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


Prisoner wecps Twice During the
Argument OF His Counsel.
ABINGDON, Va, Aug. Ill Special +
The doors of tho courthouse were
thrown open at z o'clock this morning
and tho people began to crowd in on
the principle that tho early bird catches
tho worm. Those who came carly
secured seats, but the later arrivals
were compelled to stand and submit to
squeezing and jostling. They do not
seem to mind this, however, for the
room has been crowded since tho Baker
case was called on July 2Sth
Wysor, tho eloquent attorney from
Ncwburn, Pulaski county, has won
golden opinions. lie is chip of the
old block the old inhabitants OF Abing-
don and Washington county declare. His
father practiscd law in the courts of
Southwest Virginia before and during
the war and is spoken of as 4 great
lawyer. Well, he would not be ashamed
of his son. His opening speech for tho
State was q great effort and is tho
theme of conversations DR.. Bakers
friends express fear that it will hang
the jury" General Iilair's speech
was what everybody expected. 1t was
able, ingenious and eloquent and will
enhance his reputation for learning and
great ability.
col. SUMMERS SPEARS.
Col. John G. Summers, who was prose-
cutting attorney at the time OF Mrs.
Bakers death and the arrest OF her
husband nearly two years afterward,
made strong speech for tho State.
There were rough passages in it and it
was somewhat disconnected, but he
madc many strong points against the
defense. lie declared General Blair's
religion and law both bad, and that II
the former was as bad as tho latter he
hoped God would have mercy upon him
Mrs. Gilmcr was q smart woman and was
we'll posted on poisons and their effect,
but Dr. Baker was hcr prcceptor, and he
was good one. He had thoroughly
prepared the ministry and people for
news OF his wife's death, and then, with
no one present but the neice who loved
him better than brother, and too we'll
60 testify to ono word that would harm
him, he performed tho last act in tho
tragedy
10 hide his awful crimo no had the
trunks OF her body filled with ombaln-
ing fluid containing arsenic, the same
poison he had taken her lifc with, and
as soon as tho last clod was thrown
upon her collin he FASTENED to the wo-
man he had committed murder to gam,
To tell her Of his success, littlo dream
ing that lust &C ross the narrow hall
way there was virtuous young maiden
who heard words that would convic t
him. The horror OF his recital may be
imagined. Even Mrs. Gilmer sickoned
and turned away, crying Don't tell mo
more" Mamie lessee heard this wall.
All that stands between DR.. Baker
and the gibbct is tho theory of Dr. Clark
of Iowa, that Mrs. Baker died of heart
disease. All he knows about it he had
through tho stcthoscope, or whatever
he called it, and heresay testimony is
not admissible. Uaughtcr) All the
testimony Baker has in his favor was
given by his family and kindred. Blood
was thicker than water The testimony
of these Witnesses was precisely tho
same, commas, periods and all, and
smackcd strongly of preparation. Turn
Baker loose in Virginia and Tho most
profitable business in Virginia would be
the manufacture and sale of embalmlng
fluid. (Laughter.) All that it was
necessary to do to remove an enemy, or
person whose presence embarrassed
you, was to give q dose OF arsenic. EN-
balming the trunk of the lifelcss body
would hide your crime from tho sight
OF mcn. Let the sweet face and the
limbs rot, as Baker did, but preserve the
trunk!
In forty years there had been twenty
nine murders in Washington county,
but the death penalty had been in
flicted but once. Twas time to begin.
II BAKER was guilty he should be
hanged with fern placards upon his
his back put the words "Scducor."
Upon his left side "iIypocritc." Upon
his right "Adulterer," and upon his
breast within in human blood and
fringcd with arsenic Murderer
BURsoN REPLIES.
John f. Burson followed Col. Sum-
mers, who spoke about two hours and
thirty minutes. He did not propose to
follow tho colonel into tho Roman
Empire, for it had no connection with
this case, nor into tho vitaperation and
villification which characterized his
speech for tho State These have been
lugged in to supply the lack OF evidence
and to inflamo the passions of the popu-
lace and arouse the perjudices OF the
jury. Mr.. Burson then proceeded to dis
cuss the methods employed by the at
torneys for the State to strengthen their