The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-07
WITNESSES FOR THE DEFENSE.
An Intsstsrins Day In The Daksr-Gllmsr
Trial at Abingdon.
SOME STRANGE EVIDENCE LDDUCED.
Mrs Bakers Brother on the stand-Discus-
sion Over the Origin OF tho Idea OF
the EmbHlming OF tho Body.

Baker Gilmer trial is a. interesting to-day as
il was: when court opened, more than week
ago. The defense began work this morning
and will get through probably saturday
They are holding their own much better than
was expected.
The first witness examined was Professor
James A. Davis. Of Emory and Henry Col
leee. He said. in substance: Il am brother
Of DIR. Bakers wife, was at DR.. Bakers ire
ouently during the last few years. and often
nreacbed there during her confinement. She
was IN her bed part of the time and part SIT
tine M. but not able to 60 10 the dining
room.
THEIR MANNER AFFECTIoSATE.
IT never saw any indication Of a lack of har-
nony between them. She had been married
about TWENTY-FIVE years think. Their man
ner toward each other was afecnonate ra,heI
unusually So / only know her condition at
death by report. Her death was not wholly
unexpected TO me. ! WAS in some measure
prepared for it. Had heard OF her condition
before left homo and was uneasy. 1t was IN
derstood in our family that che had usually
had trouble about the seventh month OF hef
confinement. The only one had any knowl-
edge OF was the previous TO her death
What learned of her condition learned not
from her, but from Dr. Baker, though was
there and in her ROOM"
DIR. BAKERS CONDUCT.
Mrs. Annie Biggs was next on the stand
The cream of her testimony was: i am niece
of DR.. Bakers. Was at Or. Bakers from
SATURDAY till Monday morning previous TO her
death. She was very delicate and spoke to
me about her condition. She said she was
fearful she would not live during her APP
preaching illness. She had swimming In
the head. She was threatened with some
disease in both sicknesses. She had three
accidents during her confinement Of my own
knowledge Dr. Baker went homo Sunday
night Had made visits during Sunday was
Mt home Monday. DR.. Baker and wife's con-
duct towards each other WAS that OF the ten
derest solicitude. ! lived in the house with
them eighteen months In 1885 and 1886. NV
brother and bis and ray sister wero there on
tho occasion alluded TO.
sTRAsGE TESTIMONY.
DR.. Clarke. the third witness. testified very
curiOusly. He camo here. he said, to act rs
witness if needed. He said he had beeL lis
tenng TO the evidence in the case so he could
make up his though he had heard none but
Dr. Taylor the State Chemist. Not only was
this Young man prejudiced in the matter. but
il seems that most of the defense are testify
lug to suit the occasion
The doctors evidence was 80 sensational
that the audience shifted and moved uneaslly
about. TO sum up what he said he thinks
Cor says so) that Mrs. Bakers death was
brought on by an organic trouble OF tho
heart.
AFRAID SHE WOULD DIE.
Mrs. Anna Clyce testified live between
half and fourth of mile from where DR..
Baker lived at time of Mrs. Bakers death. l
am niece IF DR.. Baker was ut his home dur
ing the last illness of his wife. Learned OF her
condition in June; Mrs. Baker told me OF It
herself; said she did not think she could
., 1oo har m
physical condition. Was at Mrs. Bakers fire.
quently from June until her death. She was
ALWAYS nervous and Respondent on account
of her illness Was there Sunday before
her death she was exceedingly ner-
vous then | lett Sunday late IN
the evening: Mrs. Baker was not in bed; her
daughters did the house-work. She repeated
that she was afraic. she would not live. Saw
Mrs Baker again on the day of her death.
Went there III the forenoon of that day. DR..
Bakers daughter came for me after taking
Miss Rowena Beattie to Mr. McConnelPs.
STILL FELT NERVOUS.
found Dr. Baker and one daughter in Mrs
Bakers room. ] asked her how She felt. She
said She still felt neryons, and that she had
planned Of her feet, and we rubbed them.
Myself. DR. Baker and four boys went
to dinner. Betsy. a daughter STAYED
with Mrs. Baker. After dinner. Dr. Baker
went ont to smoke. | went back IN the
sick room and rubbed Mrs. Bakers
Of toast md drank some tea. Was still ner-
vous and grew worse. Betsy went for Charlie
Baker to 90 for DR.. Wiley. My brother,
John II. Clark. went to Abingdon for DR..
Wiley. to the bes, Of my knowledge Mrs.
Baker finally called DR.. Baker. threw her
! arms around biz neck and said she felt that
she was going TO take spasm, and told him
| 10 examine her symptoms.
PRAY THAT ny LABOR MAY DE- SHORT"
Mrs. Baker clasped my left hand with her
right and said Pray that my labor may be
| short" DR.. Baker was on the opposite side
Of the bed from me- Mrs Baker went into
| CONFUSION. DR.. Baker leant over her spoke,
walked away, cnme. back, patted her on the
cheek She was in spasm fifteen
| minutes or half hour. She never re-
| covered Dr. Baker gave her no medicine
| A negro woman Susan Lee was in
| the room. No medicine was given
to her after my arrival DR.. Wiley was
| sent for an hour after | arrived. DR.. Baker
was the first 10 go out OF the room. Mrs
! Rutherford was the first h. come in after her
| death: Amanda Cunningham next. and Mrs
! Robert Rush next ] don't know who pre-
| pared the body for burial. DR.. Baker and
! the children went up stairs and left the body
| in charge Of the visitors.
DB. BAKER wEPT.
| DR.. Baker was much distressed and cried.
| asked Dr. Baker if I should send 10 Captain
| Baldwin for embalming fluid. etc. I decided
| TO send for an embalmer. The idea of en-
balming originated with me-"
Here the question was asked. what were
the reasons for embalming. and the
counsel objected. The Judge ruled
| that the reasons for the embalming
would not be irrevelsn. testimony; that the
! point which the defense wanted to establish
was that the idea Of embalming did not origi-
| nate with DR.. Baker. That they had already
| proved by the witness.
The witness continued: To tho best of my
knowledge Mrs. Robert Rush. Mrs Ruther-
ford and Mrs Cunningham dressed the body
| The corpse was kept out of the ground until
| Friday. Mrs Baker did not want any medi-
| cine She made no complaint of thirst"
The examination will be continued to-mor-
| row.
fAA Ent.