The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-07
ROANOKE, VA, FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST Z 1891

lleEc HearU tnat the blinds to Mrs.
Bakers room had been closed the
day before she died, and probably
heard that q fowl had been
placed over her eyes. (When asked
II he had not prescribed this
treatment two years previous, he do
clined to answer on the ground that The
question was covert insult. The court
said 1T was proper question and DR..
Clark must answer.) l did testify that
two years previous 1 gave such direc-
tions. heard two Witnesses state this
morning that she had been going
about just prior to her death. /
have testified this morning for
the purpose Of meeting this phase
Baker had badly crippled heart. l
said there was an induration in the
semi-lunia valves. The mitral lesion
indicated a want of nutrition Ito Mr.
Nysor: 81 can't permit myself from o
professional standpoint to answer
questions that will show ignorance.
Your questions are so ignorant it is hard
for me to answer.") Aortic stenosis is
contraction. She existed under these
conditions until q critical time came and
then failed. 1t was perfectly possible
for her to live two years in the cJndi-
ton have described. l wish my testi-
had heart disease and that when she
had the puerpual CONFUSION it meant
death. l heard she had this convulsion
1t required great deal of care to carry
her through this period. l think it
would have been impossible for me to
save her had l been present during her
last illness.
come here to testify to what knew
concerning this case and as far as asked
did SO.
DR.. Clark was not an easy witness to
handle. Mr.. Wysor, of the prosecution,
took hold Of him, gently at first, but
warming up as he proceeded put him
through a rather severe ordeal. The
doctor twisted, but ever remained true
to his theory that Mrs. Baker died of
heart disease. Some of Mr.. Wysor's
questions were little annoying to the
doctor and worked considcra BILE merri-
ment among the lawyers.
Mrs. Daniel Minnick had been friend
and associate of Mrs. Gilmer for ten
years, but on account of the rumors con-
Meeting her name with DIR. Baker broke
off these relations. When she taxed
Mrs. Gilmer with spending the night
with him at Hotel Paramount she re-
statement told u ID lie." Had never
heard her swear before. DR.. Baker
came to my house The morning after
this conversation, but has not been
there since. did not tell him not to
como again. Tho Paramount matter
was neigh borhood talk
DIR. Robert j. Preston, superintendent
OF the Southwestern Lunatic Asylnm,
attended Mrs. Baker frequently in ill
ness when she was in danger from
hemorrhage and urenic poisoning. She
was unusually nervous and fearful at
these times. lie regarded DIR. Baker as
skillful physician. Urenlc poison
very often led to commissions, and hu
would not be surprised to hear of pa
ticnt passing away in them; as a rule,
however, She would pass away in a
comatose condition.
Milton Davis, brother of Mrs. Baker,
testified TO tho pleasant relations ex-
listing between tho doctor and his wife.
and that 1t was not a ha 1it in the Davis
family to have their dead en- balmed.
Mrs. Clyse, niece of DR.. Baker, was
subjected to rigid, severe and tedious
examination. She was present when
Mrs. Baker died, but told very little
that will damage the defense Mrs
Baker was nervous and apprchensive of
commissions and death, and passed away
shortly after she died in a CONFUSION
$1,000 L
gave her no medicine. None of her
children were present when she died.
Witness sent for Undertaken Baldwin
and suggested embalming the body
Mrs. Baker objected to taking anything
to relieve her, but said the doctor gave
her morphia the day before She died
about o'clock. Witness wrote DR..
Clark to know what he knew about Mrs
Baker and he telegraphed her an answer
She replied that If he knew anything
she would like for him to come.
The Theory Of the defense will be that
Mrs. Bakers death was due to either
heart disease or paerperal commissions
incident to premature labor
The testimony for the defense will
probably be all in by to-morrow's ad-
Journment of court, but counsel will
very likely not argue the case before
Monday.