The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-13

ABINGDON, Aug. Especial The
great Baker trial is drawing near it's
close. There are four speeches yet to
be made to tho jury; two for the prose-
cution and two for the defense, and
these will probably prevent the case
from going to the jury until some time
tomorrow.
what will the verdict be?" is the all
absorbing inquiry. Very few people
believe it will be guilty as charged in
tho Indictment" A great majority pre-
dict chung jury" and few family
hope for and porphcsy an acquittal. 1t
is thought that tho defense, despairing
OF an acquittal arc laboring to chang
the jury" as preferable to the hanging
Of their client.
There arc several strong points
against DR.. Baker in the testimony leav-
ing out Mrs. Gilmer's. lie prepared tho
church and ncighbors to expect his
wifc's deaJh notwithsta nding her health
was as good as it usually was undor sim
liar circumstances; he allowed her to
dio without raising hand to save her,
and then made haste to inform his para
mour that he was free. That capsule,
alleged to have contained opium, was
given Mrs. Baker at O'Clock Tuesday
morning and shc almost immediately
grew worse and continued to sink until
death camo to her relief about o'clock
p. IN. Wednesday. Tho Inference is
strong that the capsule contained ar
sonic. a capsule given Wyndham Gill
mcr produced strong symptoms of ar
sCnical poisoning, and after Mrs. Baker
took one she developed symptoms not
incompatible with tho theory that it
contained arsenic.
The strongest point in DR.. bakers
favor is tho cmbalming of his wifes
body with Il fluid that contained arsenic,
and the inability OF the analytical
chemist to tell whether tho arsenic he
found in tho liver was administered be-
fore death or after. This raises q doubt,
tho strongest ono in his favor, but 1t
may not be strong enough to override
trunk of the body alone was embalmed
to hide the poison placed there to kill it.
the jury has paid close attention to
the evidence and argument. Some of
tho jurors are very tired, but they boar
up remarkably we'll. Tho courthouse
is very warm, tho water and air bad and
the wonder is that a number have not
broken down entirely.
There will be IL spirtcd and probably
protractcd contest over instructions TO
the jury. Both sides are preporing
such as they desire given and will mako
fight for them.
DIR. Baker to-day was surrounded bv
several of his relatives. The elder
brother who has never left his side, his
son Joe, three nephews, and Mr. Davis,
brother Of his deceased wife, wore
present and manifested deep intcrestin
the arguments of counsel.
DAN TRIGG'S SPEECH
Court convened at o'clock. Five
minutes were consumed in calling the
roll Of the jury. For the first time all
the attorneys were present and in their
seats. AT 9:05 Dan Trigg, whose
speech has been looked forward to with
much interest began
Ho cast rhetoric aside, though he
can employ it to advantage when he
sees proper TO do so. lie dealt in cold
facts and stern passages 0: the law, but
at times he was pathetic and winning
The chattcring of children and the
chlrping OF cric1ets are no longer heard
by the hearthstone of Wyndham Gilmcr,
he said. The dcspoilcr had been thero.
thirteen years ago John a. p Baker
was presented to the blushing bride OF
Gilmer at church festival. lie looked
upon her in her purity and innocence to
lust after her. From this time he
persued her with all the wiles and snarcs
his corrupt mind could conceive. He
made his virtuous wife and little daugh-
tiers innocent instruments in the pro-
secut:on of his hellish design. In
moment of mental and physical weak
ness, while reclining upon sick bed,
the strong man triumphed over the
weak woman.
From this point Mr.. Trigg dealt
slcdgehammer blows. lilo took his time
and spoke with great elaboration. His
belief in the guilt OF the accused was
apparent to tho most casual observer,
and it helped him. lie covered every
point raised by the testimony, and
slashed the opposing counsel for charac-
terizing him and his colleagues as
hired attorneys, sleuth hounds, etc. lie
had seen counsel for defense in exactly
the same position. His conscience APP
proved the course he was perSuring.
The defense might say he had no con-
science but he would try and show
them that he had the facts and law
necessary to put the hangman's rope
around their clients neck. Ho fire.
quently turned and with the index
finger pointed straight at the face of
DR.. Baker, would ask his counsel an
annoying and pointed question. The
blood would mount to the prisoners
face. and Trigg, laughing, would turn
to the jury and answer it. Ho PRAYED
to God that tho white. sonled douob tor,