The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-08
DAMAGING TO The DEFENSE.
Result Of Yesterdays Examination Into
The Baka-CIlmr Case.
WHATTHE PRISONER STRIVES TO PROVE.
Did the Embalming Fluid Contain Arsenic :
10 the Burning Question-hiss BAKER
on the witness stand.

ABINGDON. VA, August 7.-(Special-l-The
evidence to-day in the Baker, ilmer case has
been damaging to the defense. Although tho
witnesses belong to the defense, 1t would pay
them not to examine thsm.
The sum and substance of tho days WORK IS
about as follows: The defense tired 10 provo
that the woman died in labor. ana that tne
emhalming fluid contained only arsenic.
The prosecution want to prove that she was
given arsenic, and that the embalmlng huid
did not contain but one poison.
MISS BAKEB ON THE STAND.
N;ss Tucv Baker was on the stand most OF
.he forenoon She said substantially 1 am
a daughter of Dr. Baker and aged twenty
one. / knew my mother ives IN a deiicate
condition prior to her death. was tnere DC
fore she died She took her bed on Iuesday
morning: had not been at all well on Satur-
dav. and had been very nervous Monday.
Monday she was better. ! came down town
Tuesday evening 1t or 1:30 during the day.
Until then she was in q chair and when was
called in | found her lying on little PED IN
the corner. She said she felt badly and CON-
mencsd rubbing her head.
GAVE HER DOSE OF MORPHINE.
Sister Betty gave her q dose of morphine,
for abe had been in the habit Of taking 1t. 1t
generally atiieted her. This was or 1880 A.
81. 1t was given III capsules. THINK she
generally took it by capsules, but don't re-
member left about / or $50 o'clock Tor
town. Betsy came with me. We came
in single buggy and she always drove II; |
returned home about +. NJ. with Miss
Rowena Beattie. Mother was lying on the
bed: seemed 10 be very quiet; had wet cloth
over her face. She had been in the habit OF
using il because she was nauseated ny the
morphine. She was more quite than she had
been in Che morning.
WHO REMAINED IN THE ROOM.
had 10 get supper for we had no help. |
did the cooking. Ny sister Betsy and my
father STAYED in the room that night with her.
Betsv is aged nineteen. Mother was more
quiet next morning. and said she felt moro
quiet Don't know how she rested during the
night On Wednesday morning father Miss
Bcattie and the smaller children and myself
were about the house. Miss Bcattle, at . or
$50, left in a single buggy with Betsy LOT
Mr. McConnells. Betsy was gone about
an hour and q half: left the room but once
We were both lying on the bed with her. My
mother told me to go ont and feed the
chickens was out not more than five minutes
On my return. father was still lying on the
bed with her she took no morphine that day
to my knowledge, or any other medicine.
HER NERVOUSNESS INCREASED.
returned from feeding the chickens about
1870 A. NJ | did not leave again till Mrs.
Clyce and Betsy came. which was between ii
and r. | went out to get dinner, which was
ready about l2.30. left papa and Mrs. Clyce
in the room with mother. When / returned
her nervousness was increased She lay still
and was moving her hands and limbs
all the time Durips dinner / and my
sister remained with mother. They returned
about ! from dinner. ! remained some
minutes after they returned. and went then
To prepare some tea and toast for mother.
left papa, Mrs Clyce and sister in the room
with her don't think her nervousness In
creased or diminished during the dinner hour.
After that she grew more nervous She took
some OF the tea and toast. don't recall any
other symptoms; nor did she have to be taken
from her bed or get up for any purpose
SHE LEFT THE ROOM.
After eating the toast and tea remained in
the room some minutes. | left the room be-
cause ! thought mother WAS in labor, and4did
not think it proper for me TO remain. My
brother Charlie was sent out TO have Dr.
Wiley sent for. / think Charlie started 70 get
John H. Clark to 80 for DR.. Wiley at 2 J. NJ.
BEFORE / left mother she said she thought she
was in labor. left the room in few min
utes. After leaving ! think 1t was
fifteen or twenty minutes before her
death was announced. went to the
room at once. Mrs. Rutherford was the
first neighbor TO arrive Don't know where
Sue Lee was. After the neighbors began TO
arrive we all went upstairs. Mrs. Clyce came
in and asked papa if she should send for the
embalming fluid. he asked her what she
theught about it. She asked mo about it. if
my mother had any objection to it. ] told
her had no objection to It, She said she
thought it would be best. Brother Joe ar
rived there that night
DIR. TAYLOR REHEARD.
Tho afternoon was consumed In rehearing
Dr. W. II. Taylor State Chemist, and Mr..
Baldwin. the undertaken, who cmbalmed the
body Mr.. Baldwin's evidence was very much
warped He claimed at first that the fluid no
used bore tho mark of M. 4 H." but as soon
as lie heard il was to be analysed changed his
opinion, and said he thought it was some
thing else. The reason OF this change
was this: he fears the fluid with which
he embamed her did not contain the
poison that he swore to- He said what he
used contained arsenic. mercury aud zinc; now
he argued that arsenic was given her before
she died or the fluid only contained arsenic.
The counsel asked DR.. Taylor this question:
Can you tell whether that arsenic was given
her before death or after" He replied that
he could not.