The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-12

letters until they were produced in
court, and II he had not there was no ex-
cuse for even the imaginary motive set
up by the prosecution There was no
case against him.
A greater portion OF Mr.. Benson's
speech was devoted to defense of the
witnesses for the defense, whom no
Claimed had been asporsed by tho attor-
neys for the prosecution.
HON. ID. F. BAILEY
began strong speech at 1l:45. lie de-
scribed tho two homes made desolato
by the man how on trial for his life.
The wife now branded as a painted har-
lot was once as pure, innocent and sweet
as the wife who sleeps we'll in the old
Baker cemetery, the victim Of the MUIR
derous hand of the husband she loved
and trusted. Gentleman you may serve
upon iuries tho banance of your days,
but you will mover be called to sit upon
case OF greater magnitude than this
Its moral effect will endue for genera
tlons TO como. The accused occupied
position Of prominence as a citizen and
physician; as man of property and
education. Tho preservation of society
depends upon tho moral integrity of our
families.
Baker had seducod Gilmcr's wife I'M
der circumstances which should have
shielded them from harm. lie was their
family physician and had their most
implicit confidence. An honorable man
would have suffered the loss of an arm,
or his life, sooner than bctray this con-
fldcnco Not so with Baker.
Counsel for the defense had not only
heaped abuse upon her, but had gone
farther. They had branded her young
est child, in the absence of a scintilla of
testimony, as the bastard son of Baker,
and this TO discrcdit her testimony
The criminal annals of Virginia did
not reveal as Strong confederation of
testimony as hers. Baker, in the hour
OF her illness and physical debility,
took advantage of her weakness and
ruined her. Hcr letters TO him are
signed 81. W."-little wife, as she says,
but they have another meaning They
stared out like letters OF fro tor Lost
Wife"
Tho genuineness of tho "Minnick
letter is admitted, and this proves
thcn all genuine. Hear him ask one of
his guards, What was in tho letter
from Mrs. Gilmcr that 1 lost and they
found?"
Is he criminal? Yes, doubly so. He
murdered his trusting wife and her un-
born seven months old babe. With all
the evidence strongly corroborated as it
was, there was no room for hesitation
in reaching verdict of guilty. The
evidence is not alone circumstantial.
Threats and confession have been
| proven against Baker, and wo have pro-
| duccd his VICTIMS.
| Now, she is dead, what next? The
crime must be hidden, embalming fluid
containing arsenic is the best agent to
accomplish this. Mrs. Clyse, a niece.
says She originated tho idea, his
daughters say they did not object and
decided it, but Miss Skates saws DR..
Baker decided tho question and Lucy
cried, ION! papa, don't do that, mamma
would object TO IT," Embalm for what?
10 preserve the body of the loved one
from decay. No! What then? TO place
arsenic in tho body after death so that
science could not tell when il was aG-
| mlnistcred. The features OF loved ones
arc most dear to US, but BAKER did not
want them preserved. No arsenic in
tho face. 1t was in the stomach and
there the embalming fluid must go
DIR. Taylor, the chemist, found arsenic
In tho stomach, and swears that if this
was due to tho cmbalming fluid it was
put there after death. He found a red
stomach, and says iG was due to putrc-
faction, or an irritant poison, or gastritis
| 1t has mover been claimed that Mrs
| Baker had this disease. Did Baldwin
use NJ. " l.. fluid to embalm the bod ;?
Did not DIR. Taylor swear that he found
arsenic, mercury and zinc in it, but not
trace of the two last-named poisons in
tho body, and also swear that if the M.
" l.. was used they ought to have been
found, and their absence could not be
accounted for by science?
There have been hints here about
blood money, Why? Simply to pre-
iudicc tho jury against the State. There
never has been an important case in
Washington county without paid
counsel on both sides. am paid to aid
the attorney for tn , State in upholding
the laws made for tho protection Of our
wives. mothers and daughters, and I
ask You to do your duty.
MIR. WHITE SPEAKS.
James l.. White, of White s. Buch-
anan, followed Mr.. Bailey. lie said for
yehemence and fury the prosecution of
Dr. Baker had mover been equalled by
any trial in tho history Of Washington
county. Mrs. Gilmer has counsel. She
Is the accuscr. Mr.. Gilmer, another
accuscr, has counsel, and tho talented
and intrepid Wysor, of Pulaski, has
been brought here by the accuser's
brother. Now, look at the family of the
accused. Prof. James a. Davis,
brother of the deceased wife of DR..
Baker, and others of her blood have not
joined in this hue and cry and demand
for the life Of her husband
There was omething suspicious about
this letters OF Mrs. Gilmer. Exposed
to the atmosphere for months, there is
not blot or blur upon them. The bare
fact that they were found where he onco