS DELAYED for several hours on account OF otne
patients: that on his way to Dr. BAKERS hous'
rhe learned that Mrs. Baker was Dead ana nj
returned home. . ~,
DR. Wiley further said that II Baker hat
poisoned HIS wife he would not have sent ior an.
physician, as his conduct could have reaoiiy peer
discovered, and that he (Whey) does h0t poho''
one word OF the charge.
WHAT THB SERVANTS SAY.
II is known that two colored servants OF III
Baker were examined with a view 10 secure son
evidence Of guilt on the part OF Dr. baker
procuring his wifes death, put potn OF 'no sol
wants exclaimed: "No, my GOAL Dr. BAKE
never did any wrong 20 old Missus. He was KIM
10 her, and did everything ho could for her peior
she was sick, and after she was taken down. Al
this Is a slander. There never was TWO happie
people than DIR. Baker and his wiie."i
WHAT THE DEFENCE WILL SHOW:
I, "a renorted that the defence will show tho
DIR. Baker Is a positive and emphatic man an
had enemies In his neighb0rhood. He sold hi
farm TO Mr.. ST. John, and long after Dr. BAKE
had vacated his house and the premises the SO
aSod letters from Mrs. Gilmer to DIR. Baker ar
said 10 nave been found In places exposed :
rains. snow, and the inclemencies OF the pas
winter, and yet they appear TO have bee, pee,
81 naner and that they are the re
anil, Pof conspiracy against sDr. Bake
ssnce his removal from his old home by som
enemy. They emphasize the fact that al u va N,
80 from MrQ. UilneT 10 III
nSSa- and none from him, and that those letter
conlS D have been left at the different place
where found since DIR. Bakers remoya
from his Old home. In other worus, th ,h
ae1ence claims that tho animus OF IN
,.rasecntIon is clearly shown by the TACT INA
EtImer. the husband Of the woman, has prougn
n sI0. 900 damage suit against Dr. BAKER, WI
has large sum of money In the BANK q ,.e. ~